TRIJICON ACCUPOWER
diamond and dot serves as a hold refer-
ence. Both reticles, like all multi-hold
reticles, are very effective after time is
invested in learning them and their rela-
tionship to your load. I like the fact that
Trijicon does not dictate what it thinks is
best, but lets the consumer choose.
After a few days shooting many
rounds with the Trijicon mounted on
the wonderful Sabatti Tactical chassis
ri e, I formed several conclusions.
First, ultra-high magni cation scopes
offer the bene t of aiming smaller at
truly long-range distances. While 30X
may not be practical for all but the
steadiest rests under good light, it’s
handy to have. The Trijicon has one
of the smoothest—not too tough,
not too easy—adjustment knobs and
magni cation rings in the indus-
try, and this does much to enhance
its quality feel. I also like that the
scope requires no tools in order to
manipulate its controls, and that all
the dials were made so the shooter
never has to break cheekweld to see
to adjust them.
Trijicon has built an iron-clad repu-
tation for having some of the toughest
and most durable products in the optics
game, and from what I’ve seen of the
AccuPower, it holds true. Optically, only
a few people in the world, under con-
trolled test conditions, will be able to
tell any difference from it and a dozen
other scopes in its price class.
And speaking of price class, here
is the reality. At its $2,600 sug-
gested retail, the Trijicon’s price
compares well to what is probably
its closest competition, the Leupold
VX-5HD. Similar ri escopes from
Kahles, Nightforce and Vortex all
cost more—often considerably more.
However, on swfa.com, I found the
Trijicon for $1,870.
For under $2k, I’m convinced the
4.5-30X 56 mm AccuPower is as good a
value as any top-end, long-range scope
available today. With its power and pre-
cision mounted atop a quarter-minute
ri e like the Sabatti, I felt like I could
hit a coconut all the way in San Diego
if Beaman would just call the range and
the wind! What is certain, however, is
Trijicon’s commitment to the realm of
ultra-long-range shooting.continued from p. 6686 SEPTEMBER^2019 AMERICAN^ RIFLEMAN
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HANDLOADS
.221 Fireball
T
he tiny .221 Fireball only
received its due recog-
nition when varmint
shooters paired Lil’Gun propel-
lant with plastic-tipped 40-gr.
bullets such as the Hornady
V-Max, Sierra BlitzKing and
Nosler Ballistic Tip. Hodgdon’s
2019 Reloading manual lists
a velocity of 3384 f.p.s. for
40-gr. Ballistic Tips red with
16.0 grs. of Lil’Gun. It further suggests a
performance boost by using 20.8 grs of
CFE BLK, which propels the Ballistic Tips
to 3543 f.p.s. In the middle, the 40-gr.
V-Max achieves 3336 f.p.s. with 20.5 grs.
of CFE BLK. That allows the .221 Fireball
to attain 90 percent of the .223 Rem.’s
velocity with just 70 percent of the
.223’s required propellant. Accuracy was
good, too, with ve, ve-shot groups
averaging 0.96" at 100 yds.
My .221-chambered ri e has red
untold thousands of 40-gr. bullets pow-
ered by Lil’Gun and CFE BLK. Yet, a
peek into the bore con rms
that the barrel has a few
thousand shots left in it.
—JOHN HAVILAND
RECIPE
BULLET: HORNADY 40-GR., V-MAX
PROPELLANT/CHARGE: CFE BLK/20.5
PRIMER: CCI BR4
CASE: NOSLER
CASE TRIM-TO LENGTH: 3.190"
CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH: 1.830"
VELOCITY @ 10' (F.P.S.): 3336
MUZZLE ENERGY (FT.-LBS.): 988
ACCURACY: 0.96"
USES: VARMINTS AND COYOTES
NOTES: LOADS TESTED USING A REMING-
TON MODEL 700 CLASSIC WITH A 24 "
1:12"-TWIST BARREL AND A ZEISS
CONQUEST 4.5-14X 44 MM MC SCOPE.
AVERAGE OF FIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT
100 YDS.
WARNING: Technical data and information
contained herein are intended to provide
information based upon the limited experience
of individuals under speci c conditions and
circumstances. They do not detail the com-
prehensive training, procedures, techniques
and safety precautions that are absolutely
necessary to properly carry on similar activity.
READ THE NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER ON
THE CONTENTS PAGE OF THIS MAGAZINE.
ALWAYS CONSULT COMPREHENSIVE REFER-
ENCE MANUALS AND BULLETINS OF PROPER
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, PROCEDURES,
TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS BE-
FORE ATTEMPTING ANY SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.
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