Rich Gonzales and Nick Nabor

Do you want to step up your game? Do you know what separates a lot of the top tournament hunting teams from the rest of the pack? They can flat out shoot! They rarely miss. They know their equipment and DOPE. They kill most every coyote that comes into the call. Generally, these teams also have a guy or two that is very proficient at long range shooting. I know of some teams that have guys that can consistently kill coyotes at 600 and 700yds. Even at night.

Rich Gonzales long balling it with his 6 Creedmoor. Green dot on the horizon was where the shot was taken from.

I know that I’ve had stands where pressured coyotes, or “educated” coyotes have come to within 500 or so yards, and then they won’t commit any closer. Maybe you’ve experienced this, too? Two weeks ago, I was hunting with a buddy and we had six coyotes hanging up at about 600yds. This was after we closed the gap by 200 or so yards. But we couldn’t move any closer through the open field towards the wood line they were on. Neither one of us were shooting a cartridge that was sufficient for making a clean shot at this distance. Even if I was, that distance is a little more than what I am proficient at.

Invest in You

So, what goes into killing more coyotes? Proficiency and practice! Mainly anyway. There is something to be said for quality equipment, but that’s a rabbit hole that we won’t go down here. We may skirt the edge of it, though.

I’m not going to get into a caliber debate, but I will leave you with the following. Choose the proper ammunition and/or bullet for the cartridge that you are shooting. The bullet needs to have enough velocity to perform as it’s designed at the impact distance that you’re shooting at. Bullet design is also critical to its terminal performance. For the most part there are two camps here. The bullet goes in, but doesn’t exit. It dumps all of its energy inside of the animal. The other is more common of the typical expanding style bullets. The bullet goes in and exits. It’s relying upon expansion for the temporary and permanent wound channels, combined with loss of blood. When this occurs, the bullet is not dumping all of its energy into the target. It has retained energy, as it has passed through the target. You also want to make sure that you’re shooting a bullet that is appropriate for coyote sized animals. Meaning that for the most part, you don’t want to be shooting a bullet that’s designed for medium game, or even larger. This will lead to pass through shots that generally will pin hole or ice pick both sides of the yote. Generally this does not equal a DRT result. Dead Right There. This is the result that I, and most coyote hunters want. Especially tournament hunters. The more time that you have to spend looking for a coyote that ran after you shot it, the less stands that you will be able to make. If you want to kill a lot of coyotes, you need to make a lot of stands. One last thing on this. Some cartridges allow for more of a fudge factor on shot placement. Most all cartridges will work for coyote hunting, but there are options that greatly increase your lethality on coyotes.

6 ARC 58g V-Max Entry- No Exit

6 Creedmoor Exit

Practice. Practice. Practice! And get off of the bench. This is where I see many coyote hunters fail. They don’t’shoot or practice all year long. I see it all of the time at the main range that I go to. Just last week I was at the range on a few different occasions and each time I saw guys struggling to get their thermal sighted in. Some were having gun issues. A couple of guys were trying to diagnose why they weren’t hitting their POA and were blaming the optic. Maybe. But doubtful. In talking with these individuals, they were all getting ready for coyote hunting. Mind you, here in Iowa we can hunt year around. Most will look at it as October or November through around March. Yet the majority of them said that the rifle had been sitting since last season. Some hadn’t even been cleaned or lubricated.

Shoot year around. I know things get busy, but make it a point to get out at least a couple times a month. Get off of the bench if your range will allow for it. It’s fine to shoot from the bench to work on your fundamentals, but shooting from the tripod will verify those, as well as force you to work on other skills.

One of my preferred drills for being consistent on a rifle is the dot drill. This drill can be done a couple of different ways, but I typically use it for getting on the gun in a consistent manner. Take a backer of some sort and put a few rows of 1”, or whatever size you prefer, dots on it. Set it up at 100yds. I do this from the bench as well as the tripod. With a zeroed rifle, position the rifle on bags. On the first dot, get yourself settled, proper sight picture, etc., and execute a shot. It should be in the dot. Get up from the bench now. Maybe walk a short bit. Get back into position and repeat the process. Get settled. Proper sight picture. Etc. Execute the shot. It too should be in the dot. Repeat this for each dot. You’re looking for consistency in POI from dot to dot. As the barrel warms, it may start to walk, but you can take this into account. If you’re all over from dot to dot, then you have something going on in your fundamentals. You’re not consistent on the gun. The process is the same from the tripod, except that you’ll step away from the tripod between shots. You can also stay on the gun between dots and shoot it more as a precision type drill. Testing your natural point of aim, trigger pull, follow through, etc.

Dot Drill Target Example

If you or your range has steel, set up some steel targets at different distances. Shoot them from the tripod if possible. Are you shooting with a buddy? Have your buddy call out a specific target. Then you find and engage it. Want to make this more difficult? Add a timer and a Par time. Meaning a set time that you have to put a shot on target. Most, if not all, timers have this function. Once set, the timer will beep giving you your go signal. At the time that you preset, the timer will beep again signaling that your time is over. You can even run a Par time to a single target when you’re shooting by yourself. The video below is me running the 6 ARC with 80g VT ammunition on a 4″x4″ plate and 8″ plate at 220yds.

You say that you’re limited to 100yds and don’t have any steel or fancy targets? That’s OK! You can work on shooting groups. Your fundamentals. You can put targets of different sizes and shapes up at 100yds. This will add a varying amount of difficulty. You can even run a Par time if you wanted to. There some free timers in the app stores that may work OK if you don’t have a timer.

Whatever you do, make your shooting count! Don’t just go and make expensive noise.

It’s always a good idea to check your zero from time to time. I can’t recall how many times I’ve heard somebody say “I don’t remember where my zero is. Guess I’ll find out.” If you zero off of a bench, always verify it from the tripod. Sometimes the POI may shift between the two. I recently experienced this myself. Usually my POI’s are the same. Not this time.

Speaking of zeroing. When you zero your optic, make sure that all attachments are in place. More specifically, if you use a suppressor make sure that it’s on. Generally speaking, adding or removing a suppressor will change your POI. Sometimes by a great amount. The other day when I was at the range a guy was zeroing his thermal. He had made the comment to me that he had forgot his suppressor, but he wanted to get zeroed. OK. Good luck with that. I tried to talk to him about it, but it went nowhere.

If you clean your rifle barrel, foul it before you decide to take it hunting. It’s not uncommon for a clean barrel to have a different POI from a dirty barrel. One that has carbon and copper in it. I generally will put about 10 rounds through a clean barrel before I will hunt with it.

On Stand

The following may create some criticism and arguments. Generally, I won’t shoot at runners. For one, I’m not very good at it. Probably because I don’t do it enough to get good at it. I have dumped a few on the run, but I’ve missed many more and wasted a lot of ammo. Guys that I know that kill a lot of coyotes, generally won’t shoot at runners either. Tournament or out of state hunting is a bit different. In these cases, the majority of the time, one is not worried about going back and hunting that spot any time soon. If ever again.

What I’ve come to find is that a lot of the time a runner may stop and provide you with another shot opportunity. The same applies when multiple yotes come in. After the first one is dumped, the others begin to scatter. It’s not uncommon for some of them to stop and offer shot opportunities if they haven’t been mag dumped on and have it in high gear headed for the next county. If the belly of the coyote isn’t dragging the ground in an ultra low high speed drag reducing posture, or the ears are not pinned back, there’s a chance that the coyote may stop again. This is where your call can come in handy, too. Sometimes a quick hit of a preset that is a howl or coyote distress may distract that coyote from its thought long enough that it’ll stop and provide a shot opportunity.

