For some reason, I really like this picture! Grumpy
Author: Grumpy
Serena works on her Palma shooting skills. Palma is a prone rifle competition using
highly customized iron sights on .223 or .308 caliber rifles to hit targets at 1,000 yards.
Photo: Max Crotser
The jaws immediately drop. “You shoot 1,000 yards? With iron sights?” It’s amazing how many people think it’s impossible. With the rise in popularity of “long range” shooting, classic disciplines like Palma have been forgotten. While competing with the AR-15 — originally with iron sights, then with a 4.5x optic — I attended 600-yard mid-range matches to better my prone skills. Farther down the firing line, on the 1,000-yard range, I would admire the beautiful stocks of incredibly long barreled bolt-rifles, wondering at the nearly clean scores fired by competitors.
I first heard of Palma from my junior coaches. They spoke of their student, Eric Eilberg, and of his travels with the Young Eagles Team. It seemed mystical. I never imagined being able to travel to shoot. I wasn’t involved in Olympic-sanctioned shooting sports. My discipline of choice, High Power, is relatively niche and not offered at high school or college levels but the first time I heard Palma, I wanted to be like Eric. I wanted to join the Young Eagles team, shoot as well as he and have the opportunity to experience new things.
Way out there — the view from the firing line of the 1,000-yard targets at Alliance
Rifle Club in Malvern, Ohio. Palma competitors routinely stay within the 10″ X-ring
with iron sights at this distance!
Brief History
The first Palma Trophy match was held in 1876 in New York as part of the centennial celebration of U.S. independence. Five countries competed in the inaugural match — Australia, Canada, Ireland, Scotland and the United States. The U.S. claimed top honors. More countries have joined, competing in world shoots held every four years. The Palma Trophy Match course of fire is two sighting shots and 15 shots for record at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards on an NRA-LR target. The 44″ aiming black holds the X, 10, 9 and 8 rings with a 20″ diameter 10-ring and 10″ X-ring.
There are two governing Palma rulebooks from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations (ICFRA). Both require metallic sights and allow .223 or .308 caliber rifles. ICFRA rules require a bullet weight no greater than 91 grains for .223 or 156 grains for .308. NRA has no bullet weight restrictions.
Getting There
My training routine was firing over a hundred rounds a week in the summer, sometimes more and I began competing at Alliance Rifle Club in Malvern, Ohio. There I became friends with two incredible long-range shooters and coaches — Chuck and Kim Rowe. They impressed on me how important it is to have goals and warned me not to spread myself thin over different disciplines. Being the best at one thing takes dedication. When I began considering Long Range, Kim told me I wasn’t allowed until I earned my Distinguished Rifleman’s badge in Service Rifle. She may have been kidding, but I wasn’t about to find out.
Each Palma rifle is unique as a snowflake and individually built to fit the shooter better than a glove.
The Rifle
Four years passed before I began preparing myself for the next step in my shooting career. My dad encouraged me to take advantage of the opportunity while I had it, though I still was unsure of the future and apprehensive about spending money while in school.
You do not purchase a Palma rifle online or from a gun store. Palma rifles are custom-built, handed down, or purchased secondhand from a competitor. In my case, someone leaving long-range shooting wanted his equipment to go to someone young who could keep the sport alive. I purchased a Warner #2 rear sight, a Stallings Right Sight with an iris and an old McMillan black prone stock.
I had several pieces to the puzzle, but not all. Putting together a top-of-the-line rifle is expensive, especially for a freelance writer in college. I am incredibly grateful to Krieger Barrels, Kelbly’s and Bullet Central whose sponsorships helped me fill in the blanks. In September of 2019, I earned my Distinguished badge in service rifle, the green light to start into something new.
Several people were consulted during the decision process as I considered a true Palma rifle or a generic long-range rifle. One person suspected I would be unable to handle the recoil of the .308. I ultimately decided to join the Young Eagles team and would need a .308. I also remembered “if Kim could shoot a .308, I could too.” I selected a 30″ 1:13 twist Krieger Barrel with a medium Palma contour. Kelbly’s chambered the barrel and installed one of their classic actions, the Big Bore Panda. Bullet Central donated a single-stage Bix’n Andy Remington 700 Benchrest Competition trigger.
One of the biggest initial problems for Serena was realizing her stock “Goliath” didn’t fit her.
A new, shorter stock from her coach made an enormous difference in her performance.
