DSC Frontline Foundation Rushes Emergency Funds to Continue Helicopter Search for Missing Guide

DALLAS TX – A professional South African hunting guide has been missing from a hunting expedition in Zimbabwe since Friday, April 7. An extensive land and air search is underway to find Scott van Zyl but the guide has yet to be found. DSC Frontline Foundation has approved an emergency grant to support the helicopter search efforts.

Van Zyl and his tracker left their vehicle and set off on foot into a rural area. Both men split up and traveled in different directions with van Zyl never returning to the vehicle. The guide’s dog returned and a cursory search of the area turned up no trace of the guide. Van Zyl reportedly left his firearm and personal items in the vehicle. Helicopter search teams spotted van Zyl’s backpack on the banks of Limpopo River but the man was not found.

“The Frontline Foundation wants to do all that is possible so the search for Scott can continue,” said DSC Frontline Foundation President Karl Evans. “We hold out hope that he will be found alive soon. Scott has worked with DSC members in the past and he is someone we consider a colleague and friend. Our hearts and prayers go out to Scott’s wife and children in this time of uncertainty.”

A friend of van Zyl who is involved with the search said they would need approximately R500,000 (US$36,000) to keep the helicopters in the air. The Heritage Protection Group, the SA Professional Hunters’ Association and Limpopo’s search and rescue teams are still searching for the guide.

Individuals or groups who wish to help fund the search and rescue of Scott van Zyl can either donate at this GoFundMe page or make a tax deductible directed donation by credit card to the DSC Frontline Foundation here by following the donate and support link. Donators should be sure to indicate the donation is for van Zyl. Read more

Hunting

Firearms Industry Economic Impact Rises Since 2008


NEWTOWN, Conn. – The total economic impact of the firearms and ammunition industry in the United States increased from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $51.3 billion in 2016, a 168 percent increase, while the total number of full-time equivalent jobs rose from approximately 166,000 to more than 300,000, an 81 percent increase in that period, according to a report released today by the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the industry’s trade association.On a year over year basis, the industry’s economic impact rose from $49.3 billion in 2015 to $51.3 billion in 2016, a nearly 15 percent increase.

“Our industry is proud of its strong contribution to our economy as a growing number of Americans have chosen to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms and to safely enjoy the shooting sports,” said Stephen L. Sanetti, NSSF President and Chief Executive Officer. “In response to that growing market, we have increased our direct workforce dramatically over the last decade, adding jobs that pay an average of more than $50,000 in wages and benefits. In addition, since 2008 we increased federal tax payments by 156 percent, Pittman-Robertson excise taxes that support wildlife conservation by 138 percent and state business taxes by 107 percent.”

“The Firearms and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report: 2017” provides a state-by-state breakdown of job numbers, wages and output covering direct, supplier and induced employment, as well as federal excise taxes paid. Read more

Firearms

Turnbull Adds New Winchester 1873 Rifles

Following up on the successful release of new Winchester 1892 rifles, Turnbull Restoration Co. is continuing the lever action series with a Winchester Model 1873. These are new rifles that will feature the unique Turnbull Color Case Finish, charcoal bluing and rust bluing.

“When it comes to lever actions, the Winchester 1873 is an American icon,” said CEO and Founder Doug Turnbull. “The 1873 was built to be the sturdy, reliable rifle that ranchers, farmers and law enforcement relied on daily. We are proud to take this workhorse gun and make it into an instant collectible.”

The 1873 rifles will be available in .357-38, .44-40 Winchester or .45 Colt, all with straight grips. Every rifle has a twenty-four inch octagonal barrel and factory checkered stocks. The wood has been Turnbull refinished in a hand rubbed oil that gives it Winchester’s signature red shade. The .357-38 and .45 Colt models are short stroked, which has been the preference of many shooters since 1883 when the first mass produced 1873’s shipped. Read more

Firearms

New Apex Thermal Imaging Models

(MANSFIELD, TEXAS) – Unveiled at this year’s SHOT Show, the popular Apex line of thermal riflescopes from Pulsar offers four all new, upgraded models for 2017: Apex XQ38 (PL76417), Apex LRF XQ38 (PL76419), Apex XQ50 (PL76427) and Apex LRF XQ50 (PL76429). Featuring improved high-resolution displays and new LRF models, the Apex series continues to deliver quality thermal imaging at down-to-earth pricing for the masses.

Detecting heat signatures up to 1,420 yards away at both day and night, the Apex XQ38 displays thermal images from its 384×288 resolution, 17µm pixel pitch core on a high-quality 640×480 AMOLED display. Continuous and stepped zoom allow shooters to zoom in on targets at .1x increments or use quick 2x, 3x or 4x stepped zoom. After listening to feedback from users in the field, a new LRF XQ38 model was added to the Apex lineup, enabling shooters to acquire precise target distances with a built-in laser rangefinder up to over 1,000 yards away. Both XQ38 models feature variable 2.2-8.8x magnification and 32mm objective lenses.