I don’t mind leaving a couple to run off on a stand. I’ll go back after them at another time. I do believe that like a domesticated K9, that a coyote will associate things as positive or negative as it relates to things in their environmental area, and that they tie this to experiences. Like how we train dogs. Take a dog with an underground fence for example. It may take a few zaps from the collar, but at some point most dogs will know that hey I can go to this point. Beyond that, I’m going to get a pain in my neck. A good example of this is this past winter. I pulled into a field edge to hunt a field. Scanning the field I see a coyote already out there mousing around. I get the rifle set up and I drop the call a few feet from me. This coyote was about 200yds from me. I turned on a rabbit distress at a low volume. He immediately turned and ran back to the woods that he came from. Gee. Do you think he’s heard that sound before and had a negative interaction? Lol. I did call that yote back out with some pup distress.

Gear- Kind Of

I said that I wasn’t going to make this about gear, and I’m not. But there are a couple of things that need to be mentioned if you want to increase the number of coyotes that you kill.

Make sure your rifle works 100% and that it shoots consistent groups. Know the limitations of your rifle and other shooting related equipment. Be realistic about this. Certain cartridges may not provide the needed terminal ballistics at 200 or 300yds or further. If your rifle is an MOA rifle, that’s ok. Just know that you may be limited with some shots. Can you make that headshot at 150yds as that’s all that you can see of the yote? Can you take that quartering away shot at 100yds. It’s a small vital zone and there’s a good chance of a gut hit. I think you get the idea. If you or your rifle is larger than an MOA shooter, than this has to be taken into consideration. Can you make that shot at 200 or 300yds? A practical example. The vital area of an average adult coyote is roughly 6” to 8” in diameter. If you’re shooting say 1.5 MOA, that’s 3” at 200yds. That’s half or about half of the vital area. Further out you go, it doesn’t get any smaller and environmental conditions may not always be perfect for you to shoot your average.

Consistency. I’ve used that word a bit. Where it really comes into its element is in your shooting platform. A solid and robust tripod will greatly aid you in making precise shots, shots at longer distances, as well as mitigating recoil and staying in the optic. It can also decrease the time spent making the shot. AKA shot timing. Like cartridges, tripods are a hotly contested and debated topic. Here’s what I will say. Tripods are money well spent. Yes, a decent amount of money. Get rid of the center column tripod. Get rid of the flimsy tripod that has the legs flexing and bowing when you load it. Make the move to an ARCA mount. While some tripods have 3^rd party 3D printed or manufactured ball heads, just skip these and get a quality tripod and ball head. It will provide more stability and a smoother operation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had somebody get behind one of my rifles on one of my tripods and they’re blown away by how stable and solid it is in comparison to theirs. It is money well spent if you want to increase your odds of killing more coyotes.

There is No Secret

Hitting AND killing every coyote that you shoot at. It’s that simple, and it’s no secret. This is the number one way to increase your end year totals. Yet many fail to do this. I myself miss more than I’d like at times. But those who are putting up large numbers of coyotes every year have a few things going for them. They have land access, and lots of land access. Some may be in a target rich environment. They kill higher than 95% of the coyotes that come in on a stand. They hunt and hunt a lot. Most are not “weekend warriors.”

No matter how much you hunt, or what kind of hunter you consider yourself to be, you too can up your numbers by killing every coyote that comes in. Or a high majority of them anyway. Invest time in yourself and your skills. Enjoy this adventure.

BRD Gun Works LLC

Turning predators into prey

The above concerns are commonly seen in over gassed AR’s, or AR’s with excessive operating pressures.

Over gassing is a condition in which the bolt carrier group has an excessive amount of gas pressure applied to it over a period of time, resulting in an increase of timing in the AR platform, which then correlates to non-optimal extraction and ejection of spent cases. If excessive enough, over gassing can result in functioning concerns and excessive wear on critical components.

What are some contributors to over gassing?

• Larger than optimal gas port diameters
• Long dwell time combined with large gas ports
• High pressure ammunition- Handloads or some factory ammunition
• Addition of a suppressor- Most suppressors will add back pressure, aka bore pressure
• Combination of the above listed factors

Pro Tip: the easiest “field expedient” way of checking timing (AKA gassing) is by observing where the firearm is throwing the spent brass. Here’s a caveat to this. Ejector spring and extractor spring tension will influence the ejection distance and position. Check out this article on extractor tips. Shoot 5-10 rounds and see where the spent brass is ejecting to and where it is landing. It should typically be making a nice pile, or “group” at a 3-4 o’clock position and typically six to eight feet away. If you shoot with a suppressor, repeat the previous check and note your findings. If you’re ejecting spent cases before the 3 o’clock position without a suppressor, it’s most likely that the gun is over gassed. If you add a suppressor and the group moves forward to a 1-2 o’clock position, you’re getting too much gas and the casings are coming out so fast they are hitting your deflector and bouncing forward.

Optimizing the buffer system to the gun increases the operational performance as well as reducing wear on critical components. This is where we start. If we are unable to get the gun properly timed either due to an excessively large gas port diameter, pressure of the ammunition being used, addition of a suppressor, or a combination of these factors then we look at adding an adjustable gas block to further regulate the port pressure downward.

In the AR platform, the gas that drives the system has several components which affect operation. First is the port pressure, which is determined by the location of the gas port on the barrel, and which also determines the length of time the gas has to travel to effect operation of the bolt.

Next is the size of the gas port, which determines gas volume introduced into the system.

Last, is the barrel length past the gas port, which determines the dwell time, or time that the system is pressurized.

The pressure factor of the ammunition being fired is the last variable related to gas. However, it should be noted, that when using suppressors which have bore pressure (AKA backpressure) created by the baffle-chamber design most common in the industry, this effectively lengthens the barrel, often dramatically increasing the dwell time and creating additional prolonged pressure on the breach-face of the bolt. These characteristics creates an over gassed condition, increased cyclic rate, felt recoil, and blowback into the action which in the AR platform will result in gas exiting the ejection port and sometimes through the charging handle.

The three core components to the AR operation trifecta are:

• Springs
• Gas
• Mass

In that order.

It is through adjustments of these core components that we achieve optimal performance characteristics in the AR platform, and within reason can reduce over gassing and the effects that it has.

The action spring (AKA buffer spring) to a large degree determines how long the bolt carrier group stays locked in battery. It regulates the speed of the reciprocating mass, which in the AR is the bolt carrier group and the buffer. The buffer spring slows the mass, and it also creates the force which returns the bolt carrier group back into battery. Action springs such as those by Springco USA come in various spring rates and allow you to tune the system. Other springs such as the magazine spring and hammer spring also contribute slightly to the timing of the gun as they do provide slight resistance in the rearward stroke of the bolt carrier group.

For the more technical minded people, force divided by mass gives you acceleration, so if you increase the mass of the buffer you can slow down the cycle of the bolt. But, reciprocating mass affects the tuning in a couple of ways. By increasing weight you increase the amount of time it takes for the reciprocating mass to begin moving.

This is a benefit in over gassed guns, guns that are under sprung, and guns that have a longer dwell time in that it aids in keeping the bolt carrier group in battery which in turns reduces chamber pressure. Once the heavier mass starts moving it also moves slower the heavier it is. This reduces the cyclic rate. Now for the negatives of a heavier reciprocating mass. Too much reciprocating mass can cause the chamber pressure to be reduced too much, and create functional concerns. Heavier reciprocating mass provides for more felt recoil over a longer duration. This is due to the mass bottoming out against the bottom of the buffer tube, and the amount of time it stays there due to the buffer spring taking longer to get that mass moving forward. All of this will typically translate into more movement of the firearm which directly affects how much the reticle moves when firing a shot. This can increase the difficulty of spotting your own shots or to quickly place follow-up shots. Excessive reciprocating mass can also cause premature gas ring wear.

Bottom line is that empirical data has shown that increasing spring rate and then increasing buffer weight as required provides for better performance in the AR platform, as well as reducing wear on critical components.

This also applies to most SCS buffer systems. Systems such as the JP SCS allow you to tune the SCS using various springs that are of different spring rates, as well as replacing the steel weights with tungsten weights that you can purchase.

It should be noted that not all SCS style buffer systems will allow you to change spring rates. They only allow you to change the weights. This is the equivalent of only installing a heavier buffer.

