USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics

\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
\u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
\u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers

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\n
\"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
\u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier to be competing in the Olympics for the fourth time in my career,\u201d said two-time gold medal winner Vincent Hancock. \u201cI and the rest of Team USA are set up for success in Tokyo. Though we are individual competitors, this is the closest knit team I\u2019ve ever been on and I'm excited. I\u2019m ready to do my best and the team\u2019s ready to do its best and bring home as many medals as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
\u201cFederal Ammunition sponsors the highest level of competition shooters, and we could not be happier to watch the USA Shooting Team compete on the world stage,\u201d stated Jason Vanderbrink, President of Federal Ammunition. \u201cWe know they will proudly represent our country and it\u2019s an honor to be part of their journey to the medal stand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier to be competing in the Olympics for the fourth time in my career,\u201d said two-time gold medal winner Vincent Hancock. \u201cI and the rest of Team USA are set up for success in Tokyo. Though we are individual competitors, this is the closest knit team I\u2019ve ever been on and I'm excited. I\u2019m ready to do my best and the team\u2019s ready to do its best and bring home as many medals as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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USA Shooting Shotgun Team Readies for Olympic Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFederal Ammunition sponsors the highest level of competition shooters, and we could not be happier to watch the USA Shooting Team compete on the world stage,\u201d stated Jason Vanderbrink, President of Federal Ammunition. \u201cWe know they will proudly represent our country and it\u2019s an honor to be part of their journey to the medal stand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier to be competing in the Olympics for the fourth time in my career,\u201d said two-time gold medal winner Vincent Hancock. \u201cI and the rest of Team USA are set up for success in Tokyo. Though we are individual competitors, this is the closest knit team I\u2019ve ever been on and I'm excited. I\u2019m ready to do my best and the team\u2019s ready to do its best and bring home as many medals as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Hope and expectations continue to soar as the USA Shooting Shotgun Team gears up for the 2021 Olympics. The team nears completion of training with opening ceremonies on the horizon for this summer's games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
USA Shooting Shotgun Team Readies for Olympic Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFederal Ammunition sponsors the highest level of competition shooters, and we could not be happier to watch the USA Shooting Team compete on the world stage,\u201d stated Jason Vanderbrink, President of Federal Ammunition. \u201cWe know they will proudly represent our country and it\u2019s an honor to be part of their journey to the medal stand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier to be competing in the Olympics for the fourth time in my career,\u201d said two-time gold medal winner Vincent Hancock. \u201cI and the rest of Team USA are set up for success in Tokyo. Though we are individual competitors, this is the closest knit team I\u2019ve ever been on and I'm excited. I\u2019m ready to do my best and the team\u2019s ready to do its best and bring home as many medals as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n
Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li>
29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li>
Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li>
Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li>
Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li>
50-count boxes<\/li>
MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n
The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr>
Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr>
Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr>
Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr>
HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr>
Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr>
SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr>
Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n
The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n
Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Load<\/strong><\/td>	Velocity<\/strong><\/td>	Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
.380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td>	978<\/td>	2.43<\/td><\/tr>
.38 Special 120 JHP<\/td>	993<\/td>	2.38<\/td><\/tr>
9mm 124 JHP<\/td>	1,123<\/td>	1.38<\/td><\/tr>
.40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td>	1,101<\/td>	0.78<\/td><\/tr>
.45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td>	912<\/td>	1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Gauge: 12<\/li> Shot Size: 8<\/li> Type: Lead<\/li> Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps<\/li> Shot Charge Ounces: 1 1\/8<\/li> Payload Pellets: 461<\/li> Shotshell Length: 2 3\/4 inches<\/li> Density: 11 g\/cc<\/li> Package Quantity: 25<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/05\/federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125108,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-01-28 10:34:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-28 15:34:10","post_content":"\n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal Top Gun Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Gauge: 12<\/li> Shot Size: 8<\/li> Type: Lead<\/li> Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps<\/li> Shot Charge Ounces: 1 1\/8<\/li> Payload Pellets: 461<\/li> Shotshell Length: 2 3\/4 inches<\/li> Density: 11 g\/cc<\/li> Package Quantity: 25<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/05\/federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125108,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-01-28 10:34:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-28 15:34:10","post_content":"\n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n While some gave all, nearly all gave something. And for many of our vets, they need help getting something back. We all need to do our part. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Top Gun Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Gauge: 12<\/li> Shot Size: 8<\/li> Type: Lead<\/li> Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps<\/li> Shot Charge Ounces: 1 1\/8<\/li> Payload Pellets: 461<\/li> Shotshell Length: 2 3\/4 inches<\/li> Density: 11 g\/cc<\/li> Package Quantity: 25<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/05\/federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125108,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-01-28 10:34:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-28 15:34:10","post_content":"\n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Proceeds from Federal's Top Gun target loads help support these veteran initiatives. But even without the good will, the ammo remains highly productive for sport. The hard-hitting loads feature high-quality lead shot producing event patterns for crushing clays. Consistent Federal primers, an eight-segment crimp and unique wad column complete the package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While some gave all, nearly all gave something. And for many of our vets, they need help getting something back. We all need to do our part. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Top Gun Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Gauge: 12<\/li> Shot Size: 8<\/li> Type: Lead<\/li> Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps<\/li> Shot Charge Ounces: 1 1\/8<\/li> Payload Pellets: 461<\/li> Shotshell Length: 2 3\/4 inches<\/li> Density: 11 g\/cc<\/li> Package Quantity: 25<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/05\/federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125108,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-01-28 10:34:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-28 15:34:10","post_content":"\n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal Ammunition directly supports programs and services through financial contributions. The programs gives veterans access to independence, mental and physical health, career counseling, peer support, connections to other veterans and family support. Better still, the support remains free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Proceeds from Federal's Top Gun target loads help support these veteran initiatives. But even without the good will, the ammo remains highly productive for sport. The hard-hitting loads feature high-quality lead shot producing event patterns for crushing clays. Consistent Federal primers, an eight-segment crimp and unique wad column complete the package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While some gave all, nearly all gave something. And for many of our vets, they need help getting something back. We all need to do our part. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Top Gun Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Gauge: 12<\/li> Shot Size: 8<\/li> Type: Lead<\/li> Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps<\/li> Shot Charge Ounces: 1 1\/8<\/li> Payload Pellets: 461<\/li> Shotshell Length: 2 3\/4 inches<\/li> Density: 11 g\/cc<\/li> Package Quantity: 25<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/05\/federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125108,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-01-28 10:34:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-28 15:34:10","post_content":"\n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cI\u2019m proud of this program,\u201d said Rick Stoeckel, Federal Ammunition\u2019s Shotshell Product Director. \u201cWhen our wounded heroes return, the needs are great and Federal is proud to assist in any way that we can, and the consumers have responded by purchasing the product that supports Wounded Warrior Project in our backyard of Minnesota and throughout the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Ammunition directly supports programs and services through financial contributions. The programs gives veterans access to independence, mental and physical health, career counseling, peer support, connections to other veterans and family support. Better still, the support remains free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Proceeds from Federal's Top Gun target loads help support these veteran initiatives. But even without the good will, the ammo remains highly productive for sport. The hard-hitting loads feature high-quality lead shot producing event patterns for crushing clays. Consistent Federal primers, an eight-segment crimp and unique wad column complete the package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While some gave all, nearly all gave something. And for many of our vets, they need help getting something back. We all need to do our part. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Top Gun Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Gauge: 12<\/li> Shot Size: 8<\/li> Type: Lead<\/li> Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps<\/li> Shot Charge Ounces: 1 1\/8<\/li> Payload Pellets: 461<\/li> Shotshell Length: 2 3\/4 inches<\/li> Density: 11 g\/cc<\/li> Package Quantity: 25<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/05\/federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125108,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-01-28 10:34:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-28 15:34:10","post_content":"\n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The firearms community remains highly concerned with the state of our country's military veterans. And folks around the country continue efforts to help improve veteran mental health<\/a>. But veteran suicides persist, meaning much work remains. But Federal Ammunition remains dedicated to helping out our vets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of this program,\u201d said Rick Stoeckel, Federal Ammunition\u2019s Shotshell Product Director. \u201cWhen our wounded heroes return, the needs are great and Federal is proud to assist in any way that we can, and the consumers have responded by purchasing the product that supports Wounded Warrior Project in our backyard of Minnesota and throughout the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Ammunition directly supports programs and services through financial contributions. The programs gives veterans access to independence, mental and physical health, career counseling, peer support, connections to other veterans and family support. Better still, the support remains free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Proceeds from Federal's Top Gun target loads help support these veteran initiatives. But even without the good will, the ammo remains highly productive for sport. The hard-hitting loads feature high-quality lead shot producing event patterns for crushing clays. Consistent Federal primers, an eight-segment crimp and unique wad column complete the package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While some gave all, nearly all gave something. And for many of our vets, they need help getting something back. We all need to do our part. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Top Gun Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Gauge: 12<\/li> Shot Size: 8<\/li> Type: Lead<\/li> Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps<\/li> Shot Charge Ounces: 1 1\/8<\/li> Payload Pellets: 461<\/li> Shotshell Length: 2 3\/4 inches<\/li> Density: 11 g\/cc<\/li> Package Quantity: 25<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/05\/federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125108,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-01-28 10:34:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-28 15:34:10","post_content":"\n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Project Support Nears $250K<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The firearms community remains highly concerned with the state of our country's military veterans. And folks around the country continue efforts to help improve veteran mental health<\/a>. But veteran suicides persist, meaning much work remains. But Federal Ammunition remains dedicated to helping out our vets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of this program,\u201d said Rick Stoeckel, Federal Ammunition\u2019s Shotshell Product Director. \u201cWhen our wounded heroes return, the needs are great and Federal is proud to assist in any way that we can, and the consumers have responded by purchasing the product that supports Wounded Warrior Project in our backyard of Minnesota and throughout the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Ammunition directly supports programs and services through financial contributions. The programs gives veterans access to independence, mental and physical health, career counseling, peer support, connections to other veterans and family support. Better still, the support remains free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Proceeds from Federal's Top Gun target loads help support these veteran initiatives. But even without the good will, the ammo remains highly productive for sport. The hard-hitting loads feature high-quality lead shot producing event patterns for crushing clays. Consistent Federal primers, an eight-segment crimp and unique wad column complete the package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While some gave all, nearly all gave something. And for many of our vets, they need help getting something back. We all need to do our part. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Top Gun Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Gauge: 12<\/li> Shot Size: 8<\/li> Type: Lead<\/li> Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps<\/li> Shot Charge Ounces: 1 1\/8<\/li> Payload Pellets: 461<\/li> Shotshell Length: 2 3\/4 inches<\/li> Density: 11 g\/cc<\/li> Package Quantity: 25<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/05\/federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125108,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-01-28 10:34:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-28 15:34:10","post_content":"\n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal Ammunition continues its unprecedented support of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The effort, began in 2011, supports programs and services with an annual contribution to the Minnesota Wounded Warrior Charity Golf event. That contribution now nears $250K, coming in just shy of $248,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Project Support Nears $250K<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The firearms community remains highly concerned with the state of our country's military veterans. And folks around the country continue efforts to help improve veteran mental health<\/a>. But veteran suicides persist, meaning much work remains. But Federal Ammunition remains dedicated to helping out our vets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of this program,\u201d said Rick Stoeckel, Federal Ammunition\u2019s Shotshell Product Director. \u201cWhen our wounded heroes return, the needs are great and Federal is proud to assist in any way that we can, and the consumers have responded by purchasing the product that supports Wounded Warrior Project in our backyard of Minnesota and throughout the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Ammunition directly supports programs and services through financial contributions. The programs gives veterans access to independence, mental and physical health, career counseling, peer support, connections to other veterans and family support. Better still, the support remains free of charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Proceeds from Federal's Top Gun target loads help support these veteran initiatives. But even without the good will, the ammo remains highly productive for sport. The hard-hitting loads feature high-quality lead shot producing event patterns for crushing clays. Consistent Federal primers, an eight-segment crimp and unique wad column complete the package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While some gave all, nearly all gave something. And for many of our vets, they need help getting something back. We all need to do our part. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Top Gun Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Gauge: 12<\/li> Shot Size: 8<\/li> Type: Lead<\/li> Muzzle Velocity: 1,145 fps<\/li> Shot Charge Ounces: 1 1\/8<\/li> Payload Pellets: 461<\/li> Shotshell Length: 2 3\/4 inches<\/li> Density: 11 g\/cc<\/li> Package Quantity: 25<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/05\/federal-ammunition-wounded-warrior\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":125108,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-01-28 10:34:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-28 15:34:10","post_content":"\n The Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently selected Federal to provide 5.56 ammunition<\/a>. The multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract totals five years. Federal will begin shipping 5.56 NATO Service & Training, Reduced-Lead ammo in April. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n DOJ, FBI Selects Federal Service & Training Ammo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal continues to be honored that the most trusted law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally continue to believe and value the products we make,\u201d said Federal\u2019s President Jason Vanderbrink. \u201cIt\u2019s a solid validation of the technology and performance found in every round of ammunition made by our highly skilled American workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI investigates violations of more than 260 federal statutes. Now it chooses Federal's tactical bonded technology for duty. Federal produces the Tactical Bonded line exclusively for law enforcement. It achieves reliability, terminal performance and accuracy, according to Federal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is a very prestigious award and substantiates Federal\u2019s reputation as the manufacturer of the market\u2019s most advanced rifle ammunition. From service to training, Federal offers the best rifle rounds for supporting the specified mission,\u201d said David Leis, Federal\u2019s VP of Law Enforcement, Government and International Sales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal offers a wide range of 5.56\/.223 ammo offerings to the commercial market. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"fbi-federal-service-training-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:52","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/28\/fbi-federal-service-training-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10306,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-01-26 11:59:13","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-26 16:59:13","post_content":"\n\n\n The following on Federal Premium Punch ammo part of a full review from<\/strong><\/em> *the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns Magazine. To read the entire review, grab your copy at* *OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n* People hem and haw when I recommend cycling out their carry ammo every six months, usually citing the cost. Sure, defensive rounds cost more than basic FMJ ammo, but performance is so critical that there simply isn\u2019t a valid reason not to keep what\u2019s in your magazines fresh. While on the topic of actually<\/em> using your defensive ammo, it's important to remember that firing some is the only way to get used to the increased recoil and recovery time between shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal is always up on today\u2019s shooting trends and training practices. Federal Premium Punch<\/a> ammunition is designed specifically for civilian carry. This new line of ammo is affordable enough to practice with, or at least cycle out twice a year without crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Premium Punch Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The idea behind Punch stemmed from reviewing the typical gunfight between a thug and an armed citizen. Most CCW holders that find themselves in an altercation are nearly within range of physical contact and usually have nothing between themselves and the bad guy other than some bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, the average Joe defender is usually carrying the same ammo that police carry, and it is usually overkill because of the type of encounter they might face. When police make contact and the threat flees, they might have to engage, sometimes through barriers such as auto glass or soft cover. If we take the same scenario and put say, me, in the cops\u2019 place, after the threat flees I\u2019m going home. I might even wind up in jail if I pursue him\/her and fire a lethal shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, \u201cduty\u201d ammo is typically designed to work best through duty weapons, think mid-sized or full-sized guns. Putting something designed for a 4- or 5-inch barrel through a 2-inch barrel is going to drop its velocity significantly and likely hinder, or completely negate, expansion. No expansion means no energy transfer, and no energy transfer means no stopping power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal designed Punch bullets to expand at the lower velocities yielded by common carry pistols. The science behind the line wasn\u2019t too involved, which means less expense passed on to the customer. Federal\u2019s ballisticians took what they knew about making law enforcement ammo and simplified it to create devastating expansion simply by softening the lead, adjusting jacket thickness and modifying the skives, which are the serrations that we see running down the side of the bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardware & Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Well, all of this got me excited enough to want to do a little shooting \u2026 and a little shooting turned into a lot of shooting once I found out that five different calibers were going to be released in one shot. That\u2019s not bad news, it just meant that I was going to need some more guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had .380 ACP covered with my Taurus Spectrum. Also, I had 9mm covered with both my Canik TP9SF and my Walther PPS M2. I always like to incorporate my personal carry pistols into these self-defense ammo tests because guess where the leftovers go, granted that they perform well. Although I don\u2019t carry it, I rolled out my Auto-Ordnance commemorative Trump 1911 for the .45 ACP sample because, frankly, it\u2019s just too nice to leave in the safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the guns I don\u2019t have, I have never been a fan of .40 S&W. I\u2019m also about two generations too late to be carrying a .38 Special. So I reached out to my friends at Smith & Wesson for some loaners. A few days later, a .40-caliber Shield and a Model 66 Combat Magnum in .357 showed up at my local gun store; this left me everything that I needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch my full test above. I included some of the overall performance numbers below. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. And remember, this article is from the March\/April 2021 issue of Combat Handguns magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch Ammo Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/strong><\/td> Velocity<\/strong><\/td> Accuracy<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> .380 ACP 85 JHP<\/td> 978<\/td> 2.43<\/td><\/tr> .38 Special 120 JHP<\/td> 993<\/td> 2.38<\/td><\/tr> 9mm 124 JHP<\/td> 1,123<\/td> 1.38<\/td><\/tr> .40 S&W 165 JHP<\/td> 1,101<\/td> 0.78<\/td><\/tr> .45 ACP 230 JHP<\/td> 912<\/td> 1.19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second and accuracy in inches for best five-shot group at 10 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-10-27 13:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-10-27 17:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/26\/federal-preimum-punch-ammo-test\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":10392,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-01-11 14:23:10","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 19:23:10","post_content":"\n Members of the 2A community usually believe in defending the things that matter most. Now a new partnership between the NRA and Federal Premium brings us a product that does just that. Proceeds from Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot goes to support NRA's mission to preserve the 2nd Amendment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot<\/h2>\n\n\n\n But this remains a solid self-defense tool as well. The load features Federal's rear-braking FliteControl wad. It combines with buffering that prevents deformation of the nine-pellet copper-plated 00 buckshot payload. The load<\/a> delivers tight, uniform patters, according to Federal. And in a defensive scenario, especially inside the home, that's exactly what we're looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2 2\/3-inch load in 12-gauge, the NRA Buckshot checks all the boxes. The load retails at $9.99 for a box of five. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More importantly, the load helps drive money to NRA at the most critical of times. A Biden-Harris White House takes power soon. And anti-gun legislation is hitting for votes in nearly every state house and within Congress. The NRA has a colossal fight on its hand. And they need our help. The preservation of the 2nd Amendment hangs in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Features <\/h4>\n\n\n\n Special-edition NRA load; a portion of the proceeds from each box sold is donated to the organization to support its for gun rights<\/li> Nine copper-plated 00 buckshot<\/li> FLITECONTROL wad improves patterns<\/li> Buffering prevents deformation<\/li> Gauge: 12<\/li> Length: 2 3\/4-inch<\/li> 5-count box<\/li> MSRP: $9.99<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:32:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/01\/11\/federal-personal-defense-nra-buckshot\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n \"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n \"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier to be competing in the Olympics for the fourth time in my career,\u201d said two-time gold medal winner Vincent Hancock. \u201cI and the rest of Team USA are set up for success in Tokyo. Though we are individual competitors, this is the closest knit team I\u2019ve ever been on and I'm excited. I\u2019m ready to do my best and the team\u2019s ready to do its best and bring home as many medals as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n \"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n \u201cFederal Ammunition sponsors the highest level of competition shooters, and we could not be happier to watch the USA Shooting Team compete on the world stage,\u201d stated Jason Vanderbrink, President of Federal Ammunition. \u201cWe know they will proudly represent our country and it\u2019s an honor to be part of their journey to the medal stand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier to be competing in the Olympics for the fourth time in my career,\u201d said two-time gold medal winner Vincent Hancock. \u201cI and the rest of Team USA are set up for success in Tokyo. Though we are individual competitors, this is the closest knit team I\u2019ve ever been on and I'm excited. I\u2019m ready to do my best and the team\u2019s ready to do its best and bring home as many medals as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n \"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n USA Shooting Shotgun Team Readies for Olympic Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal Ammunition sponsors the highest level of competition shooters, and we could not be happier to watch the USA Shooting Team compete on the world stage,\u201d stated Jason Vanderbrink, President of Federal Ammunition. \u201cWe know they will proudly represent our country and it\u2019s an honor to be part of their journey to the medal stand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier to be competing in the Olympics for the fourth time in my career,\u201d said two-time gold medal winner Vincent Hancock. \u201cI and the rest of Team USA are set up for success in Tokyo. Though we are individual competitors, this is the closest knit team I\u2019ve ever been on and I'm excited. I\u2019m ready to do my best and the team\u2019s ready to do its best and bring home as many medals as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n \"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND \n Hope and expectations continue to soar as the USA Shooting Shotgun Team gears up for the 2021 Olympics. The team nears completion of training with opening ceremonies on the horizon for this summer's games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n USA Shooting Shotgun Team Readies for Olympic Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cFederal Ammunition sponsors the highest level of competition shooters, and we could not be happier to watch the USA Shooting Team compete on the world stage,\u201d stated Jason Vanderbrink, President of Federal Ammunition. \u201cWe know they will proudly represent our country and it\u2019s an honor to be part of their journey to the medal stand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier to be competing in the Olympics for the fourth time in my career,\u201d said two-time gold medal winner Vincent Hancock. \u201cI and the rest of Team USA are set up for success in Tokyo. Though we are individual competitors, this is the closest knit team I\u2019ve ever been on and I'm excited. I\u2019m ready to do my best and the team\u2019s ready to do its best and bring home as many medals as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect myself and my teammates to represent our country with honor and dignity,\u201d said trap shooter Derrick Mein, who recently won the Super Sporting even at NSCA\u2019s U.S. Open last weekend at Claythorne Lodge in Kansas. \u201cWe will ensure the world sees the best of the USA in both victory and defeat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expectations High for Olympic Gold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n \"I expect to have a lot of fun,\u201d said Kayle Browning, another first-time competitor. \u201cLess than 1 percent of people can call themselves Olympians and that makes competing in the games a pretty unique experience. I intend to enjoy it and take in all the moments I can, because we all have put in a lot of hard work to get here!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe team and I will put up the highest scores we possibly can,\u201d said Austen Smith, yet another first-time Olympian. \u201cWe\u2019ve been training hard for these past few years and everything we\u2019ve accomplished has led us to this exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI expect to represent my country well, I expect to be focused, and I expect to win,\u201d said Brian Burrows. \u201cAs a team I feel that we are very strong. We are both mentally tough and very experienced competitors. Even though shooting is mostly an individual sport, we will work together as Team USA to support and encourage one another. I expect to see great things from us in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal remains the official shotshell provider for USA Shooting<\/a>. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a> and usashooting.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:11:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/06\/24\/usa-shooting-shotgun-team-olympics\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124504,"post_author":"645","post_date":"2021-05-28 10:18:14","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-28 14:18:14","post_content":"\n \nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/4GoRaTqmnSA\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There's a new world record in distance clay target shooting, and boy is it out there. Federal Premium's Gould Brothers, Steve and Arron Gould, broke their own record recently in Minnesota. The duo actually broke the record twice during an incredible day of shooting, captured by Federal cameras. The Goulds broke clays at distances of both 170 and 180 yards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Gould Brothers Set Clay Target Distance World Record at 180 Yards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are always trying to push the limits of what is possible, and we knew that Federal\u2019s TSS would be the round to make it possible to break a clay pigeon at further distances than we had in the past,\u201d said Steve Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The duo's previous record of 160 yards dated back several years. Now teamed with Federal Premium, they went after a new record. So the Gould Brothers met with Federal's lead shotshell<\/a> engineer, Adam Moser, to better understand the company's Heavyweight TSS in 7 and 9 shot. It turned out to prove a winning combination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe #7 TSS has a significant advantage at 170 yards over the #5 lead at 160 yards. Three times the pellet energy and 100+ more pellets in the payload,\u201d Moser said, explaining the ballistic advantages of Heavyweight TSS over lead shot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed with better tech, the brothers sought to set a new mark. Steve and Aaron attempted a 170-yard shot, with Aaron breaking the record. Then minutes later, brother Steve sent Heavyweight TSS #7 on target at 180 yards, another new record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"We knew we could break the record; we just didn\u2019t know by how much. To pull the trigger of a shotgun and see a clay break at 180 yards, that is pretty cool,\" said Aaron Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPulling off incredible shots requires the best performing ammunition and what an exciting accomplishment to witness with one of our category leading products,\u201d said Jason Nash, Federal\u2019s Vice President of Marketing. \u201cWhat is even more amazing, is the technology they used to capture the historic event, so fans of the Gould Brothers, Federal, and shooting in general can watch history play out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heavyweight TSS comes in several different shot sizes. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"VIDEO: Federal's Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-gould-brothers-world-record","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:01","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/05\/28\/federal-gould-brothers-world-record\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9876,"post_author":"351","post_date":"2021-04-15 10:58:38","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-15 14:58:38","post_content":"\n Federal Premium just announced the newest offering for its popular Punch line of ammunition. Federal Punch 22 LR brings a rimfire option for personal defense. The load uses new technology to deliver deep penetration for dependable performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR uses a first-of-its-kind 290grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet. It pushes out a maximum velocities for deep penetration from short-barrel handguns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSelf-defense isn\u2019t one size fits all. So, whether shooters want to carry a 22 LR handgun as a backup gun, do not feel comfortable with centerfire pistols, or simply want to get more versatility from a rimfire handgun,\u201d said Federal\u2019s Rimfire Product Manager, Dan Compton, \u201cPunch makes the 22 LR cartridge a viable defensive choice for the first time ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Punch 22 LR bullet comprises a departure from standard .22 LR designs. It features a flat nose and utilizes a heavy nickel-plated jacket around a lead core. So not only does it travel faster than competing .22 projectiles, it also deliberately minimizes expansion and retains weight to maintain sufficient straight-line penetration. The design constitutes a big lead for a .22 bullet. But according to Federal, the company's engineer team pulled it off, launching a new protection load in America's favorite little .22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve talked about making a 22 LR defensive load<\/a> for some time. We finally decided that people are already carrying 22 LRs, so we might as well build a .22 bullet optimized for protection,\u201d said Compton. \u201cAfter much research, we decided that for a .22 LR defense bullet, penetration was more important than expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Punch 22 LR retails for $9.99, per 50-count box. For even more info, please visit federalpremium.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Punch 22 LR Features<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Maximum velocity for energy and penetration; 1,070 fps through 2-inch barrel handguns, 1,650 fps out of 24-inch rifle barrels<\/li> 29-grain nickel-plated lead-core bullet<\/li> Projectile profile and composition optimized for the deepest penetration through short-barrel handguns<\/li> Rigorous function testing ensures reliability<\/li> Nickel-plated case for ease of extraction and corrosion resistance<\/li> 50-count boxes<\/li> MSRP: $9.99, per 50-count<\/li><\/ul>\n","post_title":"Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"federal-punch-22-lr-ammo","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 10:31:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/15\/federal-punch-22-lr-ammo\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":124768,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-04-07 11:38:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-07 15:38:55","post_content":"\n The .223 Remington is a staple of American shooters. This round has served competitors, hunters and homeowners equally well. The hotter 5.56mm NATO has been defending our country for more than 50 years. While the latter wasn\u2019t accepted in its infancy, today you\u2019d be hard pressed to find a gun safe that doesn\u2019t have at least one rifle chambered for it. And many choose the 55-grain 5.56 as their go-to carbine round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n 7 Stellar 55 grain 5.56 Rounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Because of its popularity, nearly every manufacturer makes at least one .223 Remington\/5.56mm NATO load that uses 55-grain FMJ projectiles. This configuration is important for manufacturers to produce, as it mimics the military\u2019s M193 load. From time to time, Uncle Sam seeks out a new company to run his Lake City plant, so perfecting this round might mean beaucoup money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the widespread availability of this 55-grain ammo, I set out to see which one was the \u201cbest\u201d at doing what it does. My criteria were accuracy and reliability, as most shooters only care about those two aspects. Sure, we can argue one might be \u201ccleaner\u201d than the other, but is there any honest way to quantify those claims? Besides, you shouldn\u2019t have any aversion to cleaning your rifle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a no-nonsense evaluation. I\u2019m not going to waste any time talking about powder charge consistency or which rounds have the most uniform overall length, as these measurements don\u2019t tell you half as much about a given ammo sample as loading a magazine\u2019s worth and firing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guns & Protocol<\/h4>\n\n\n\n While there are dozens of AR configurations out there, for the most part, you\u2019ll find guns that are built to be accurate and guns that are built to be maneuverable. So, to represent the former category, my friends and I chose an Anderson Manufacturing Sniper upper with a heavy, 24-inch, fluted, stainless steel barrel with a 1-in-8-inch twist rate. We added a Nikon 6-24x50mm Black FX1000 scope as well as a new Warne Skyline bipod. This setup ensures we had a repeatable point of aim every shot. For our \u201crun and gun\u201d tester, we decided on an Anderson Manufacturing M4-style upper with a 15-inch barrel, which represents the most popular AR-15 on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ran both uppers on an Anderson lower receiver equipped with a crisp Rise Armament RA-535 trigger<\/a>. We ensured each system had the appropriate buffer setup to support the gas system of the upper we installed. For the last five years, we have had nine of these lowers in service at Renaissance Firearms Instruction, mated to uppers chambered in a variety of cartridges. Each year, these guns digest upwards of 10,000 rounds each, and I can\u2019t find a reason to spend more money on a lower receiver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I then rallied up seven 55-grain FMJ loads, all from different manufacturers. With an understanding that these rounds weren\u2019t designed to punch one-hole groups when fired through a 16-inch barrel, I limited the \u201crun and gun\u201d rifle to function testing. So, we started by running 60 rounds of each load<\/a> and counted how many failures we had, if any. We then switched to the 24-inch-barreled Anderson Sniper build to obtain some velocity data by shooting 10 rounds over a simple and precise MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. Then it was time to measure each load\u2019s accuracy by firing five-shot groups at 100 yards. Both guns were allowed to cool before switching loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Hills<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As you already know, one of the advantages of having a barrel chambered for the 5.56mm NATO is that you can run lower-pressure .223 Remington ammo as well. Black Hills only makes a 55-grain FMJ in this chambering, so we went with it for our sample. And boy, were we glad to that we did, too, because it turned in a dynamite group of just 0.67 inches at 100 yards and ran fairly well in our long-barrel setup. We experienced just one failure to lock the bolt back on the 24-inch-barreled build, but did not have a single malfunction in our carbine function test. (black-hills.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Black$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Federal American Eagle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Federal\u2019s American Eagle line was born to hit the mark on value for budget-minded shooters. Of course, the company also knows a thing or two about making 5.56mm ammo, as it ran the Lake City plant at one point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"American$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As we filled our magazines, we noticed that the brass was very dull and saw light variances in seating depth. However, every case was from Lake City this year. This has always been my go-to brass for match reloads, as it is tough as nails and outrageously consistent. The performance was right on par with the Winchester \u201cWhite Box\u201d ammo, as it provided perfect feeding and ejection and left us with groups in the 2-inch range. (federalpremium.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hornady Frontier<\/h4>\n\n\n\n As a joint project with Lake City, Hornady entered the affordable ammo market with its Frontier line of ammo. The .223 Remington load was naturally at the forefront, and we were excited to have some of this in the mix. We have used the 75-grain variant in our long-range courses, and students were able to successfully hit bowling pins at 1,040 yards using a 1-in-9-inch-twist barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Hornady$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I ripped the package open, the brass seemed tarnished but clean. These cases were also annealed, but more concentrated to the necks and shoulders. More importantly, the rounds cycled perfectly in both guns and even produced a 1.06-inch group at 100 yards, with the first four shots landing inside of 0.5 inches. As we were reminded, Hornady doesn\u2019t make anything \u201ccheap.\u201d The best the company can do is inexpensive. (hornady.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HSM Ammunition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n The 55-grain FMJs from HSM stood out with their deep, uniform annealing. The rounds were exceptionally consistent, down to the WCC brass from 2011. They also ran flawlessly in our 16-inch-barreled upper, but that wasn\u2019t the case with the 24-inch-barreled build. The most common issue: Spent cases ejected, but the bolt didn\u2019t cycle hard enough to pick up the next round. This didn\u2019t happen frequently enough to stop us, but those looking to run HSM rounds should choose heavier projectiles. That said, the accuracy was pretty good, as our groups hovered right around 1.5 inches on all of the targets. In our five groups, we didn\u2019t have one single flyer that opened up the recorded measurement. (hsmammunition.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"HSM$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Remington UMC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Naturally, we wanted to hear from Big Green on the subject, so we ran some of Remington\u2019s popular UMC rounds through our tabletop armament. Our rounds came out of a 200-count Mega Pack with an MSRP of only $97. The ammo ran well, too, and the cases ejected into a neat pile. The accuracy results weren\u2019t bad, either. Our best group of the day came in at just 1.09 inches. The brass had a light annealing as well, making it another solid choice for reloading. (remington.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Remington$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Sig Sauer Elite Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n A few years back, the prestigious Sig Sauer turned its attention to ammunition. And the Elite Performance rounds we received were spotless\u2014just like Sig\u2019s guns. The load had good, uniform annealing, and even though I swore I wasn\u2019t going to mention it, absolutely consistent bullet seating depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"SIG$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The rounds were also fully reliable and smooth with both guns, and we noticed less felt recoil. Our chronograph readings confirmed they were among some of the slowest rounds fired, but my shoulder told us first. The accuracy was okay but wasn\u2019t a great fit for our guns, as the best group we were able to produce was just inside 2 inches. This was surprising given previous experiences with this ammo. However, although we love being able to simply call ammo \u201caccurate\u201d or \u201cinaccurate,\u201d it\u2019s important to remember that these were just the results from one gun on one given day. (sigsauer.