Whigham, GA – At Trulock Choke Tubes, we understand there is a lot of confusing information regarding chokes tube selection and shot loads for any given scenario, which is why we enjoyed a recent article by the Shotgun Report Technoid, Bruck Buck titled, “The 7 ½ Shot at Sporting.” We reached out to Bruce and received permission to reprint the article to share. It was originally posted on the Shotgun Report on May 24, 2021. This article offers great advice from Bruce Buck, the “Technoid,” on chokes and shot sizes. He is primarily referencing Sporting Clays, but this is also a good starting point for doves or any other small gamebird where distances can vary by a large degree. However, we also recommend patterning your gun with your load(s) and chokes to make sure.

Dear Guru of Gear:

Last weekend my buddies and I did some practicing on a really tough, long-range teal shot on the 5-stand at Sporting Clays. It is a standard target, with the entire top side exposed to the shooter at a range I would guess to be 45 yards. It angles lightly to the right, which makes it deceptive. I was shooting with modified chokes and no. 7 1/2 shot, but a AA shooter was breaking it with IC and no. 8 shot.

I have noticed that some sporting clay shooters use no. 7 1/2 shot at every target that is beyond arm’s length, while others almost never use them. In Gary Phillips’ video, he says he relies chiefly on no. 8, only occasionally using no. 7 1/2. When I checked my “Choke Chooser” for recommendations on chokes and loads for a few selected target presentations, I found that no. 8 shot generally gives better results than no. 7 1/2, even at fairly long range. It appears that the greater number of pellets in a charge of no. 8 gives it an advantage in effective pattern size. Still, there must be some range beyond which the greater retained energy of the larger shot becomes an advantage. Read more

Whitetails Unlimited awarded a $2,500 grant to the Student Air Rifle Program which was developed by the Missouri Youth Sport Shooting Alliance. This brings the total WTU has contributed to SAR to $10,000. The SAR is a national school-based air rifle program that promotes safety, teamwork, focus, self-esteem, and marksmanship.

Since its inception 5 years ago, the program has trained instructors in more than 75 schools reaching more than 11,000 students. It uses school aligned units of study, teacher training, universal whistle commands, positive language, and standardized equipment. Students use .177-claiber pellet rifles, shooting at reactive and paper targets at 10 meters, in front of a safety backstop.

“WTU has been a partner of the SAR program since the start,” said Whitetails Unlimited Program Services Director Russ Austad. “It has been very exciting to see how far the program has come in the past 5 years.” Read more

GENESEO, ILL. – Springfield Armory® is proud to announce the newest addition to its award-winning family of 1911’s—the Emissary. Bridging the gap between duty and custom handguns, the Emissary delivers a bold and capable 1911 pistol with defense-minded features intended for serious use.

The new Emissary blends form and function seamlessly in a firearm built for defense and loaded with custom-grade features. It’s constructed with a forged stainless steel frame and forged carbon steel slide, with a beautiful two-tone finish. The blued carbon steel slide pairs with a stainless steel frame featuring a distinctive squared trigger guard with additional room for ease of operation with a gloved hand.

The slide’s “Tri-Top” cut gives the Emissary custom styling, while a flattened top strap is finished with 40 LPI serrations to diffuse light and reduce glare. On top, the tritium and luminescent front sight on the Emissary pairs with a Tactical Rack U-Dot™ rear sight for easy target acquisition in all lighting conditions.

Inside the slide, a bushingless heavy stainless steel bull barrel delivers maximum accuracy while reducing felt recoil and muzzle flip. In addition, the Emissary’s skeletonized hammer delivers ultra-fast lock times and combines with a solid-body, flat-faced trigger for top-end performance.

The forged stainless frame’s front strap and mainspring housing are wrapped in a grenade-pattern texture for firm engagement in adverse conditions, which are matched with slim line grip panels by VZ Grips® machined from G10. At the front, a Picatinny accessory rail is integrated into the steel of the frame and is ready to accept a light, laser or combo of your choice.

Each pistol comes with two top-quality 8-round stainless steel magazines with base pads. MSRP is $1,279. Read more

NEWINGTON, N.H., (July 27, 2021) – National Shooting Sports Month begins in August and SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to announce support for the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) annual initiative to celebrate the shooting sports. Beginning August 1st – 31st, SIG SAUER, in conjunction with the NSSF, is offering an exclusive SIG SAUER Shooting Sports Gear Box.

The SIG SAUER Shooting Sports Gear Box includes a SIG SAUER CROSS Bolt-Action Rifle, a SIG SAUER Electro-Optics SIERRA3 BDX combo kit including rangefinder and riflescope, SIG SAUER Elite Hunter ammunition, and exclusive SIG SAUER Hunt Like A Warrior Gear. To enter for a chance to win the SIG SAUER Gear Box visit letsgoshooting.org.

