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SI0319RCBS BRASS BOSS 6.5 GROWING PAINS For a while, the best alternative for a ionados of the 6.5 family of new alibers was to reload the rounds themselves. The in reased availability of these artridges, however, has not de reased any interest in reloading them. n fa t, a ording to T uns oug i ord the opposite is true. ou get some e itement over a new artridge, and then people start buying it, and then you thin it will de rease the need for reloading it, he said. ut what you really do is reate more interest in that parti ular artridge and it brings people in who never even thought about it before. So the in reased availability of these artridges has had a positive e e t on reloading them even though more people are buying them o the shelf. lus now there s a lot more brass at the ranges to pi up and reload. HODGDON H4350 RIFLE POWDER NOSLER 6.5 CREEDMOOR BRASS CASES NOSLER 6.5 CREEDMOOR ACCUBOND LR BULLETS the same category, according to Mookerajee, is the Savage Stealth. With an MSRP of about $1,200 to $2,000 (depending on conﬁguration), the Stealth is available in .223 Rem., 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win. and .338 Lapua. In its Evolution 110 BA and 10 BA conﬁgurations, it comes in a left-handed model. “The Stealth falls into the same kind of offerings and price points: a weapon of something accessible that’s different,” Mookerajee added. “Both of these guns have customization and modularity to them. Some of them use standardspec magazines, which helps with the accessibility factor of being able to run them and be cost-effective.” The market for these guns is a mixture, Mookerajee conﬁrmed. “It’s a little bit of everyone,” he said. “I’ve known some folks who have worked on SWAT teams when it comes to both the Savage Stealth and the Ruger Precision Riﬂe, where they use them for a job application that needs precise shots for a protection detail for a VIP. There’s also been a demand in other law enforcement groups.” Many buyers, however, are on the civilian side. “Some of them are vets,” Mookerajee shared. “And people always are interested in military-style guns snipers and designated marksmen are using.” Mookerajee has observed a signiﬁcant volume of sales in SI SA R and Trijicon optics. “Those are the ones we typically recommend,” he noted. “In Trijicon it’s the AccuPoint and the AccuPower, depending on what the person is looking for in terms of application and magniﬁcation. SI SA R has a really solid optics line they’ve been selling the past couple of years. They offer good stuff at a good price point. When someone walks into the shop looking for an optic, I try to steer them to those brands and then ﬁgure out what features and models ﬁt their needs best.” The biggest trend he’s seen, Mookerajee said, is new offerings in ammunition becoming available. “There’s more 6.5 Creedmoor and .224 Valkyrie than in the past,” he stated. “Those have been the two new ﬂavors to go with your standard .5mm as well as .308 and the other popular calibers.” Hornady is the go-to manufacturer for new and unusual rounds, and until recently it’s been the best source for these calibers, Mookerajee said. “Now you’re seeing Black Hills Ammunition, Remington and Winchester making them,” he added. “And of course Hornady still is. These major brands, and some minor ones, have offerings that are ﬁtting the needs of the marketplace as well as industry specs.” hat long range trends have you observed in your store end the SI team a note dire tly via email (comments@shootingindustry. com or a eboo www.shootingindustry.com/facebook). 28 MARCH 2019 Subscribe to SI DIGITAL www.shootingindustry.comPage 27Page 29

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