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winchester White Box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n This test wouldn\u2019t be complete without this everyday load, especially since Winchester just won the contract to operate the Lake City plant. While the HSM cases required sunglasses to look at, the Winchester rounds had the dullest brass. However, that said, the cases were still lightly annealed, extending their reloading lifespan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Winchester$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n While this load ran flawlessly in both guns, the accuracy was a bit so-so, with our best group landing just inside 2 inches at 100 yards. Still, considering this load\u2019s price and availability, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to stock up on it for a 3-Gun match or a day of banging steel on the range. (winchester.com)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Verdict<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Overall, we didn\u2019t shoot any \u201cbad\u201d rounds. Of course, some were more accurate than others, and one or two brands had a few hiccups. But, like most aspects of the shooting world, one must take into account their application. While the HSM load is a good fit for someone looking to plink today and reload tomorrow, Winchester\u2019s FMJs might be better for the guy who plans on leaving his brass in the dirt. Looking for match-grade performance without the match-grade price tag? Maybe Hornady or Black Hills is your ticket. With the standard 55-grain loads, the possibilities are endless, so grab a box of each and see what your gun prefers. Above all, have fun in your testing, because a day on the range should never feel like work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 55 Grain 5.56 Performance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Load<\/td> Velocity<\/td> Accuracy<\/td> <\/td><\/tr> <\/td> <\/td> Average<\/td> Best<\/td><\/tr> Black Hills 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,129<\/td> 1.03<\/td> 0.67<\/td><\/tr> Federal American Eagle 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,251<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 1.68<\/td><\/tr> Hornady 55-gr. Frontier FMJ<\/td> 3,191<\/td> 1.19<\/td> 1.06<\/td><\/tr> HSM 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,058<\/td> 1.62<\/td> 1.58<\/td><\/tr> Remington 55-gr. UMC FMJ<\/td> 3,089<\/td> 1.56<\/td> 1.09<\/td><\/tr> SIG Sauer 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,077<\/td> 1.81<\/td> 1.75<\/td><\/tr> Winchester 55-gr. FMJ<\/td> 3,296<\/td> 2.56<\/td> 2.06<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for five, five-shot groups at 100 yards. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n This article is from the March 2020 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at <\/em><\/strong>OutdoorGroupStore.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","post_title":"7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 \/ 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_modified_gmt":"2023-05-31 16:12:23","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/04\/07\/7-best-55-grain-5-56-rounds\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":9986,"post_author":"914","post_date":"2021-03-25 11:52:06","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-25 15:52:06","post_content":"\n The oldest name in American gunmaking, in this case ammo making, finally made its long-awaited official return. Vista Outdoors announced the launch of the new Remington Ammunition website recently. The launch marks a new era for the vaunted Big Green brand of ammunition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Remington Ammunition Website Up & Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n \"Our redesigned site with new content, detailed product information, and easy shop-ability will allow Big Green fans to see Remington ammo in a new light,\" said Joel Hodgdon, Remington Ammunition\u2019s Marketing Director. \"We want everyone who pulls a trigger to learn about our products and find out everything they need to know about Remington ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors to remington.com<\/a> will quickly find access to detailed information and load selection advice. Additionally, the company will offer Remington accessories and merchandise, shipping straight to customer doors. The website will offer ammunition for big game, waterfowl and turkey hunting, along with personal defense, target shooting and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \"The new website is only the beginning of what Big Green ammo wants to offer hunters and shooters,\" said Hodgdon. \"The new site is the tip of the iceberg\u2026it shows our renewed commitment to quality, education and innovation in all things ammo.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remington fans can sight up for the new Remington e-newsletter. It will include product availability, new product info and everything else related to Remington ammo. The company will also run Remington social media pages as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vista Outdoors became one of the big winner's in last year's Remington bankruptcy breakup<\/a>. Federal's parent company took control of the Lonoke manufacturing facility and all Remington Ammunition business. Of note, Remington firearms became a separate business, found at remarms.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-14 16:56:17","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-14 20:56:17","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/03\/25\/remington-ammunition-launches-new-website-marking-new-era\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2114,"post_author":"929","post_date":"2021-02-26 06:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-26 11:00:00","post_content":"\n Before we get to what Traditions and Federal Premium have done with the NitroFire and Firestick, let's look at why they're both game changers. Every year all over the country we hear the same back and forth quips wherever hunters gather. One hunter makes a qualm about how short deer season is only to be met with the retort from another that they should \u201cget into muzzleloading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Many folks shy away from this notion because it departs very far from the norm of the firearms kingdom. Front-stuffers require an entirely new skillset, not to mention tools and the investment of time both on and off of the range. That, and many people find the entire experience, well, scary. Truth be told, I reloaded high-pressure brass cartridges before I ever fathomed the thought of pouring black powder down a pipe and backing a piece of lead up against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s a guy with a busy schedule to do? Something new just needed to be invented, and no one company alone had stepped up to the plate. Well, the best inventions require the teamwork of two businesses; think peanut butter & chocolate, or hookers & blow ... eh, maybe not that second one. But this new collaboration involves Federal Ammunition and Traditions Firearms. Their creation is the FireStick<\/a>-fueled NitroFire muzzleloader<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, lots of questions here: Is this thing considered a modern firearm? Is Amazon going to sue for the use of the word \u201cstick\u201d? Does it need Wi-Fi?! To get my answers I went where I always go, the gun shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Traditions NitroFire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The best way to start describing this new system is to look at the gun itself. The Traditions NitroFire is a hinge-action that is part breechloader and part muzzleloader. While the projectile is rammed down the muzzle, the self-contained powder cartridge (the FireStick) is inserted into the breech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Being that it \u201csort of\u201d loads like a conventional weapon, Traditions yielded to the ATF and just went with the modern firearm ruling to get it to the market faster. In this writer\u2019s opinion, it wouldn\u2019t surprise me if the ATF changes its mind<\/a> after it gets a little pushback from the hunting community; let\u2019s just hope enough folks get involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So to get your hands on one it needs to be shipped to a gun store and you will need to get your background check done. However, in the eyes of most state DEC offices it is still a muzzleloader and therefore can be used during muzzleloader season or even during rifle season if you enjoy shooting it as much as I do; just check with your state first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To the Breech<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, as sleek-looking as the gun was, the story doesn't get going until you look at the charging component, the Federal FireStick. Working with black powder can be messy and maybe even a little dangerous if you don\u2019t pay close attention to what you\u2019re doing. Furthermore, dealing with it in the elements isn\u2019t exactly an exercise in reliability. The FireStick changes all of that by wrapping up either 100 or 120 grains of Hodgdon Triple Eight powder into a fully encapsulated cartridge that is set off by a 209 muzzleloader