While I’m not a proponent of adjustable gas blocks on duty or defensive AR’s, I do use them on predator hunting and competition guns. The adjustable gas block, such as SLR Rifleworks, allows us to reduce the amount of gas flow through the block, which is effectively like reducing the gas port diameter.

Another benefit of using an adjustable gas block for AR’s in these roles is that a lower reciprocating mass can also be used. This can be in the form of a lower bolt carrier weight, a lower buffer weight, or a combination of both. Remember how I stated earlier that a heavier mass will increase felt recoil over a longer duration of time? The opposite is true for a lighter mass. It will reduce felt recoil, reduce the duration of the recoil, and in most cartridges will change the recoil impulse to more of a quick and sharp hit which does not move the gun as much and results in less reticle movement. But when using a low mass system you must use an adjustable gas block and have it set correctly. Otherwise you can run into operational concerns as well as premature component failures.

When adjusting gas blocks, what I have found best with most cartridges is to set the gas block so that it always locks back on an empty mag after firing one shot with the ammunition that I will be using. I will then verify this with a couple of 3 shot sequences to verify last round bolt hold open on an empty mag. If a gas block is set right at that ragged edge of reliability, it may lock the bolt open after one round, but fail to do so after a string of 3 quickly fired shots. Once I get consistent last round bolt hold open I will generally turn the gas block screw out one to two more turns. I’ve found that this provides me with an operational envelope that will work year around and with the range of ammunition that I use. Now if going to a location that may have a significant elevation or atmospheric change, then you may find that you need to make additional adjustments.

While this is not in-depth information, but more of a hitting the wave tops type of article, I hope this gives you a better understanding of the relationship of the gas system and buffer system.

BRD Gun Works~ Performance on Demand

These are a few of the most common adversities that create fitment and operational concerns within the large frame ARs, and is why that BRD Gun Works does not offer upper receiver groups for the large frame guns. Large frame ARs also come into the shop for more service concerns than the AR-15.

Currently the only TDP that I’m aware of is the one owned by Knight’s Armament, as they have military contracts for their SR25. The TDP is proprietary to Knight’s Armament, unlike the AR-15 in which the TDP is platform wide. Without a platform wide TDP, this means that there are no set specifications to which components are to be made to, which results in no platform wide compatibility.

The designation of AR-10 for large frame ARs is technically incorrect. The AR-10 is a specific platform within the large frame guns and stands for Armalite Rifle 10. In the large frame ARs we have two main platforms, DPMS and AR-10. The rest of the large frame guns are comprised mainly of proprietary designs specific to the manufacturer that makes it.

The most common platform is DPMS. Within the DPMS platform we have sub-platforms:

• DPMS Gen 1- with two possible rail height specifications
  • High rail- .210″
  • Low rail- .150″
• DPMS Gen 2

Also within the DPMS platform you may find that while the receivers are of the DPMS design, that a manufacturer may use proprietary components in the receivers. An example of this are the pivot and take-down pins on the Aero Precision M5 lower receiver. The pins required for Aero’s M5 receivers are longer than the DPMS pattern pins. Recently, there was a large frame AR in the shop for service. While it was a DPMS Gen 1 pattern it had proprietary parts in the lower receiver. The thread portion of the mag catch was longer and the bolt catch detent was also substantially longer due to the depth of the detent hole.

The DPMS Gen 1 guns are full size AR platform receivers. What is commonly thought of when we think of large frame AR’s. But as previously mentioned, there are two different specifications for the upper receivers as well as the handguards. There is the “high rail” option that has an upper receiver tang height of .210”ish, while the “low rail” option is .150”ish. The high rail option is the most commonly seen rail height in the DPMS platform.

The Gen 2 DPMS AR’s utilize a shortened receiver set which makes the overall size very similar to the AR-15. This creates a lighter and more compact AR that can still fire the long action cartridges. While it uses the same magazines as the Gen 1’s; the receiver internals, rail, and barrel are specific to the Gen 2. Image below is of a Gen 2 receiver set.

A note of caution with the DPMS platform. Machining tolerances and specs can and typically will vary between manufacturers. It is not uncommon to have large frame guns come in with receivers that don’t fit properly. To have bolt carrier groups that will not properly cycle or will not lock back on an empty mag. Bolt catches with follower tangs that are not long enough to properly engage magazine followers.  

The most incorrectly used designation….. AR-10. The Armalite AR-10 was designed by Eugene Stoner, and was the basis for the AR-15 design. It should be noted that the AR-10 is a distant 2^nd to the DPMS as it relates to complete firearms and components. While the AR-10 is for the most part proprietary, it is considered to be a platform due to the availability of 3^rd party aftermarket components and support. There is very little compatibility between the DPMS or AR-10 platforms. Basically none. Aside from the buffer system that can be used, there are is no other compatibility.

Magazine selection. This can be confusing for some.

• DPMS Gen 1 and Gen 2:
  • SR25/ LR308 magazines
• Armalite AR-10:
  • Original- SR25 pattern
  • Approx. 1996 to 2011 AR-10B- AR10 mags: modified M14 magazines
  • 2012 AR-10A- SR25 pattern
• Proprietary designs vary and can include:
  • HK417
  • FN FAL
  • FN SCAR
  • HK41/HK91/G3
  • And a few others

So I should probably touch upon buffer systems. Over the years I’ve had a large number of large frame ARs come in with damage to the lower receiver due to excessive free-travel of the bolt carrier group. I’ve also seen guns with bolt carrier groups that wouldn’t fully cycle. Again, these concerns were attributed to home built guns that were not built with the proper components. Check out this video I made about 4 years ago on BCG free-travel.

There are three commonly seen large frame AR buffer systems:

• Rifle length receiver extension, rifle length buffer, and rifle length spring
• DPMS short .308 buffer, carbine receiver extension, specific 308 spring rate spring
• Armalite AR-10 system: Intermediate length tube, rifle spring, and carbine length buffer

Let’s look at some specific differences between the DPMS and AR-10.

The receivers are of a different shape. The DPMS upper receiver has a more rounded design at the rear of the upper receiver right before the buffer tube housing, while the AR-10 has more of an angular cut on the upper receiver.

Other differences:

• Barrel and bolt
  • Headspace
• Bolt carrier group
  • Armalite is specific
  • DPMS Gen 1 is specific
  • DPMS Gen 2 uses a shorter bolt carrier
  • Some carriers use proprietary components such as POF and their roller design
  • Rock River Arms bolt carrier is longer than DPMS and Armalite
• Other proprietary differences
• Buffer system as described above
• Gas tube
  • DPMS tube is approximately 15.125”- rifle length gas
  • AR-10 is approximately 15.5”- (+.325″ longer)
• Handguards as previously mentioned
• Barrel nut
  • DPMS threads are 1-7/16” and 16 TPI- 2A
  • AR-10 threads are 1-7/16” and 18 TPI-3A
• Magazine catch

I mentioned the differences of the DPMS and AR-10 gas tube above. I feel that it’s important to also mention that there are proprietary gas tube lengths within the DPMS platform. One such length is the “intermediate” length offered by Wilson Combat. At the time of this writing, within the last couple of years there have been other gas system lengths introduced into the AR-15 platform also. One such length is the “patrol” length used on some of Rosco Manufacturing K9 barrels. I mention this for the home builders. There have been large frame ARs come into the shop with functional concerns that were found to be caused by an incorrect gas tube length.

This is not meant to be an all-inclusive article, but rather to provide some insight to the complexity of the large frame ARs. It largely applies to those whom may be considering doing a home build, and is mainly to give a heads up. The majority of large frame ARs that come into the shop for functional concerns are home builds, and in my experiences the root failures were due component selection and assembly due to a lack of experience by the individual who put it together.   

BRD Gun Works~ Performance on Demand

Fall is almost here. Iowa youth deer season is in swing, and other hunting seasons will soon be following. We are lucky that we are able to hunt coyotes 24/7 with thermals. IR in Iowa is off limits during the deer seasons. Per the IA DNR, no person shall use an infrared light source to hunt coyotes during any established muzzleloader, bow, or shotgun deer hunting season. Iowa has recently opened up a 24/7 raccoon hunting season on private land. I know of guys who have dedicated thermal guns for raccoon hunting now. Hopefully this will help the crops and other wildlife that coons are so hard on.