Photo: Eric Eilberg
First Shots
I did not want to jump right into a match. Eric helped me boresight the rifle, approximate eye relief and break in the barrel. We used a Shotmarker electronic target at 600 yards. This allowed him to coach me from the firing line. I spent more time the first day working on position and adjustments than shooting. First and most important lesson of Palma: Make the gun fit you, do not fit yourself to the gun. This means if something is uncomfortable or doesn’t seem right — do not keep shooting! Stop and fix it. Second lesson of Palma — this process never ends. Buttplate positions, aperture sizes — what is best will change by the day depending upon the range and light conditions.
Most Palma competitors load all their own ammunition for utmost accuracy.
Serena uses an RCBS single-stage press and weighs every charge individually.
Photo: Jedidiah Gaddie
Accessories
Small things make a difference. I borrowed handstops and slings from fellow shooters and am still determining what works best for me. Palma allows competitors to use a hook to secure the sling to their shooting coat. A separate coat allows you to keep your sling ready to go. A local leathersmith cut my coat’s collar so it didn’t ride against my neck when I lay down and added a buckle to keep my shoulder pad from bunching. These seemingly minor changes help ensure you place the rifle in the same spot every time.
Your mat also makes a huge difference. I am a smaller-framed person. The thin, rollable mat I use for High Power began to bunch up underneath me as I fired, altering my position. I quickly learned a sturdier, thicker folding mat works much better. Currently, I use the Creedmoor quad fold shooting mat. It has a waterproof vinyl bottom, a double layer of foam for extra support under the elbows and doesn’t move when I shoot! Even changing your mat makes a difference in position and the buttplate location — take nothing for granted.
Serena gets tips from coach Eric Eilberg. The most important part of learning
any new discipline is to find a mentor who is already experienced and accomplished
in the sport. Photo: Jedidiah Gaddie
Serena And Goliath
One size does not fit all. The Rowes mentor me, adjust my position and give me tips. They are well-decorated shooters, members of the U.S. National Rifle Team and Chuck is also a coach for the National F-Class team with Kim the team adjutant. They first noticed I needed a mirage band. My first few shots were level but began to scatter as the heat from the barrel distorted my sight picture. A mirage band, ceiling fan chain and cut off scope mount solved the issue. Even so, I consistently fired worse shots the more I took.
By the time I fired 15 shots I was near tears. Each shot sent the rifle stock smashing into my collarbone. Scared I could not handle the recoil, I should have listened to the advice I received but suffered through it. My enthusiasm waned, though I tried to hide it. With a 14″ LOP stock it was nearly impossible for me to see through the sights. I also needed a rear sight extension, exacerbating the problem. I compensated by placing the buttstock far on my collarbone and letting it absorb the recoil.
Tired of bleeding through my shirt every match, Chuck convinced me to try one of his spare stocks, a petite Masterclass copy too small for him. It was much shorter and slighter — not only easier for me to grip but more comfortable. They were both bedded for Kelbly’s big bore panda actions so the switch was easily made. He graciously traded stocks with me — the black synthetic stock Chuck named “Goliath” for the colorful laminate one which remains nameless.
Starting out, you cannot be afraid to change and try new things. Go to local matches. Talk to competitors. Before you buy all of your equipment, ask to borrow things to see what you like and need. Looks don’t matter. It was hard for me to give up the black stock I had become attached to, but Chuck and Kim were right — I was miserable. Though I’m not at the top of the leaderboard, I’ve been able to improve and enjoy small successes, including joining the Young Eagles team.
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ALBANY, NEW YORK -(Ammoland.com)- Gun Owner of America (GOA), Gun Owners Foundation (GOA’s nonprofit), and Ukrainian immigrant Ivan Atonyu have filed suit over the new firearms restrictions passed by New York State after the New York State Pistol Rifle Association v. Bruen Supreme Court Decision.
In the Bruen decision, the court struck down New York State’s “proper cause” clause in its concealed carry law. Under the old “Sullivan” law, the state could decide who could and couldn’t carry a firearm outside the home.
The law was passed in 1913 by the Irish to prevent newly arriving Italians from carrying guns.
In a 6-3 opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas, SCOTUS ruled the law was unconstitutional, and Americans have the right to carry a firearm outside the home for self-defense.