or shotshell primer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, to load it you just slip it into the breech after you\u2019ve sat a bullet, and once you insert a primer it's ready to go. If you have a bad (or my typical) day and don\u2019t see anything to shoot, just unload the gun the same way you would a break-action shotgun and push the bullet out of the muzzle with your ramrod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No more doing a desk pop to safely get out of your tree stand and then cleaning your gun for absolutely no reason when you get home! Being that the primer doesn\u2019t break the seal on the FireStick until it ignites, both it and the FireStick are completely reusable. Just toss that mangled bullet \u2026 you cheap bastard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n With rifle in hand, I went with Tradition\u2019s 250-grain .50-caliber Carnivore bullets. The nice thing about these is that they sit in a self-lubricating ridgeback sabot; that way no patches or lube are necessary between shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before seating a bullet, I opened \u2019er up and peeked through the breech down at my target. I wanted to see if the pre-mounted scope was close enough to get on paper. To my delight, it appeared to be previously bore-sighted, so I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The first portion of the firing experience that I took note of was the seating of the bullet itself. Unlike conventional muzzleloaders, there wasn\u2019t any guesswork as to when to stop. When I got to the bottom of the barrel I heard a very definitive \u201cCLUNK\u201d as the bullet contacted the shelf before the chamber. This is a reference point for seating. It's also a convenient little feature that keeps you from going too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything needed to load the gun came with the rifle. Traditions attached it under the barrel, just like in the old days. A bullet starter made the process a little easier, but it isn\u2019t necessary if you are a minimalist. Once the bullet seated, I prepared a FireStick with a primer, inserted it, closed the action, and cocked the hammer. From there, I was in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From a bench rest position, I aimed at a Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C target that I placed 50 yards away. Then I let it rip. My first shot impacted at the 12 o\u2019clock position. If the target had fur it would have been flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n One might expect a foul smell from the discharge, like some sort of mix between rotten eggs and burning plastic. However, ironically, there wasn't much scent to speak of and the little bit there was wasn't that unpleasant. It was pretty much just like any other gun smoke but just a hair sweeter. Reloading took me less than 30 seconds from start to finish. In no time I was through my first 10 shots without a single cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Range Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As my range day went on I took some time to gather velocities via a MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph. I was quite impressed that these things were flying at an average velocity of 2,016 fps; that\u2019s a lot of heat coming off a 250-grain bullet. Furthermore, the standard deviation of a five-shot group was only 23 fps; that's as consistent as most cartridge ammunition that I\u2019ve tested in my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers are nice, but the clincher for me was the five-shot group that nearly touched; it measured a scant 1.7 inches from center to center. I mean what else would you expect? It\u2019s the same amount of powder, being ignited the same way, pushing the same bullet, with the same wadding, from the same place every time. Consistency at the firing line equals consistency at the target, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the Traditions NitroFire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Ownership of the NitroFire is pretty easy too. For starters, it\u2019s a completely open system. Not sure if you stuck a bullet in? Just crack it open and see if you can see light. Not a whole lot of mechanical inclination is necessary either. Disassembly is as simple as removing one solemn screw and slipping off the forend and the barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t explicitly in the works yet, but I can see alternative barrels being offered in the future. It would allow shooters to change calibers and maybe even retrofit their NitroFire to take traditional black powder charges and percussion caps, should they want to save their FireSticks for the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n $\"Traditions$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n The completely open system simplified another element too: Cleaning. When I finished my range day, I pulled the barrel and just swabbed it with good ole-fashioned soap and water. Then I sent a few pre-saturated Blackout 209 cleaning patches through it to ensure I removed any remaining corrosive residue. I dried, oiled, and reassembled the gun in about 25 minutes without my wife ever finding out what I did to her bathtub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before You Blast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n While the Traditions NitroFire might be shunned by the purists who prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, it is an absolute godsend for people like me who want to spend more time pursuing game, but just don\u2019t have the time to hone their black powder skills. With the FireStick cartridges, this becomes the ultimate way to introduce somebody to the sport of muzzleloading. It should even open their eyes to how easy it can be. For even more info, please visit FederalPremium.com<\/a> or TraditionsFirearms.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-04-22 12:02:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-04-22 16:02:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/2021\/02\/26\/traditions-nitrofire-federal-firestick-muzzleloader\/","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":5},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"}; TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND Federal Ammunition Lifestyle USA Shooting Shotgun Team Gears Up for Japan 2021 Olympics by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Lifestyle VIDEO: Federal’s Gould Brothers Make 180-Yard World Record Clay Shot by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo Federal Punch 22 LR: 29-Grain Nickel-Plated Bullet Penetrates Deep by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Ammo 7 of the Best 55 Grain 5.56 / 223 Rounds Compete Head to Head by Frank Melloni May 31, 2023 Ammo Remington Ammunition Launches New Website, Marking New Era by Chad Adams September 14, 2023 Guns Traditions NitroFire: The Groundbreaking, FireStick Fueled Muzzleloader by Frank Melloni April 22, 2024 TRENDING No Content Available 12 Gauge Federal Ammunition Wounded Warrior Support Nears $250K by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 News DOJ, FBI Select Federal Ammunition 5.56mm Service & Training Ammo by Tactical Life Staff May 31, 2023 Ammo VIDEO: Testing Federal Premium Punch Ammo in 4 Guns & 4 Calibers by Frank Melloni October 27, 2023 Ammo Federal Premium Personal Defense NRA Buckshot Proceeds Support 2A by Personal Defense World May 31, 2023 Page 5 of 15 Previous 1 … 4 5 6 … 15 Next POPULAR No Content Available BROWSE BY BRAND PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE CORPORATE ADVERTISE Subscribe to our Email List Email Address:* No Result View All Result Guns Semi-Automatic Handguns Revolvers Semi-Automatic Rifles Modern Sporting Rifle Lever Action Bolt Action Shotguns Airguns Parts & Accessories Optics & Sights Thermal Vision Lasers & Lights Suppressors Holsters Slings Targets Handgun Parts Rifle Parts Maintenance & Tools Ammo Handgun Ammo Rifle Ammo Shotgun Ammo Rimfire Ammo Reloading Gear Apparel Ears & Eyes Storage Tactical Gear Knives Less Lethal Flashlights Electronics Lifestyle Concealed Carry Personal Defense Home Defense Hunting Competition Shooting Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting Training Shooting 101 Survival Military & LE People Rides History News Giveaways Enter to Win Walther’s PDP F-Series in February’s FGF! 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