I do hope that your year has been a blessed one so far. I wish you a safe and great hunting season. May your bag limits be filled and I do hope that you are able to make some personal records. Enjoy the great outdoors. The sunrises and sunsets on stand or in the fields. Mother nature in all of her greatness as the woods and fields become alive around you. Those special moments and bonding when hunting with kids and your buddies.

God Bless.

BRDGW at 2024 The IA Deer Classic- Bigger Booth

We will be at the 2024 Iowa Deer Classic. But with a bigger booth! The Classic will be March 1st through the 3rd. Put it on your calendar! This is a premier event. In the 3 days there is over 10,000 people in attendance. Vendors. Displays. Seminars. And more!

If you came and saw us last year, we are in the same area, but just a couple of booths down in booths 204 and 206. I felt really bad last year as we seemed to consistently be blocking the isle with people waiting to talk to us and watching some of the awesome videos that we had playing on monitors. We also had people going in the booth to our left to look at some of the guns. With the bigger booth I do hope that we will be able to provide more individualized attention within the booth. More room to come in and look at the guns and FatBoy products that will be on hand for display and sale.

I hope to see those of you that I had the pleasure of meeting last year! I hope to see some of the familiar faces to BRDGW. And if I haven’t met you and you’re going to be there, please stop by and say hi!

Some images from the 2023 IA Deer Classic.

SOT 2- SBRs and Suppressors

We have jumped into the SOT NFA side of things with an SOT 2. What does this mean? We are now able to sell and manufacturer SBRs and suppressors. While I have no intentions on manufacturing suppressors, I am working on things behind the scenes as far as selling suppressors.

I am proud to announce that we have become a Diligent Defense Co dealer. I currently have an Enticer L-Ti in house that we’ve been using and I look forward to doing some testing with. So far, I’m impressed with it!

With the recent changes to “AR Pistols” by the ATF, the popularity of SBRs has continued to grow in the predator and hog hunting communities. I’m excited to be able to continue servicing those individuals who like to hunt with short barreled rifles. One of which is me.

FatBoy Tripods and Products- In Stock!

If you didn’t know, BRD Gun Works LLC is a FatBoy dealer! Looking for an Elevate? Are you looking for the new Levitate level head? What about a 3 section Traverse tripod? Or, the Invert60 ball head? We have them and more!

Why FatBoy? Because stability is key for accurate and precise shooting. This starts at the gun and carries down into the tripod and head assembly that you’re using. Not all tripods or heads are equal. I’ve owned 2 Vets and RRS equipment. I’ve shot off of many other popular tripods on the market. Before becoming a FatBoy Tripods dealer I shot off of a FatBoy 2 section off and on for about a year. Then I purchased their Invert60 and 3 section tripod with money out of my own pocket. I ran these for awhile and was very impressed how solid and stable they are, how quiet they are, and how quickly they adjust. The Invert60 was so smooth with quick and easy locking and unlocking. Not to mention a solid lockup. I’ve been using the new Levitate level head lately. I’ve never been a level head fan. Until now. There are a lot of options on the market, but if you’re in the market for a quality tripod that won’t disappoint and has a lifetime warranty, then the FatBoy should be at the top of your list. If you have questions or would like to discuss it, hit me up.

Hang a Hat on Your Yotes

Rick Hadley of Ridge and Valley Pursuits started something when he sent a picture of a coyote wearing a BRDGW hat that he killed. Since then, I’ve been receiving pics from others doing the same. I love it! Here are a few.

22 BRD Wildcat

The 22 BRD wildcat cartridge in the AR-15 rifle has been putting down coyotes for the last year in both Iowa and Wyoming. During the day, and at night with a thermal. See some the the results of this cartridge and follow along on a few thermal kills. While you’re at the BRDGW YouTube channel, hit that subscribe button!

Few of The Recently Completed BRDGW Guns

Don’t try to make a cartridge do something that it is not designed to do. I’m frequently asked, why don’t I push the velocities on all cartridges that I handload? Simple answer. When using the correct cartridge for what I want to accomplish, the gains are negligible. Why would I sacrifice something else that is more important. Usually precision. So, here is my take on it as it relates to the AR platform.

What are some pitfalls of chasing velocity when pushing a cartridge?

• Pressure
• Increased wear on critical components
• Possible extraction and feeding concerns due to increased gun timing- AR
• Possible case failure
• Narrower accuracy/ precision “nodes”
• Bullet may not shoot as “flat” as a lower velocity
• Negligible gains in external ballistics as compared to component wear
• Less consistency in the load
• Exceeding limits of the bullet construction

Why is chasing velocity a thing? Because individuals want to believe that the most velocity will provide them with the “flattest” shooting bullet. This is especially true with predator hunters that hunt at night. How often do you hear, 22-250 like velocities. This in of itself has people pushing .223’s, 22 Nosler’s, a host of .22 caliber wildcats, some of the 6mm cartridges, etc. At times exceeding their limits in that chase for velocity.

The velocity fallacy used to be rampant in the long range shooting sports, such as PRS. Still kind of is amongst shooters that may not know better. But, if you ask a lot of the top shooters in these long range shooting sports about the velocity of their cartridges, most will tell you that they’re running a velocity that is less than their competitors. One that may be conservative for the cartridge that they’re shooting. Their reasoning is that the extra 50 to 150fps in velocity does not provide them with a large enough gain in external ballistics to be valid when everything is taken into account. While the slower velocity that they’re running provides them with ammunition that is more consistent. It is this consistency, combined with knowing their equipment that provides their repeatable results.

Pressure is a requirement in an AR, but it can also be detrimental to it. When chasing velocity, pressures are being increased. Especially with certain types of powders, as well as the burn rate of the powder being used. Some cartridges within the AR-15 are limited to the amount of pressure that the AR is capable of handling. In some cases, this can be significantly less than the same cartridge when chambered in a bolt action rifle. While there are other cartridges that this applies to, the 6.5 Grendel and cartridge variants based off of this bolt face, are a great example. In the AR we are looking at approximately 53,000 psi due to the bolt design, while in the bolt action rifle it is closer to 60,000 psi. This is where handloaders can get into trouble. Either by using incorrect load data, or by seeking extra velocity and thereby pushing the limits of the bolt. Which is the limiting factor of this cartridge in an AR.

Another consideration as it relates to pressure is overbore cartridges. A overbore cartridge is one with a relatively large case volume or case capacity, coupled with a relatively small diameter bullet. In the simplest terms, a very big case pushing a relatively small diameter bullet is acknowledged as the classic overbore design. But, this can be mathematically related to obtain a case volume to bore area ratio in metric or imperial units. Which then also provides us with comparison data. To express the Overbore Index as a mathematical formula one can take the case capacity in grains of water divided by the area (in square inches) of the bore cross-section. This gives us an index which lets us compare various cartridge designs.

A few examples of overbore cartridges are:

• 22 Creedmoor
• 22 Grendel
• 22-250
• 6 Creedmoor
• 22-243
• 243 Win
• Numerous .22 caliber and 6mm wildcats

You’ll notice that some of the cartridges listed above, are also cartridges that are commonly pushed to, and beyond, their limits in search of velocity. One concern with a overbore cartridge is the formation of a carbon ring in the throat of the barrel. This is a ring that forms in the chamber neck area. More specifically, in the area of the chamber between the end of the case and the freebore transition area. The tremendous amount of heat and pressure transforms carbon fouling into a very hard coating that is difficult to remove once it has formed. An established carbon ring manifests itself with sudden and progressive spikes in pressure. Pressures bordering on the dangerous, and in most cases a loss of accuracy/ precision are the result. So when these types of cartridges are hot rodded in search of the ultimate “flat” shooting bullet, things can go south quickly when the dreaded carbon ring forms. For what it’s worth, I personally clean the 22 and 6 Creedmoor’s every 60 to 70 rounds.