Notorious anti-gun New York Governor Kathy Hochul called an emergency session of the New York Legislature to pass a slew of anti-gun bills known as the “Concealed Carry Improvement Act” (CCIA) to try to negate the Supreme Court’s decision even though the Justices explicitly warned the state NOT to do that in the opinion. The new laws made New York even more restricted than before the court handed down the Bruen decision.
The Justices said guns could be banned in certain “sensitive places” such as schools or government buildings but said just because people gather in certain areas, that could not be used to deem a place “sensitive.” The legislature ignored that part of the ruling. It declared Time Square, sidewalks with permitted events, any private business that doesn’t post a gun allowed sign, anywhere there is alcohol served, and many other places as “sensitive,” including areas surrounding the new sensitive areas.
These new laws eliminated almost all locations where a citizen could carry in the state.
Gun Owners of America contends that by expanding “sensitive places” to such a vast number of locations, New York State is violating the Second Amendment under the Bruen decision. The gun-rights group claims that this move is blatantly unconstitutional and violates the Second Amendment rights of its membership base.
GOA also contends that New York State replaced “proper cause” with “good moral character.” Anyone that wants to carry a gun will have to turn over all social media posts and give four-character references to the state. The state will be the sole arbiter if someone is of “good moral character.” The gun-rights group claims this violates not only the Second Amendment but also the First Amendment because it infringes on the free speech and the free expression of the gun owner who wants a permit.
Any social media post could be used to disqualify a gun owner from carrying a gun in public.
A meme shared on a private Facebook page could disqualify a gun owner from being able to carry a firearm outside their home. Gun Owners of America consider this to be draconian and stifling to the rights of gun owners.
The lawsuit also highlights that law enforcement opposes the laws. The Governor is demanding law enforcement enforce the anti-gun laws. The New York Sheriff’s Association has released statements objecting to the law, which it sees as unenforceable to unconstitutional under Bruen.
This suit is the Second Lawsuit by Gun Owners of America in a week. The first is challenging the new rule surrounding the ATF’s attempt to redefine a firearm. Neither the ATF nor New York State has responded in either case.
Ivan Antonyuk, Gun Owners Of America .v York State Police
About John Crump
John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gun makers and dealers in California will be required to block firearms sales to anyone they have “reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk” of using a gun illegally or of harming themselves or others, under a new law that Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that he had signed.
It’s a subjective requirement that goes farther than current background checks or prohibitions on selling guns to people prohibited from owning them.
The regulation is part of the new law creating a good conduct code for gun makers and dealers that also allows anyone who suffers harm from violations to sue.
The bill was one of more than a dozen adding to California’s already strict gun regulations that were sent to Newsom, a Democrat, by state lawmakers before they left for their monthlong summer recess.
The National Rifle Association said the requirements are vague and represent an attempt to hold gun dealers and makers liable for the actions of others. The new law, the group said, “seeks to frustrate law-abiding gun owners” with the goal of driving gun makers and dealers “out of business with frivolous litigation.”
The state’s firearm industry standard of conduct, starting in July 2023, will require those making, importing or selling guns to “take reasonable precautions” to make sure the weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands through sales or thefts.
That includes having “reasonable controls” to prevent sales to arms traffickers, straw buyers, those prohibited from owning guns, and anyone deemed to be at “substantial risk” of using the gun improperly.
The law is patterned after a New York measure that took effect last year to skirt a 2005 federal law blocking most liability lawsuits against gun-makers or dealers.
The New York measure declared such violations a “public nuisance,” taking advantage of a federal exemption that allows lawsuits when gun makers break state or local laws regulating the sale and marketing of firearms.
Delaware and New Jersey just enacted similar laws, and all contain provisions requiring firearms dealers to act responsibly, said Tanya Schardt, senior counsel and director of state and federal policy at the Brady gun control advocacy organization that sought the laws.
“There may be indicators or things that you see beyond just passing the background check that indicate to the dealer that they shouldn’t sell the gun,” she said.
“I would say the California law is more specific,” Schardt said. “But substantively I think it creates the same set of requirements, the same standards with regards to engaging in safe business practices.”
“It’s not asking someone to be psychic,” she added, but to take reasonable precautions in the same way that an automobile dealer could be liable for selling to a customer who is clearly drunk, for instance.
“It’s not creating liability, it’s not expanding liability beyond what’s reasonable … which is really the same standard that every other industry is measured against,” she said.
A federal judge in May rejected a challenge to the New York law by gun manufacturers and sellers.
Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California, expects the California law will be challenged on the argument that it violates the federal law.
