Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Program Is Now Accepting Applications from 2014 Graduates
MAUMEE, Ohio (April 29, 2014) — The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) announces its 2014 SSSF Scholarship Program, which will award more than $40,000 in college scholarships to deserving participants of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP). The application period is now open to qualifying student athletes. Read more
Today, an important youth firearm education bill passed unanimously in the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 5085 now goes to the Senate floor for consideration. Introduced by state Representative Phil Potvin (R-102), HB 5085 corrects an unduly burdensome restraint on youth firearm education by reasonably expanding the class of individuals who are allowed to supervise and instruct Michigan youth on the safe use of pistols.
Under current Michigan law, an individual who is under the age of 18 is prohibited from possessing a pistol “for the purposes of target practice or instruction in the safe use,” unless the “person’s parent or guardian is physically present and supervising the person.” As a result, responsible family members, close friends, range instructors and youth organizations (e.g. Boy Scouts of America) are all effectively precluded from supervising and instructing on the safe use of a pistol in a controlled environment.
If enacted, HB 5085 would allow some of the aforementioned classes of individuals to provide pistol training and safety instruction to Michigan’s youth, while also ensuring that supervision is undertaken by a responsible adult. HB 5085 achieves this goal by amending the current law to provide that an individual who is 21 years or older, has successfully completed a state certified pistol training course and has received parental authorization, may supervise and provide pistol instruction to a minor at a target range.
Please contact your state Senator today and encourage him or her to SUPPORT HB 5085, and to consider and vote on this bill as soon as possible. Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.
Overland Park, Kan – Bushnell, an industry leader in high performance sports optics for 65 years, has introduced the Elite Long Range Hunting Scope (LRHS). This 3-12x 44mm configuration, the inaugural offering in the Elite Tactical Hunter product line, showcases the integration of technology and functionality from the acclaimed Bushnell Elite Tactical series in a scope designed specifically for the long range hunter.
The LRHS is the first hunting riflescope Bushnell has offered with a first focal plane reticle. The new G2H milliradian-based reticle is designed to give hunters the ability to range targets at any magnification setting. The G2H reticle has .5 mil hash marks with eight mils of holdover and six mils of windage adjustment. In addition, the center of the reticle features a Vital Bracket that has a diameter of two Mils at any range, equivalent to 7.2” at 100 yards. Read more
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reports the U.S. State Department has made a “policy decision” to limit the export of 30 round and higher capacity magazines solely to government, law enforcement and military end users. The policy is expected to be posted to the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) website this week. NSSF will provide updates on this policy development as more information becomes available.
NEWTOWN, Conn. — Boy Scouts of America Councils that take up the challenge to develop or expand their activities in target shooting and marksmanship can receive a portion of $50,000 in grant funds provided by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
For the fourth year, NSSF is making challenge grants available to qualifying BSA Councils. NSSF is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry. Read more
The BATFE sure doesn’t care about ballistics and Obama sure doesn’t care about the Second Amendment.
According to John Lott, the 5.45×39 is slightly narrower and a little longer than a .22 magnum. If you want to see the illogic of banning the importation of the 5.45×39 compare it to the .44 magnum or the 38 special.
In inches 5.45 is about .21 inches, so that is less than half the diameter of the .44 inches magnum shell. The 38 special is .359 inches in diameter.
The 39 millimeter length is 1.535 inches, while the .44 magnum is 1.61 inches (41 millimeters). The .38 special is also slightly longer than the 5.45×39 — it is 1.55 inches long.
More details here…
Wixom, MI – Trijicon, Inc., global provider of innovative aiming solutions for the hunting, shooting, military and law enforcement markets, now offers their Bright and Tough and HD Night Sights for the Glock Model 41 and 42 pistols. The new offerings are available in multiple front/rear configurations for a variety of applications. Read more
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 10/22®, is proud to announce the 10/22® 50th Anniversary Design Contest Winning Rifle. The contest winning rifle, available only in 2014, takes the legendary action and renowned, reliable rotary magazine of the 10/22® and combines them with the best features of other popular Ruger® rifles. The result is a fun, versatile .22 rifle that enthusiasts of all ages are sure to enjoy. Read more
By Glen Wunderlich
At the end of a day’s session at the firing range, a friend plopped down a 12 x 18-inch turkey target thoroughly covered with shot from Winchester’s new Long Beard XR 12-gauge load. “60 yards!” he exclaimed.
12-Gauge Winchester Long Beard XR, No. 5 Shot, 60 Yards
I knew right then that further review was necessary.
Winchester obliged by supplying some of its Long Beard XR copper plated, 3-inch loads of 4s and 6s and some test targets. It was time for the testing to begin.
With a “scant” 1 ¾-ounce load of shot, it’s almost incomprehensible how science could make it more effective than much heavier loads. A proprietary Shot-Lok compound insures the plated pellets’ roundness under impact in the barrel. The result: more pellets on target.
Since it doesn’t need as much costly shot to get the job done, the price of $23 for a box of 10 rounds is significantly less than other high-end shotshells. Plus, the felt recoil seemed to be a bit less punishing – even with the added weight of an additional ¼ ounce of shot buffer material. Winchester claims the load offers 10 percent greater penetration over standard loads beyond 50 yards and twice the number of pellets in a 10-inch circle out to 60 yards.
Here’s what I learned. At 40 yards, a charge of #4 shot put 39 pellets on target in the head and neck. 
I backed up to 50 yards and 16 pellets resulted in the kill zone.
(Miami, FL) – Taurus®, the global leader in revolver manufacturing, introduces a one of a kind survival kit that is designed to assist you for the first 24 hours of a horrific catastrophe, the First 24 Judge Kit – performance enhanced by AimPro Tactical. Read more