Perfect for long-distance shooters, new Apex XQ50 2.8-11.2×42 models boast an impressive heat detection range of up to 1,750 yards. The LRF XQ50 includes the same, accurate built-in laser rangefinder for gauging precise distances. Read more

Optics

New Pulsar Core Thermals


New Pulsar Core Thermals: The most versatile thermal series on the planet!(MANSFIELD, TEXAS) – The most versatile thermal optic line on the market, Pulsar welcomes three new exciting models to the existing Core series. The Core FXQ38 (PL76453) and Core FXQ50 (PL76459) are 2-in-1 thermal units, designed to be used as either scanning monoculars or front riflescope attachments. Bridging the gap between top-notch optical performance and affordable thermal imaging, the Pulsar Core RXQ30V can be used as a thermal monocular or attached to a firearm as a thermal riflescope. Read more
Optics

Ruger Introduces Two New Lightweight Compact Handguns


Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) announces the introduction of two new lightweight compact handguns: The LCRx® with external hammer and 3-inch barrel chambered in .22 LR and the LCP® II with factory-installed Viridian® E-Series™ red laser.”With an 8-round capacity, the .22 LR LCRx is the perfect revolver for range practice or to take with you on that fishing or camping trip,” said Chris Killoy, Ruger President and Chief Operating Officer. “The 3-inch barrel, adjustable sight and low recoil make for a tremendously fun shooting experience,” he continued.

This newest addition to the LCRx family features a fully adjustable rear sight, full-size smooth Hogue® Tamer™ grip, polymer fire control housing, aerospace grade aluminum monolithic frame and an extensively fluted stainless steel cylinder. This new model expands the diverse Ruger LCR family, which features a variety of calibers and configurations.

Ruger also proudly introduces a new model of LCP II featuring a factory-installed Viridian E-Series red (635-650 nm) laser. The one ounce laser unit is mounted on the trigger guard and features ambidextrous push-button activation. The new model features the same great trigger pull with single-action feel, textured grip frame, easy-to-rack slide, last round hold-open, integral sights, bladed trigger safety and internal safety features as other models of the LCP II. The LCP II with Viridian E-Series red laser comes with a pocket holster and offers consumers a new low cost option for compact, concealed carry. Read more

Firearms

Michigan: Experience the Excitement of Spring Birding

Common yellowthroats and scarlet tanagers are among the many bird species that can be found on Michigan’s birding trails and that will be celebrated with birding events around the state this spring.

Contact: Holly Vaughn, VaughnH@michigan.gov, 313-396-6863

Experience the excitement of spring birding in Michigan with events, trails around the state

scarlet tanagerMichigan is home to a variety of important bird habitats and an exciting array of public birding events and birding trails. Now is the time to start making plans to get out and enjoy the spectacular diversity of birds in Michigan.

“Michigan has so many great opportunities for birders and wildlife watchers, with more events popping up all the time,” said Holly Vaughn, Department of Natural Resources wildlife communications coordinator. “There is no better place to begin birding than Michigan, and there are opportunities to observe birds anywhere you may be in the state.”

In addition to the many festivals listed below, Michigan is home to a growing number of birding trails, with six already existing and more planned. Michigan’s birding trails are open to the public and provide great opportunities for family recreation.

Spring birding events in Michigan include: Read more

Wildlife

The Sportsmen’s Act of 2017 on the Move

By Glen Wunderlich

Americans deserve, have asked for, and were promised transparency in government.  Yet, over the past decade our government has purposely thwarted any legitimate attempts to uncover the whereabouts of millions of excise-tax dollars cleverly extracted from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) by extremist groups under the guise of environmentalism.   At long last, however, the U.S. Senate’s reintroduction of S. 733, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2017, would shed light on the issue, while providing access to federal lands by being “open unless closed” for fishing, hunting, recreational shooting, and other outdoor experiences.

The Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) was enacted in 1980 and required an annual report of the number of cases processed and total attorney fees reimbursed.  EAJA allows plaintiffs to recover attorney fees and other expenses from the federal government when they prevail–average citizens who need help finding and paying for a lawyer to correct errors in earned benefits or to remedy mistaken penalties imposed by federal agencies.  That reporting ended in 1995.

Studies released independently by Notre Dame Law School and the Government Accountability Office show that environmental groups pad their claims for reimbursed legal fees using the EAJA.

A Notre Dame law review article shows that the law intended for seniors, veterans, and small businesses is utilized by environmental groups to get pay-backs for their lawsuits, as well. A GAO study shows that no one really knows how much money has been spent.  However, what we do know is that the original intent of the EAJA has been perverted to the extent that it threatens the financial foundation of genuine wildlife conservation as we’ve known it.

Adding agency reporting requirements to the Equal Access for Justice Act for monies spent in litigation settlements and awards are only one aspect of S 733, which should make it to the President Trump’s desk.  Here are other key provisions of the bill:

  • Specifically declaring the policy of the United States to include the enhancement of hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities on federal lands;
  • Continuing to recognize the States’ authority and responsibility for wildlife within their borders;
  • Establishing that Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands are open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting unless specifically closed to those activities;
  • Placing limits on such closures and imposing requirements for the process for closing lands;
  • Requiring the creation of a list of federal public lands that allow hunting but for which access is a problem;  
  • Exempting commercial filming permits for film crews of three or fewer, or for news gathering purposes;
  • Amending the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to allocate funds for construction and expansion of public target ranges on BLM and Forest Service lands;
  • Establishing a statutory Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting;
  • