NEWTOWN, Conn., July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — During a time period of great economic uncertainty, firearm and ammunition sales have continued to increase throughout the country.

According to the most recent Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collection Report, released earlier today by the Department of the Treasury, firearm and ammunition manufacturers paid more than $109.8 million in the first calendar quarter of 2009; up 43% over the same time period reported in 2008.

This dramatic increase follows a 31.3 percent increase in excise taxes from the previous quarter (4Q, 2008) and eight straight months of increased FBI background checks – another strong indicator of firearm sales.

A third reliable source, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), reported that in 2008, “Hunting and Firearms” equipment was the only category to grow double digits and only one of seven categories that exhibited growth. NSGA’s forecast for 2009 shows “Hunting and Firearms” as one of only two categories to exhibit growth.

Manufacturers of firearms and ammunition pay a federal excise tax — a major source of wildlife conservation funding — on all firearms and ammunition manufactured (11% on long guns and ammunition and 10% on handguns).

This latest excise tax report, which covers the time period of January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009, shows that $33.0 million was collected in taxes for pistols and revolvers, $38.9 million for long guns and $37.8 million for ammunition. Compared to the same quarter in 2008, collections were up 65.5% for handguns, 42.9% for ammunition and 28.3% for long guns.

Translation to sales:
Using the latest collections as an indicator of sales, a projection of $1.03 billion was generated in the first quarter (calendar year) of 2009. Please keep in mind that although excise taxes are one of the best indicators of industry performance, they only report what the manufacturers paid in taxes and do NOT reflect retail mark-up and final retail sales.

Pistols and revolvers: $33,043,554.83 / .10 = $330,435,548.30 = $330.4 million for handguns

Long guns: $38,979,972.16 / .11 = $354,363,383.27 = $354.3 million for long guns

Ammunition: $37,846,038.52 / .11 = $344,054,895.64 = $344.0 million for ammunition

Total estimation for the quarter: $1.028 billion

SOURCE National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)

Michigan’s Newest Hunting Opportunity Launched at Pure Michigan Hunt
Kick-Off

LANSING – A new hunting opportunity in Michigan today was launched with the
opening of the Pure Michigan Hunt application period. Dunham’s Sports in
Madison Heights sold the first Pure Michigan Hunt applications to Lt.
Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. and Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Director Rebecca Humphries at a special kick-off event. Application sales
for this new, multi-species hunt are now available to the public.

The Pure Michigan Hunt will allow three lucky individuals to hunt for elk,
bear, spring and fall wild turkey, and antlerless deer. The successful
applicants will also have first pick of hunting sites at managed waterfowl
areas during the reserved hunt period. Hunters can purchase as many
applications for the Pure Michigan Hunt drawing as they wish. Applications
are $4 and will be sold at license retailers through December 31, 2009.
Three applicants will be chosen in January 2010 for eligibility to
participate in the 2010 hunting seasons.

“This is an outstanding way to continue Michigan’s hunting and conservation
heritage,” said Cherry, an avid hunter and angler. “I encourage hunters to
apply for the Pure Michigan Hunt to experience an unparalleled hunting
opportunity.”

The drawing is designed to increase opportunity for hunters to participate
in some of Michigan’s most-prized hunts, making it a hunt of a lifetime for
Michigan hunters, Humphries said.

“The Pure Michigan Hunt will allow individuals an additional opportunity to
participate in our most in-demand, limited-access hunting opportunities
through one application,” Humphries said. “We think this is an outstanding
opportunity to get the full flavor of Michigan hunting.”

“Michigan is the first state east of the Mississippi to create a
multi-species hunt,” said DNR Wildlife Chief Russ Mason. “This is a popular
type of hunting opportunity in western states, and we felt it was worthwhile
to offer here in Michigan where we have some of the best hunting in the
Midwest.”

The first Pure Michigan Hunt will be in 2010. Hunters may apply for this
hunt beginning July 27 through December 31, 2009. The Pure Michigan Hunt is
designed to be an annual event. Applications will cost $4, but unlike other
limited-access hunts, individuals can apply as many times as they wish.

Being selected to participate in the Pure Michigan Hunt will not impact
eligibility to apply for any other limited-access hunts. It will not negate
any preference points for bear nor weighted chances for elk. Similarly,
hunters who are disqualified from applying for future regular elk hunts
because of past success will be eligible for the Pure Michigan Hunt. In
addition, the applicants who are chosen for the hunt are not excluded from
future limited-access elk drawings.

Successful applicants can participate in any open season until they fill
their tags and can hunt in any unit or hunt period that is open for hunting
that species (except for bear on Drummond Island).

In addition, the DNR has a commitment from the archery industry to donate
equipment to each of the three chosen hunters.

Applications will be available at all license vendors or online at
www.michigan.gov/dnr .

The Department of Natural Resources today announced that hunters who
are successful in the upcoming drawing for antlerless deer hunting
licenses will no longer be notified by postcard.

“Drawing notification postcards are being eliminated as a cost-saving
measure,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. “This will
save more than $40,000 per year in postage and printing costs and allow
staff time to be reallocated to other projects.”

During this transition period, applicants for fall’s turkey hunting
licenses and managed waterfowl area reserved hunts will still receive
postcards because the change in notification was not announced prior to
the closure of the application period. However, applicants for all
limited-access hunting opportunities beginning in 2010 will not.

Applicants for antlerless deer licenses and other limited-access
hunting opportunities may check to see if they were selected for a hunt
at www.michigan.gov/dnrdrawings.

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

Last week’s column covered the .17 HMR caliber and how the wrong scope can cause accuracy troubles. It must be understood that pushing a firearm and cartridge to their accuracy potential at various ranges involves a riflescope with an adjustable parallax objective lens. This week, the results of my testing a BSA Sweet 17 riflescope and Savage rifle are unveiled.

Before beginning, it’s important to note how Bullet Drop Compensating (BDC) scopes function. Given a certain bullet configuration, bullet weight, and specific velocity (among other variables such as sight height, temperature, humidity, sea level, etc.), a bullet’s trajectory can be closely calculated. And, since trajectory is the name of the long-range game, it’s vital to know these statistics, before fixing blame on one aspect of the equation. Blaming a firearm, a scope, or a bullet/load combination for results that do not measure up to expectations is only valid with facts at hand.

Enter the chronograph, which is an instrument that measures and records brief, precisely spaced intervals of time. When a bullet passes over the two measuring points of the chronograph, a digital readout of velocity is displayed. Then, plugging in the bullet’s weight and ballistic coefficient (readily available from bullet manufacturers), a shooter can determine how flat the load shoots.

With that information, a maximum point blank range (MPBR) can be set based on the size of the target. To determine MPBR, the first thing to know is the size of the intended target. For example, if a target measures three inches, the bullet must not go beyond 1.5 inches high or below 1.5 inches low within the maximum range. With ballistic software, the shooter plugs various zero ranges (the point at which the bullet strikes dead center downrange) without allowing the bullet to travel above 1.5 inches above the line of sight or center of the target. When the maximum height of bullet trajectory is 1.5 inches, you have found the zero range. The MPBR is found by checking the trajectory chart or curve to find where the bullet strikes 1.5 inches low. Once the MPBR is established, all the shooter has to do is aim at the center of the target, and as long as it is within the maximum range, the bullet will strike the 3-inch target. It sounds complicated – and, it is – but with an inexpensive chronograph (as low as $80) and ballistic software (less than $20), anyone can look like a genius.

The BSA Sweet 17 scope came with instructions and a ballistic chart. The scope is specifically calibrated to be used in conjunction with only 17-grain Hornady V-Max bullets, which are advertised to travel at 2550 fps. My chronograph verified the velocity of a Winchester load to be zipping along at 2580 fps. Incidentally, a 20-grain Hornady XTP load was right on the 2550 fps mark, but was set aside for the initial test. Once the scope was zeroed at 100 yards, the elevation turret could be turned to the desired range (up to 300 yards) and the bullet was supposed to hit the bull’s eye, assuming wind and other human factors were in order.

I set a target at 135-verified yards and fired three shots. All were 2.5 inches high. I switched to the 20-grain Winchester loads with the same results. Since there is no way to alter velocity with rimfire loads, as can be done with centerfire rounds, there was no reason to continue; the experiment was concluded.

For $65 I have a low-end scope with an adjustable parallax objective lens in 3 to 12 power. The bullet drop compensator is useless, unless I choose to alter the yardage settings with marks of my own – and, that remains a possibility.

However, based on my chronograph results and the inherent accuracy of the rig, it can still boast a MPBR of 165 yards with a tiny 1.5-inch target. And, that’s what makes this little speedster the rimfire king.

From the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance

Senator John Cornyn (R- TX) has blocked President Obama’s choice for a powerful regulatory position in the White House because of the nominee’s support for animal rights. He’s done his part, now sportsmen need to do theirs. Your support is needed to make sure the block, known technically as a “hold,” stays in place.

Cass Sunstein, the president’s pick to head the powerful Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), has been an advocate for the animal rights movement and is an anti-hunter. As a part of the federal budget office, OIRA has extensive authority to block rules, including those that protect hunting and conservation.

Sunstein claims that, “we might ban hunting altogether, at least if it’s sole purpose is human recreation.” He also supports allowing lawsuits on behalf of animals, a right currently only extended to human beings.

That is why it is crucial that the block remains in place.

Take Action! Sportsmen nationwide should contact their U.S. senators and ask them to support Sen. Cornyn’s hold on Sunstein. Let them know that you are deeply concerned by Sunstein’s radical statements about hunting and animal rights. Ask your Senator to join Senator Cornyn by blocking this appointment.

To find your senators’ information, please visit the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org/lac.

For more information regarding the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alert Network, call 614-888-4868, or email Greg R. Lawson, director of communications at glawson@ussportsmen.org or Sharon Hayden, assistant director of communications at shayden@ussportsmen.org.

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
801 Kingsmill Parkway
Columbus, Ohio 43229
614-888-4868
www.ussportsmen.org
info@ussportsmen.org

By Glen Wunderlich
Outdoor Columnist
Member Professional Outdoor Media Association

After experimenting with my Marlin semi-automatic .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR) rifle and myriad ammunition variations, it was time to give it up. It never performed to expectations, failing miserably at the target bench and afield – even after having the factory install a new barrel. At Meal and More in Morrice, I traded it for a Savage model 93R17 in .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire).

The diminutive .17 caliber cartridge is actually a .22 WMR case necked down to accommodate 17 and 20-grain bullets, which are propelled at advertised velocities of 2550 fps and 2375 fps respectively, making it the undisputed leader in rimfire velocity.

The .17 HMR evolved from a joint project between Hornady, Marlin, and Ruger, was introduced in 2002, and has become a huge success. From everything I have read, the .17 HMR enjoys a distinct advantage over the .22 magnum in the accuracy department regardless of bullet weight, configuration, or rifle manufacturer. It was time to find out for myself.

I opted for the heavier 20-grain ammo, choosing Hornady’s XTP offering, which is a controlled-expansion design. Other choices include full-metal jacket and explosive varmint bullets.

The Savage rifle came with an inexpensive Simmons 3 x 9 power scope and I figured I’d at least try it. I set targets at 50 yards and began punching paper. To my ultimate surprise, the little bolt gun never shot more than ½-inch groups with some in tiny clover-leaf clusters!

I realized I was on to something well beyond expectations, but as usual, my desire for improvement led me to check for parallax in the optics. On any scope without an adjustable objective lens (AO), parallax will be present to some degree at any range for which the scope is not set. Most rifle scopes are set to be parallax free at 100 yards, although some manufacturers such as Leupold are set beyond that. Rimfire scopes are typically set at 50 to 75 yards.

What does this mean? Parallax is defined as the apparent change in the position of an object (target) resulting in the change in the position from which it is viewed. Parallax is most noticeable at close range and can be checked easily. Just place your scoped firearm on a solid rest focused on a target. Then, move your head up and down, or side to side without touching the scope. If the target appears to move, you have parallax.

Parallax is problematic. If your eye is not positioned in exactly the same location before each shot, group size will suffer. Whether you are aware of it or not, parallax can account for poor shooting all by itself. With fixed parallax scopes, it’s like pedaling a bicycle with only one gear. Sometimes it will be just right; the rest of the time it won’t.

The obvious answer is to change to an adjustable objective scope, which permits focusing at any given range. Although the Savage has a fine adjustable Accu-Trigger, it’s not as costly as the Ruger model, and therefore, spending big bucks on a scope seemed inappropriate. I found a BSA Sweet 17 scope with AO in 3 x 12 power for a scant $65 on sale at MidwayUSA.com right now and couldn’t resist. The BSA scope seems like a fantastic deal with its screw-on scope caps, adjustable parallax, power range, and best of all, range compensation out to a whopping 300 yards!

The scope is made to work with 17 grain bullets traveling at 2550 fps, but I found that the little Savage was spitting out the 20-grain XTPs at that velocity and the 17 grainers a bit faster. It will be interesting to find out how the scope performs, once installed – especially at the longer ranges.

Next week we’ll review the results.

Washington, D.C. – Hunters across the country were honored by yesterday’s passage of congressional resolution H. Res 270 to recognize the establishment of Hunters for the Hungry programs across the United States and the contributions of those efforts to decrease hunger and help feed those in need.

Thanks to caring sportsmen and sportswomen, millions of meals are served annually each year to those in need across the country. Safari Club International Foundation’s (SCIF) program, Sportsmen Against Hunger (SAH) had record breaking meat donations last year with 412,254 lbs of meat, representing 1,649,016 protein-rich meals. In these difficult economic times, hunters are more aware than ever of the difference they can make in their communities through programs like SAH.

Through Safari Club International Foundation’s many humanitarian programs like SAH, SCI chapters and individual members demonstrate the highest levels of philanthropy by directly reaching out to people in need throughout the world. Whether it involves feeding millions of hungry each year, offering free healthcare and supplies to impoverished communities, introducing children to the wonders of wildlife or helping the disabled fulfill lifelong hunting wishes, SCIF is committed to the charitable tenets of giving.

“We are grateful that the House of Representatives has chosen to recognize the great work that hunters do on behalf of those less fortunate,” said Executive Director John Eichinger. “As a community, Safari Club and our members are truly committed to important programs like Sportsmen Against Hunger and other worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services.”

House Resolution 270 was introduced by Congressman Phil Gingrey and was co-sponsored by 43 Members of Congress. The Resolution passed with a 418 to 1 vote.

Contact:
Nelson Freeman
Safari Club International
nfreeman@safariclub.org

A vote is looming in the U.S. Senate on legislation that would bring national concealed carry reciprocity one step closer to becoming reality.

South Dakota Senator John Thune has introduced an amendment to S. 1290, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010, that would require all states to recognize concealed carry licenses and permits from every other state, just the same as those states now recognize a driver’s license from another state.

Gun prohibitionists have been lobbying vigorously to defeat this important amendment, and it is important for gun owners to let their voices be heard.

Contact the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and leave a message for your senator.

A vote on Thune Amendment #1618 could come at any moment.

The Natural Resources Commission approved a quota of 728,100 antlerless
deer licenses for the upcoming season at its recent meeting in Lansing,
an increase from 641,075 in 2008.

The commission approved 68,300 public land licenses and 659,800 private
land licenses, up from 65,875 and 572,200 respectively last year.

In the Upper Peninsula, the quotas were reduced to 7,000 public land
licenses and 27,000 private land tags, down from 8,000 and 31,000
respectively in 2008.

“The deer herd is down slightly in the UP,” said Department of
Natural Resources Wildlife Division Management Specialist Supervisor
Mike Bailey. “Winter was rather severe, but spring break-up was
moderate so we don’t expect it impacted recruitment very much.”

In the Northern Lower Peninsula, the NRC approved 25,600 public land
licenses and 140,300 private land licenses, up from 22,000 and 135,400
respectively last year.

“The deer herd has clearly increased in size in the Northern Lower
Peninsula,” Bailey said. “Deer numbers are about where we want them
and the increases in antlerless licenses are designed to maintain the
present population – not reduce it — except in the bovine tuberculosis
area where the population still needs to be reduced to decrease disease
transmission.”

In the Southern Lower Peninsula, the NRC approved 35,700 public land
licenses and 423,000 private land licenses, down from 35,900 and up from
406,800 respectively in 2008.

“We are still well over goal in southern Michigan and this regional
population needs to be reduced,” Bailey said. “This year’s quotas
also reflect an expanded area open during the late antlerless season, as
well as the new Deer Management Unit 486, which includes most of the
counties in southern Michigan.”

Antlerless deer quotas were established in 85 of the state’s 102 deer
management units.

Hunters may now purchase two antlerless deer licenses at one time with
a maximum of five antlerless licenses for the season, though no more
than two private land licenses combined for the Upper Peninsula and any
DMU entirely within the Northern Lower Peninsula. However, this limit
does not apply in Alpena, Alcona, Crawford, Iosco, Kent, Montmorency,
Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties, where disease concerns
necessitate encouraging antlerless harvest.

SMYRNA, Ga., July 10 /PRNewswire/ — With the first quarter of the 2010 fiscal year in the books, handgun manufacturer GLOCK, Inc. announced today that the company experienced a staggering 71% increase in pistol sales in comparison with the same period’s record sales in fiscal year 2009. Additionally, GLOCK Inc.’s rate of new pistol orders continues to increase at a record pace as they move into the second quarter of the 2010 fiscal year.

“With new product introductions including the G22 RTF2 and G17 RTF2, GLOCK, Inc. is extremely pleased with the resulting increase in sales. The partnership with our commercial and Law Enforcement distributors and our commitment to rock solid customer service are paying large dividends,” said Vice President Josh Dorsey. “With GLOCK, Inc. starting to conduct complete pistol manufacturing operations in the United States, GLOCK, Inc. will enter the export market further increasing sales. GLOCK Inc.’s outlook remains amazingly strong,” he added.

Financially stable and fiscally sound, GLOCK Inc. continues its pursuit of offering reliable products to over 11,000 local, state and Federal Law Enforcement agencies as well as the growing commercial market that is willingly adopting a lifestyle that includes the incorporation of personal defense needs.

Incorporated in 1985, GLOCK, Inc. is the leader in the manufacturing and distribution for the U.S. Law Enforcement, Commercial and Federal/Military markets. They employ over 170 employees at their United States headquarters in Smyrna, GA.