As it relates to handloading, here is a large concern with pressure. One that I’ve seen arise too many times throughout my 20 plus years in the shooting sports and industry. Temperature sensitive powders. These are powders that will have swings in pressure and velocity due to environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, pressure, etc. I’ve witnessed some serious injuries from the result of guns destructing in the hands of shooters due to loads that were developed on the hot side in cooler environmental conditions, and were then being shot in conditions over 100 degrees. Add to this, some of the temperature sensitive powders that produce a sustained, but increasing pressure curve over a longer duration during the burn sequence. This can be a recipe for disaster. As someone who hunts all year long in varying environmental conditions, I prefer to use a powder that has proven to me to be pretty temp stable throughout different conditions. I do not like to run a “summer” load and a “winter” load. The compromise to this, is usually a lower average velocity.

For every action there is an equal or opposite reaction. With increased pressure, increased wear on critical components is the result. In the AR platform this wear can be found in the following components:

• Bolt- Due to bolt thrust, early unlocking, case failure, and wear of other components
• Cam pin
• Firing pin retainer
• Fire Control Group components
• Buffer system
• Barrel- throat wear can be of concern- Especially in overbore cartridges

The above are just a few components that can have accelerated wear due to excessive pressures. I’ve also seen damaged lower receivers and gas keys that resulted from improperly built guns that were subjected to increased cyclic rate because of increased pressures.

As far as pressure goes, I’ve yet to touch on suppressor use and the effects of one on the AR operation. With most suppressors, when one is added it increases the bore pressure which in turn increases the timing of the firearm. This can result in brass wear as the case is still obturating when the bolt is unlocking and attempting to remove the case from the chamber. This can result in torn case rims and other case concerns. This increased timing can also result in double feeds, as well as a failure to extract or a failure to feed. If the timing of the AR is not addressed and then we add in ammunition that is higher in or excessive on pressure, the magnitude of operational concerns can greatly increase.

Case failure can occur in a few different ways. Most of the failure that I see due to pressure result in:

• Case web separation
• Case head separation
• Blown primer/ primer pocket
• Neck separation

Blown primers or primer pocket failures are what I see the most of. I’ve seen this with both large and small primer cases. When this occurs, bolt face damage and/or bolt component damage can occur due to gas cutting from the hot, high pressure gasses escaping the primer area.  

Not all cases are created equal. Manufacturers use different brass alloys, as well as different construction techniques and specifications. Some brands of brass fair better to higher operating pressures than others do. A prime example as it relates to pressure related failures are a couple of niche brass manufacturers that used a case web thickness of approximately .175”. Much thinner than what is commonly seen. This was done due to an interior redesign of the case to increase case volume. What would occur is case web separation in certain cartridges that were pushed to higher, or excessive pressures for increased velocity. The case web area in most barrels is not supported by the chamber. This is evident by the chamfer around the circumference of the chamber as you look at it from the action end. When it was known that this brass would be used, gunsmiths would reduce the chamfer angle into the chamber to provide for more support of the case web. Another example of brass manufacturing variations that stands out is Norma brass for the 6XC cartridge. There was a time when this Norma brass was approximately .012” shorter than the chamber reamers that were being used. This resulted in excessive headspace dimensions. Only to compound concerns when the cases were run at higher pressures by the 1,000yd competition shooters.

When handloading, it is not uncommon to find powders that as they approach their upper charge limits will have much narrower accuracy/ precision “nodes,” or just will not produce desired results. When chasing velocity this may result in a load that doesn’t produce a “good” group, or may require a handloader to use a powder that achieves the velocity but that has other less desirable features such as temperature sensitivity. When working loads for various cartridges, it is not uncommon that I will find the best precision with a lot of powders to be about one grain under the listed max charge weight.  Another undesirable powder characteristic is one that has a drastic and abrupt pressure spike. When these types of powders are pushed for velocity, they can quickly create dangerously high pressures, while not providing any accuracy gains. The above characteristics contribute to a load that just isn’t consistent. At moderate ranges this may not be an issue. This could be the difference between making and missing a shot at further distances, with certain types of shot presentations, or under certain shooting conditions.

The main reason that I do not chase all of the velocity is for exterior ballistics. So, let’s briefly touch upon this.

As far as predator hunting goes, it is popular to sight a rifle in for max point blank range. So say that you commonly shoot 300yds and in. You’d zero your rifle for 300yds and then learn your holds from the muzzle to 300yds. I do not zero my rifles this way. I do define the max range that I consistently kill at, or most likely would kill at. I use 300yds as this number. Whatever yardage that you choose, you do need to make sure that your ammunition provides the terminal ballistics for the animal that you’re hunting.

Now, every rifle will have two zero points in the trajectory. Your first point of zero will be when the bullet rises up in trajectory to the reticle of the optic. The second zero is as the bullet falls back down in trajectory. I use these two points as a slider. Moving one moves the other. Next, I will define a “kill box” size. The size can be dependent upon the cartridge used. A faster cartridge will typically have a smaller “kill box” than a slower cartridge. But, a higher BC bullet at a slower velocity may provide similar results.

In the following information of real data from some of my personal guns, as well as “shop” guns, you will find charts. These charts are calculated from Berger’s Ballistic Calculator that is available on their website. Information out is only as good as the information that you put in. With that said, when I calculate these charts, I find that they are usually really close and may only require slight tweaking when I verify them in the real world. Verification. Yes, verification. After I get a gun zeroed based on the information in the charts, I will then proceed to shoot at different distances all the out to 300yds. I will then “tweak” as needed, or make notes of impact discrepancies at what yardage. The Berger calculator is not the only ballistics application that I use. I also use Strelok Pro. Sometimes in conjunction with the Berger calculator. This may not currently be available due to U.S. sanctions of the Russia/ Ukraine war. There are a number of quality programs or apps out there. Hornady’s 4DOF is another good app, but in my experiences it is geared more towards long range shooting. The bullets that Hornady has loaded into it are not commonly used for predator hunting. Hornady frequently updates this, so maybe that will change. Some apps are free, while others like Strelok Pro will cost you a nominal fee. If it is available. Some, like Hornady’s 4DOF are free, but then have additional features that you have to purchase to unlock.

For the data inputs you’ll note that I selected 30 degrees F for the temperature. This is to somewhat represent our Iowa winters. Although, with wind chill, it frequently gets below zero. -20 degrees F or more isn’t uncommon. To keep things simple, I also did not calculate any wind speed. For elevation, I used the elevation that is prevalent for my area. We may get to 1,000’ or even a little more, but in my experiences it doesn’t make a large enough impact on trajectory to account for it. The same applies to inclination. Though, I do hunt in some areas that have a decent ridge or valley, this isn’t common enough for me to factor it in for all of the places that I hunt. The sight height is close with the thermal that is used on most of the guns. This measurement is probably one of the factors that influences my need to typically adjust when verifying the data.

With most of my personal 6mm calibers I use approximately a 7” box for a coyote at 300yds. Now, using known data gathered from my gun and particular load, I will determine my trajectory points from 20 yards out to 300yds. Next I look at my verified known points and use my “zero” slider to change my zero points and see how it affects my rise and my drop. What I’m looking for in these numbers is for them to be 7” or less when combined. As an example. My 6 Creedmoor is currently “zeroed” with a 70g load that has approximately a 1.7” rise to my first zero point which is approximately 38yds, while the drop from the second zero point of 220yds to 300yds is approximately 4.9”. These combined provide me with approximately a 6.6” box from the muzzle to 300yds. Now, if I move the zero points I can either increase the rise to the first zero point, which in turn will decrease the drop past the second zero point. Or, I can decrease the rise to the first zero point, which will then increase the drop from the second zero point to 300yds. Personally, with most cartridges that I shoot, I will take a little more drop past my second zero point. For me, I can account better for a little more drop than I can for the rise that I will have on closer coyotes. But the key take away of this is that I can hold on a coyote out to 300yds and be confident that as long as I do my part, that I will get a hit. Notice, I didn’t mention wind drift. Velocity does play a role in wind drift, but in my experiences it doesn’t have as significant of an effect as it does with elevation. Though, wind is the king when shooting long and is typically the contributing factor for most misses. But, we are talking predator hunting here, and most of which is done with a thermal.