“The ability to be sued for doing something bad is already there,” he said, noting that gun makers and dealers are liable for any illegal activity. “This is the anti-gun side’s way of looking for a deep pocket.”
The law will allow the California attorney general, city and county attorneys and victims of gun code of conduct violations to sue gun retailers or manufacturers for civil damages.
“Nearly every industry is held liable when their products case harm or injury. All except one — the gun industry,” Newsom said in a video Tuesday announcing that he had signed the bill on Monday.
With the new law, he said, “gun makers will finally be held to account for their role in this crisis.”
California’s law allows gun makers and dealers to also be sued for alleged violations of other laws, including false advertising, unfair competition or deceptive acts or practices.
“Hitting their bottom line may finally compel them to step up to reduce gun violence by preventing illegal sales and theft,” said the bill’s author, Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ting.
The law will also prohibit manufacturers and retailers from making, importing or selling guns or related products that are “abnormally dangerous and likely to create an unreasonable risk of harm.”
That could include kits for building untraceable “ ghost guns,” “ bump stocks ” that increase the rate of fire for semi-automatic weapons, or “ bullet button ” assault weapons that allow for rapid reloading.
Unlike a traditional firearm, it’s difficult to recoup all of your money from a suppressor should you ever decide to sell it. If you sell, you immediately lose the $200 that you paid in the stamp tax to the ATF. It also takes a really long time to get through the purchasing process for a silencer should you choose one incorrectly.
Before you go lay your hard-earned money down for a suppressor, you should spend some time thinking about how you’ll use your suppressor. The way you use your suppressor should determine the features you’ll shop for in a suppressor. The features you decide are most important should be the determining factors in what suppressor you purchase.
What are the features that you should consider when buying a suppressor?
Caliber – Diameter of bullet that will fit through the baffles and endcap or that the suppressor is rated up to. Caliber is an important factor because it ultimately determines what caliber or bullet diameter size you can fire through the suppressor. If you buy a 9mm pistol suppressor, it won’t work on a 45 ACP. However, if you buy a 45 ACP pistol suppressor it will work on a 9mm, 40 S&W, 30 Super Carry, and any other caliber with a bullet diameter less than .454 caliber.
However, the 45 ACP suppressor will generally be larger, heavier, and longer, and it won’t be as quiet on smaller calibers like 9mm when compared to a dedicated 9mm suppressor.
For rifles, the same logic applies. If you buy a suppressor rated for 300 Win Mag, you can usually use it on your AR15 in 223/556, your 6.5 Creedmoor, your 308 Win, 7mm Mag, etc.
If you buy a dedicated 223/556 suppressor, you can’t use it on anything bigger. The dedicated 223/556 suppressor will likely be shorter and lighter and will probably be quieter on a 223/556 platform than a 300 Win Mag suppressor on a 223.
Size – It can matter. We’re talking about length and diameter. If it’s too long it may be unwieldy, won’t fit in a case, scabbard, or safe. If the diameter is too thick, it could obscure sight pictures, flashlights/lasers, may not fit in a holster or under the handguard, etc.
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Weight – Literally how much the suppressor weighs. It’s on the very end of your barrel and it can make a big difference in how the rifle feels. You’ll see a greater zero shift between suppressed and unsuppressed with a heavier suppressor. Heavy suppressors can make guns feel muzzle heavy and not balanced when slung up on your shoulder.
Full Auto Rated – If you are going to put it on a full-auto firearm, don’t buy a suppressor that isn’t full-auto rated. If you are planning on doing mag dumps with semi-auto, get a full auto-rated suppressor.
What is it made out of? – Suppressors are made from aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, 3D printed metals, plastics, carbon fiber, Inconel, and other metals. Those all have positives and negatives. Generally, dedicated pistol suppressors are aluminum and lighter than rifle suppressors. Generally, you can’t fire rifle calibers or rounds through pistol-specific suppressors due to the rifle’s excessive pressure that they’re not designed to handle. There can be exceptions but you should do your homework.
Nielsen device – Sometimes called a booster. These are only for pistols. Generally, rifle-specific suppressors don’t work on pistols because most pistols require a Nielsen device or a booster to increase recoil so the pistol will function. To work on most pistols, it should come with a booster or have the ability to add it.
Quick detach – This is an option that many rifle suppressors come with. It usually requires you to buy a specific muzzle brake or flash hider that attaches to the suppressor.