“SIG SAUER is proud to support NSSF and all of their safety, shooting, and hunting initiatives during National Shooting Sports Month, and throughout the year, to raise awareness and participation in the shooting sports,” said Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER,Inc. “With a record number of Americans becoming firearm owners, active participation across the industry in National Shooting Sports Month, and all of the important NSSF initiatives, is essential to ensuring that the shooting sports, and our 2nd Amendment rights are protected and enjoyed for generations to come.” Read more

The National Anthem was played twice from the Asaka Shooting Range on Monday as American’s Vincent Hancock and Amber English captured gold in the Women’s and Men’s Skeet competition.

By far one of the most profitable days in USA Shooting Olympic history, both Hancock and English took different approaches in the two days of competition to win Hancock’s third gold medal, having won in 2008 Beijing and 2012 London and English’s first.

“I’ve just been so excited to get here, knowing that I’m capable of doing what I just did,” The 32-year-old Hancock said after winning in go away fashion in the finals. “I felt so good throughout this entire competition, so happy that I was able to come out on top again and whether it ended up being a gold medal or just being here, I’m just happy right now.”

Hancock was perfect, hitting all 75 targets in day one of qualifying and started the second day of competition just as hot hitting all 25 targets in the fourth session.  Sitting all 100 for 100, Hancock was on the verge of tying the world record of 125 set by Italian Valerio Luchini in Beijing in 2019. Read more

NSSF has learned of a recent ATF internal memorandum that we wanted to share with our members:

“On June 23, 2021, President Biden and Attorney General Garland announced the Administration’s Comprehensive Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gun Crime and Ensure Public Safety. ATF’s role in the Strategy is essential, and includes refocusing our FFL inspection and administrative action policies. As we have previously discussed, to ensure ATF effectively executes our role in the Strategy, effective immediately, all Field Divisions shall implement the following:

1) Field divisions shall in all instances utilize Crime Gun Intelligence Analytics (CGIA) and other data driven tools in determining prioritization of inspection resources. The factors that shall be considered include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. The extent to which firearms sold by the dealer are later used in criminal activity:
b. The time between the sale of a firearm and its use in a crime;
c. The number of recoveries associated with shootings, domestic violence, and other violent offenses; and
d. Additional information developed by local law enforcement partners.

2) Absent extraordinary circumstances, an inspection that results in a finding that an FFL has willfully committed any of the following violations shall result in a revocation recommendation:
a. The transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person;
b. Failing to conduct a required background check;
c. Falsification of records, such as a firearms transaction form;
d. Failing to respond to an ATF tracing request;
e. Refusing to permit ATF to conduct an inspection in violation of the law. Read more

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Primary Arms and RECOIL have partnered with a free 9mm AR pistol package giveaway valued at over $1,600. For entry information, please visit the Giveaway Page on the RECOIL website.

Open until August 14th, the Ultimate AR Pistol Package Giveaway offers a chance to win a free Foxtrot Mike FM9 9mm AR pistol, complete with SBA3 pistol brace. This pistol comes equipped with a full suite of accessories, including a Primary Arms Optics SLx® Advanced Push Button Micro Red Dot Sight on a Scalarworks LEAP/MICRO Red Dot Mount, a Streamlight TLR RM1 500-Lumen weapon light, a Magpul MLOK Handstop, Midwest Industries Combat Rifle Sights, and a Blue Force Gear Vickers 221 Sling.

In addition, the winner will receive five 27-round Magpul GL9 magazines, a set of Walker’s Razor Slim Electronic hearing protectors, Walker’s Sport Glasses with interchangeable lenses, and a Grey Ghost Gear Apparition SBR Bag. As a last gift, Primary Arms has included a Nine Line Warheads Pinup T-Shirt—the perfect apparel to finish up the summer shooting season.

“With pistol-caliber carbines growing in popularity, we are excited to launch this new giveaway alongside our friends at RECOIL,” says Dina Sanders, Primary Arms’ Brand Marketing Manager. “This kit includes everything our winner needs for range day. Whether you’re a new gun-owner or an experienced collector, this setup is guaranteed to impress.” Read more

William Shaner broke through where other American’s had failed, capturing the first ever medal in Men’s Air Rifle in Olympics competition, happily it was gold.

It is the first Olympics for the 20-year-old student at the University of Kentucky who looked more like a grizzled veteran as he slowly and methodically built a lead over the seven other competitors, including his teammate, Lucas Kozeniesky, who finished sixth.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Primary Arms has announced the ‘Summer Sticker’ Instagram photo contest, offering participants a chance to win exciting weekly prizes—as well as a custom grand prize, worth up to $1,700.

Starting July 12th, every order from primaryarms.com will include a limited decal: a sunset-themed sticker with the Primary Arms logo. These stickers come with entry instructions, plus a QR code that will show all the prizes available to weekly winners.

Once you’ve received your sticker, follow @primaryarmsonline on Instagram, post a picture with your most creative use/placement of the summer sticker with the ‘#primaryarms’ hashtag, and tag your range buddies. Every Friday, Primary Arms will announce a new weekly winner, who will receive a special care package full of range day gear and necessities. At the end of August, Primary Arms will name a grand champion from the weekly winners, awarding a custom optics and gear package worth up to $1,700. To view prize list and more details, visit the giveaway landing page. Read more