Now, let’s look at my personal 6 ARC with a 20” barrel using a 58g V-Max load that I developed for it. With a 220yd zero, I have a max rise of approximately 2” and a drop from 220yds to 300yds of approximately 5.7”. Now remember these numbers for the next example that I will give. So, combined, from the muzzle to 300yds I have a box of approximately 7.7” Under perfect conditions, a little bigger than I would like, but it still keeps me on the fur of a coyote from the muzzle to 300yds.

Using my same 6 ARC with a 20” barrel, but now a 75g V-Max load that I have developed for it, let’s take a look at the numbers. They may surprise you. First off, I will address the velocity. The 58g load from the 20” barrel averages approximately 3322fps, while the 75g V-Max load averages 3080fps from the same barrel. That’s a difference of 242fps. A lot of people would gawk at that and say that’s a big difference. I don’t want to lose that much velocity. It won’t shoot as flat. Now, remember the 58g load numbers that I told you to keep in mind, and let’s look at the verified numbers for the 75g load. With the same 220yd zero, which is what is running, I have a max rise of approximately 2.2” and a drop from 200yds to 300yds of approximately 5.9”. Combined, that’s approximately 8.1”. Individually, that’s about .2” more rise and about .2” more drop than the 58g load. So, less than a ¼”, or, just call it a ¼”. Most people can’t shoot this difference. I know that I can’t. So, with a difference of approximately 242 fps, the heavier and slower 75g V-max load shoots almost as “flat” as the 58g load. BUT, let’s look at a couple more numbers. Numbers that we will have to assume are good by Berger’s calculator. I do not have the means to measure downrange velocity. At 300yds, the 58g load is approximately 2185fps while the 75g load is approximately 2239fps. Velocity and bullet mass are inputs for energy. At 300yds the 58g load has approximately 615 ft-lbs of energy, while the 75g load has approximately 835 ft-lbs of energy. That’s huge. So while the 75g load shoots almost as “flat” as the 58g load, it also carries a lot more energy on target. But, why? A lot of this has to do with the higher BC of the heavier 75g V-Max bullet.  

But you say that you don’t shoot to 300yds? Let’s look at 200yds in the above tables for the 6 ARC. This is not an uncommon distance for most coyote hunters. The 58g V-Max load has an approximate rise of .8” while the 75g V-Max load has an approximate rise of .85”. The 58g load has the muzzle velocity advantage by about 30fps. The 58g is approximately 2530fps while the 75g load is approximately 2500fps. But, the 75g trumps the 58g on energy at 200yds with approximately 1041 ft-lbs of energy compared to the 58g with 824 ft-lbs of energy.

Here is more data. The 22 Creedmoor. The shop 22 Creedmoor is a 22” barrel that is currently shooting an 80.5g Berger Full Bore bullet at an average velocity of 3241fps. Typically, I run a 230yd zero on this gun. With this load the max bullet rise to 230yds is approximately 1.9” with a bullet drop of approximately 3.5” from 230yds to 300yds. This is different than what the chart states, but it is a real world result that has been duplicated many times. This the importance of verification of the data. Combined, this gives the 22 Creedmoor approximately a 5.4” box from the muzzle out to 300yds.

Are you curious about the ever popular 243 Win? Based on our gas gun data with a 20” barrel and Hornady’s Superformance 58g factory ammo, we see average velocities of approximately 3713fps. With a 220yd zero, I see a max rise of approximately 1.42” out to 220yds. From 220yds to 300yds the bullet drop is approximately 4.5”. Combined, this give an approximately box of 6” from the muzzle to 600yds.

So far, everything has been related to gas guns with factory ammo, or handloads that are reasonably within load data parameters. But, what about handloads that push the envelope? These are approximate numbers from guys that I know are running bolt guns and ARs with the lower velocity. I do not recall the barrel length of the bolt guns, but they are at least 24” barrels while the ARs are 20” barrels. They are with 70g Nosler BT bullets. I have not personally verified this data, but it is for demonstration value only. I used the same data inputs and a 220yd zero. The max bullet rise of the 70g load at an approximate average of 3450fps (AR) is 1.6”. The max bullet rise of the 70g load at an approximate average of 3800fps (bolt gun) is 1.21”. So, approximately a .4” difference. The bullet drop on the 3450fps avg load from 220yds to 300yds is approximately 4.62”. The bullet drop on the 3800fps avg load from 220yds to 300yds is approximately 3.68”. A difference of approximately 1”. The combined totals are as follows. The 3450fps load with an approximate box size of 6.2”. The 3800fps load with an approximate box size of 4.89”. A difference of approximately 1.3”.

Knowing that there are only a couple of powders that approach 3800fps from a 24” barrel, one can safely assume that 3800 fps is a hot load. One that is most likely flirting with or above max pressures. This brings me to the questions of. Is the approximate .4” difference in rise and approximate 1.3” less drop at 300yds worth it? Is it worth reduced brass life? Is it worth the reduction in barrel life? Is it worth the possible consequences should something go badly wrong? Is it worth the extra stress and wear on the gun? Both loads are capable of delivering shots well within the kill box at 300yds. Is it worth it? Only one person can truly answer that. For some it is.

Let’s address an elephant in the room. Cartridges in platforms that they are not optimal for, but do safely provide the high velocities that a lot of people crave. While there are cartridges that can be chambered in the AR-15 or large frame AR to easily achieve velocities upwards of 4,000 fps, they’re not optimal for the platforms that they’re used in. Some of these cartridges are, but not limited to, the 22-250, 22GT in the AR-15, the WSSM cartridges in the AR-15, the 220 Swift, some Ackley Improved cartridges, as well as some select others. I know. I know. These cartridges are being used in the AR platform, and I’ve built rifles in some of these cartridges. But, I did state that they are not optimal.

A few things as it relates to some of these cartridges. Each one may not apply to all of them.

• Feeding concerns that require downloading magazines for good firearm operation
• Required downloading of magazines due to cartridge case diameter
• Specialized or modified mags that may or may not provide for reliable feeding
• Feed concerns in general
• Short throats and limited bullet selection to be able to load to a COAL that will fit in a magazine
• Sacrificing case volume due to required bullet seating depths to maintain a magazine COAL
• Required use of light for caliber bullets that generally have a lower bullet BC

So let’s touch on a couple of the above items. I mentioned required reduced magazine capacity. The 22-250 for example, utilizes a much tapered case body. In the AR magazine, this taper causes the cartridges to tilt in the magazine when loaded. Very similar to how the 7.62×39 does in an AR mag. It’s for this reason that I recommend to people who use the 22-250 in an AR to limit themselves to 6, maybe 7 rounds in a magazine. Due to the cartridge size of the WSSM cartridges, as well as the longer bullets used in most of them, these cartridges require a modified lower capacity magazine when used in the AR-15. Then they still may have feeding concerns at times. I’ve even seen magazines where a portion of the front of the magazine has been removed so that the bullet can be seated longer and still feed out of the magazine. While this trick has been around a long time (I first found out about it back in the day of NRA High Power shooting), it does not create for a reliable mag. Then you have cartridges such as the 22GT. Due to the diameter of the case, it requires being downloaded in an AR-15 magazine. As these rounds are loaded into the magazine it causes the magazine to bulge. When too many are inserted, the bulge keeps the magazine from being inserted into the magazine well. Due to COAL concerns, this cartridge in the AR-15 platform is better served by the lightweight .22 caliber variants. Most of which will have a lower BC than the light to medium weight bullets .22 caliber bullets.