Decibel reduction – Some manufacturers will publish dB numbers. They can give you a rough way to compare. The problem is that ammo, caliber, barrel length, action type, atmosphere, and other factors can all affect the published decibel levels. 140 dB or less at the shooter’s ear is considered hearing safe. The general rule is that every 3 decibels is a doubling or 100% greater sound intensity. An unsuppressed .308 at the muzzle is generally between 160-170 dB. Suppressed, anything below 140 is safe.
Minimum barrel length ratings – Many manufacturers will tell you in their specs that the suppressor is rated for up to a certain caliber, and they’ll include the minimum barrel length. If you go below that barrel length it could void your warranty or cause unsafe conditions.
Backpressure – Law enforcement and the military are all over this right now. Some suppressors create a lot of backpressure in the firearm. It’s not a big deal on a bolt action but on a semi-auto, it matters. Backpressure will cause toxic gases and small particles to blow back in the shooter’s eyes and face. Excessive back pressure can even cause malfunctions. Some backpressure is needed for subsonic calibers like 300 Blackout to function in semiautos.
Warranty – This is how the company will handle a problem. Don’t buy from a company that might not be around in two years. Should you have a problem like a baffle strike, you’ll need to send your suppressor to the manufacturer to have them fix it. Know ahead of time that you’ll be happy with that process and the turnaround time.
Ability to clean for rimfire – If you are going to be using it on a rimfire you should buy a dedicated rimfire suppressor. As a general rule, you should never shoot rimfire through a centerfire suppressor. They will fill up with lead and carbon and you can’t ever get it out. Dedicated rimfire suppressors are designed so that you can get them apart and clean them even when they’re full of lead and carbon.
Price & Availability – Figure out your budget and then add $200 for the ATF tax. Usually, titanium suppressors cost substantially more than stainless or aluminum suppressors and may not be worth the extra money if you’re only carrying the gun from the truck to the shooting line. Availability is another issue. If the manufacturer doesn’t have it in stock, you can’t buy it. There are some manufacturers that are back-ordered a year on certain models of suppressors. I wouldn’t wait. Find something else with similar features.
Multi-caliber Suppressors – There is a new breed of suppressors that will work on almost any centerfire firearm. Silencer Central’s new Banish 46 will work on both pistols and rifles up to 46 caliber. So it will handle 338 Lapua, 45-70, and work all the way down to 223/556. It will also work on all pistol calibers up to 46 and it comes with a booster that can be configured so that handguns will function when it’s attached. It’s probably not going to be the best at all of those calibers, but it should be hearing safe on any of them. There are negatives like weight and size (it’s kind of big), but it’s possible to own one suppressor that could do everything.
Hunting – If I were purchasing a suppressor for hunting, I would consider caliber, size, and weight above all else. For hunting, I personally want the shortest, lightest suppressor I can buy. I’m going to carry it for hundreds of miles and only shoot it once or twice a season. I want it hearing safe but being the quietest suppressor on the market isn’t at all important to me. I personally would only consider suppressors that weigh 13 oz or less for hunting and certainly no longer than 6 inches. Lighter and shorter would be better. The BANISH 30 in its smaller configuration is certainly a viable option for hunting and it would work pretty well for precision stuff in the longer config. If you were sitting in a tree stand then size and weight may not matter at all.
Range Suppressor – If I were going to put a suppressor on a gun that only ever got carried from the safe to the truck to the range, I wouldn’t care how big or how heavy it was at all. I would want it to be less expensive, reduce sound at a maximum level, and I don’t care if it weighs 18 ounces and is 9 inches long.
Shotgun suppressor – If you want to suppress a shotgun then you need to buy a dedicated shotgun suppressor.
Hidden Fees – Some suppressors don’t include the adapters you need to attach to your firearm. Those will cost you extra. Some companies don’t include muzzle brakes or flash hiders for their QD suppressors and will charge you another $125 for those items. Many of them do however include these items in the price of the suppressor. Check on this before buying. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Odin includes a muzzle device with the suppressor when you buy their QD.
Conclusion – As you can see, there is a lot to think about before purchasing your first suppressor. Almost all the features you consider are somehow a trade-off for something else. Generally speaking, the quietest suppressors are larger and have more volume inside them. That’s a tradeoff for length and weight. The shortest, lightest suppressors aren’t usually as quiet. The ones that do everything pretty well are usually more expensive. Do your homework!