If you’ve read this far, you may think that I hate velocity. I don’t. As I stated at the beginning of this, I believe in choosing the cartridge that will provide you with the velocity and ballistic performance that you are wanting. Not taking a cartridge and trying to make it achieve velocities that will produce very high or dangerous velocities. Or, in the case of handloading, making sacrifices by using powders that may produce a higher velocity but at the expense of a more important load attribute. In my personal preferences, I will sacrifice 50fps for a 5 shot shot group that is consistently a .5 MOA group over one that is .7 MOA. OR 100fps for a .5 MOA group over one that is 1 MOA. I also don’t like the idea of making compromises on reliability or magazine capacity just to gain a few hundred feet per second in velocity. I’d rather choose a different cartridge that will provide close to, or similar results without compromising the integrity of the gun. As I stated in the beginning. I’m frequently asked, why don’t I push the velocities on all cartridges that I handload? Simple answer. When using the correct cartridge for what I want to accomplish, the gains are negligible. Why would I sacrifice something else that is more important? Usually precision. So, here is my take on it as it relates to the AR platform.

So, what do you think about chasing velocity?

Predator Hunting Machines

Custom predator hunting rifles continue to be built and finding their way to their new owners. In the last two months I’ve received numerous pics of killed coyotes sent in by owners of new BRD rifles. It’s great to see them being put to use so quickly! As rifles go out, orders continue to come in. If you’d like to get your coyote killing machine started for this season, that window of opportunity is quickly closing. You can email or call 515-442-0294 to get your BRD rifle underway.

Wyoming Trip- 41 Yotes in 3.5 Days

The 22 BRD wildcat made its way out to Wyoming last month. Nick Turley went on a 3.5 day hunt out there with the wildcat and his 243 Win customized BRDGW Invictus Elite. He killed 41 coyotes in that time. Using the BRD wildcat, Nick hunted mainly during the day doing some decoy dog’n, but he did put a thermal on it for a little bit of night hunting, too. The wildcat accounted for 20 of his kills, with his longest kill at 427 yards with the 22 BRD. Nick had a thermal on his 243 and killed the other 21 pasture poodles with it. Check out some of the pics below, and stay tuned for more info on the BRD 22 and this trip.

Break Time! But, Not For Me

Chad and JD took a break from doing some testing with the 22 BRD wildcat and 6 Creedmoor to go bow fishing down in Louisiana. Chad just had to cast a line a few times. They had a great trip with excellent results. 

BRD 243 Win- Custom Chamber Test Barrel Spun Up!

The 243 Win test barrel has been spun up. Late last year I had a custom chamber reamer made for both the 6 Creedmoor and the 243 Win. The specs on these reamers are designed around the use of lighter weight bullets that are commonly used for predator hunting. Testing of the 243 Win has begun with the Superformance 58g, Hornady 75g V-Max, Hornady 87g V-Max, and the Nosler 70g handload. Stay tuned for more on this!

Look Sharp- Make a Statement

Have you checked out the BRDGW laser engraved leather patch hats yet? Last month we did a pre-order sale on these. If you missed it, there are still some left in the online store. Check ‘em out here!

Show Your Passion!

Are you looking for a way to make a statement about your passion for coyote hunting? Check out the “Hang Fur” laser engraved tumblers on the website. Available in 20oz and 30oz, as well as in multiple colors. Go to BRDGW Gear in the menu on the website! Or, click here!

Few of The Recently Completed BRDGW Rifles

That doesn’t stop the work at BRDGW. It’s the busy time of year building those custom rifles for the upcoming predator hunting season. Building upper receiver groups for clients. Working on some barrel projects for a couple of gentleman. Keeping the service and repair side moving smoothly. Then there’s the behind the scene projects at BRDGW. Testing and data collection on the test barrels. Which by the way, a new 243 Win test barrel will be spun up soon. Continued testing of the wildcat cartridge. Continued load development and testing for the 6 ARC, 243 win, 6 Creedmoor, and the wildcat. And, some other things in the works. All on top of piles of video that need to be edited and put on the YouTube channel. If you haven’t been to the channel, stop by and hit the subscribe! BRDGW YouTube

I’ve previously mentioned that the trend this year for barrels is carbon fiber. That has not changed. What has changed, is the ratio of carbon fiber barrels to the 416R barrels. It is now approximately a 5:1 ratio. Five carbon fiber barrels to every 416R barrel. This demand has been evident across the industry. The unfortunate result is increased lead times. I’ve been working with a very specific barrel manufacturer on the carbon barrels, and Gene has informed me that they’ve upgraded the electrical in their shop and brought in more CNC machines. Our discussions have gone well, and I’m excited to be able to speak more about this at a future time.  

Client Success- Submitted Pictures

I love receiving pictures from clients of their success with BRD Gun Works rifles!

Success in the field means controlling all of the variables that you can.

Your equipment should not subtract from your shooting abilities, but should enhance and add value to your shooting. This starts with your rifle and extends to your shooting platform. Tired of watching those educated coyotes hang up out there at 200 to 300 yards, and not come in any closer? Are you trying to hose down a scattering group of pigs? With the right rifle, skill, and a tripod that is solid and steady without flex or excessive movement, those longer shots on coyotes or smoothly tracking those running pigs is made much easier.

This is where the Fatboy tripod and Invert60 ballhead enter the game. The Traverse tripod is a solid and rugged tripod that is available in 2 or 3 section legs. The 42.5mm tube diameter provides for excellent stability, while being strong and quick to deploy! Designed with features that greatly benefit the predator hunter: legs that don’t cross, lightweight at 5lbs 14oz with the bowl, a total height that is tall enough for most any terrain features, large rubberized leg locks that are easy to adjust and provide ultimate noise reduction, ½” toolless spikes that deploy quickly and easily, and it has a 100lb weight capacity. Oh, and don’t forget the lifetime warranty and the nice carrying case that is included!

The Invert60 ballhead allows for versatile shooting angles and smooth movement with its 60mm head. The 1911 (Picatinny) and ARCA Swiss adaptor make it compatible with a wide range of equipment. And, the quick release lever makes it easy to quickly attach and detach your gun, and the fine tuning adjustable tension allows for precise control. Fatboy’s excellent rubberized tension knob increases rip in all weather conditions, and also provides for very quick locking and unlocking of the ballhead with less rotational movement than other heads on the market. Get them at BRDGW below MSRP and free shipping on tripods!

Some Recent Client Builds

Things are busy at BRDGW! Custom rifle orders keep coming in. For a lot of states, or for a lot of people, this is the off season for coyote hunting. If you’re looking at a new custom predator hunting AR, or have been considering one, now is the time to get the order in! Don’t get caught wanting as the season quickly approaches. This happens to many hunters each year.

It’s that time of year. Calving. Most cattle farmers and ranchers will tell you that it is this time of the year where they see an increase in coyote sightings and loss of calves and cattle. Recently, I was contacted about this concern by a gentleman who lives about 1.5 hours from me. I drove up to meet with him and he showed me the ropes and trouble areas. They have lost a number of calves, as well as a couple of full grown cows, and have a number of coyotes of cameras. While this gentleman has about 8,000 acres, at this time I secured about 2 to 3k of it to reduce his problem predator animals. In Iowa, we are fortunate to be able to hunt coyotes year round, as well as not having a season for thermal hunting. We’ve been able to get up there once so far, and more trips are planned. Hopefully at some point I’ll be able to get some video footage edited.

The trend this year has been for carbon fiber barrels. It is almost a 3 to 1 ratio. 3 carbon fiber barrels to each stainless steel 416R barrel. When it comes to carbon fiber barrels, I have a different take than most. But, these barrels are shooters. Stay tuned for more on these.

6 Creedmoor Update

Range and field testing of the 6 Creedmoor test barrel has been going well. Initial group and velocity testing of the custom chambered 6CM barrel showed promise. The 87g Hornady Varmint Express ammunition was producing .5 to .6 MOA groups, while producing an average velocity of 2989 fps. The factory Nosler 95 BT ammunition was producing .7 MOA groups, while producing an average velocity of 2851 fps on the new barrel.

Due to ammunition availability, the Nosler 95g was chosen as the coyote hunting load, and it has performed very well on coyotes. A more recent check on the velocity of the Nosler 95g ammunition shows it is now averaging 2942 fps from the 20” test barrel.

Recently I have begun to do load development for the 6CM barrel utilizing Nosler 70g BT bullets. The range results have been very good, and soon the Nosler 70g handload will be used out in the field for coyote hunting. This load has been producing an average group size of .3 MOA while producing an average velocity of 3374 fps from the 20” barrel. Even one round that I called, and really put out there, still produced a sub-moa group. See the images below for the 70g Nosler BT.

Wildcat/ Improved Cartridge Update

Testing and load data accumulation is an ongoing process with the wildcat cartridge. For those who may not know of this, this is a project that I started early last year. It is basically a slight modification of a 22 Grendel Improved. The test barrel is a 22″ match grade 416R with a 1:8 twist, and rifle length gas system.

In this cartridge I use Hornady 6.5 Grendel brass necked down to .22 caliber and then fire form it to the chamber dimension. The finished cartridge has the shoulder pushed slightly forward as well as the shoulder being blown out to 40 degrees. The throat on the reamer allows for a 53g to 80g bullet to be effectively used. At this time, the focus has been mainly on the 53g V-Max and 80.5g Berger bullets. See below: 53g V-Max on the left and 80.5g Berger on the right

Below: 6 ARC with a 58g bullet on the left. 6.5 Grendel case on the right. In the middle is a fully formed wildcat/ Improved case.

The 53g V-Max has been averaging group sizes of  .4 to .5 MOA with an average velocity of 3551 fps. The 80.5g has not disappointed in its precision abilities, while producing an average velocity of 2992 fps. A number of powders have been used to gather data, and at this time I’ve settled one a hunting load with the 53g V-Max bullet. Below is the 53g V-Max load.

This cartridge is being field tested and has been hanging fur! The results show promise. So far, coyotes and a red fox have legally been taken with the cartridge. We will have to wait until the 2023 season to get a few more fox and hopefully a bobcat. So far, the longest kill has been a coyote at 200yds. In search of data, I hope to be able to extend this distance, as I’d like to see the results at 300 to 350yds.

There are plans to use a couple of different cases in search of more case volume, and in turn velocity. While at the same time reducing some of the work involved in forming the cases. I also want to collect data with the 60g V-Max in this cartridge. As this progresses, I will provide updates.

Recent Events

March 3^rd through March 5^th, 2023 was the Iowa Deer Classic held at the Iowa Event Center in Des Moines, IA. There was over 10k attendees for the entirety of the event. This was BRD’s first time at such an event, but it will not be the last. We met a lot of great people and made connections with other vendors. Turnout at the booth was fantastic, and all of the guns that were on display were a hit. There was a lot of interest in BRDGW guns generated, a few serious inquires, and a couple of post event sales for custom builds. There were a couple of Fatboy tripods that received a lot of attention. BTW, if you didn’t know, BRDGW is a Fat Boy Dealer!! If you missed us there this year, look for us in 2024!

In January BRD Gun Works LLC was one of the sponsors of the 2023 Fur Bearers Tournament. BRD was at the weigh-in and had a few guns on display. It was great to meet a lot of the tournament hunters, to see all of the fur that was harvested during a couple days of some harsh Iowa winter weather, and to talk guns with likeminded people. I even met a couple of gentlemen who are having BRDGW guns built, but I had yet to meet them in person. A few others that I met, I had the pleasure of having phone conversations with prior to meeting them. It’s always great to be able to put a handshake and face with a name and voice. And, a custom build order was received after the tournament. Below are a few pics that I was able to get at the weigh-in when I could sneak away.

Recent Builds

Things are busy… This is good. With that, though, comes extended lead times. While our lead times are not as long as others of similar quality guns, it is increasing. Are you looking to get a new predator hunting rifle built? Get in touch! Get you order in and deposit paid. Here are just a couple of recent guns.

Fast Paced Texas Hog Hunt

At the end of February, a group of 4 guys went on a spot and stalk hog hunt down in Texas at High Plains Hunts. BRDGW was well represented within that group. Check out some of the video from their hunts.

In early 2022, I was contacted by The Firearms Blog and asked to submit a BRD Hunter Series upper receiver group in 450 Bushmaster for review. Anyone that knows anything about this industry and having products reviewed, knows that the majority of reviews performed are done because manufactures hound and/or pay reviewing entities to get their products reviewed. Not the case with BRDGW! The review was completed and the article was published on March 7th, 2023.

“The BRD Gun Works 450 Bushmaster is a hand-built upper that is tuned by a man who has done the footwork. He knows what parts work the best and fits them together, correctly.”

Check out the TFB review article on the BRDGW Hunter Series 450BM URG here.

The 450 Bushmaster URG that was sent in to review has the same components that all of the Hunter Series uppers do, as well as those in my personal 450BM. The same assembly techniques and reliability enhancements that go into all BRDGW rifles and uppers, were used in the upper submitted to TFB for review. When you’re looking for next next deer or slayer, consider a BRD Gun Works LLC rifle or upper receiver group!

Due to demand, at the current time all uppers and rifles are built to order. sales@brdgunworks.com

Hunter Series 450 Bushmaster Specs:

This upper is designed with hunters in mind. It is kept slim and lighter while still retaining  M-LOK attachment points at key locations to mount QD sling attachments, tripod attachment, or a bi-pod attachment. All without sacrificing accuracy. Chambered in 450 Bushmaster this upper is great for hunting deer, hogs, and other medium-sized game.

Assembled w/ BRD Gun Works reliability enhancements- Polished feed ramps, gas tube properly aligned to gas key, and more.

Big Bore Forged Upper- 7076 T6 Billet Aluminum.

BRD Gun Works 15″ Slim Line Rail- 6061 T6 Extruded Aluminum w/ M-LOK slots at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions and 1 M-LOK QD attachment

Satern 16″ Mid-Length Gas Barrel- Match grade barrels that produce Sub-Moa groups with supporting quality ammunition. Barrels are 416R stainless medium contour, button cut 5R rifling, with a 1-20 twist. A headspaced bolt is provided with the barrel.

Ross  Hybrid Comp- 4 comp ports on top w/ 4 brake ports.

BRD Enhanced Bolt Carrier Group- Our carriers are tested and proven with thousands of rounds without any bolt carrier group failure. These are made from 8620 M16 style carrier that is heat treated and nitride coated. Enhanced BCG’s have a Springco extra power extractor spring, Springco ejector spring, gas key is sealed to the carrier, and then properly torqued in place with OCK screws and hand staked. The extractor face is polished, and the ejector face is chamfered and polished for better feeding and extraction.

SLR Nitride Gas Block- Barrel has been dimpled and external knurled gas block set screws installed w/ red Loctite applied.

Mid-Length Gas Tube- Stainless steel tubing.

Forged Standard Charging Handle

Comes with one Duramag 5 round magazine.

Upper is test fired w/ 5 rounds to verify function.

Buffer system recommendations:

Standard Carbine System- Springco Red buffer spring w/ H2 buffer

A5 Buffer System- Springco Green buffer spring w/ A5H2 buffer

Busy… Busy… Busy

There are no new blog posts yet, but there are some that have been started. There is also content that needs to be edited and put together for the YouTube channel. All in time. Client work comes first. Right now the current backlog on an AR is approximately 19 weeks for most guns.

Upcoming Events

At the end of January is the Iowa Furbearers Tournament. BRDGW is one of the sponsors of the tournament and we will also have some vender tables with guns on display at the weigh-in. There is still time to enter if you’re interested! March 3rd, 4th, and 5th is the Iowa Deer Classic. This is a big 3 day event that sees over 10,000 attendees. We will be there too! Booth 212! The red star on the floor plan marks the spot!

A Couple of Recent Builds

Parting Shots

The Invictus Pro in 22 Creedmoor is putting in more work.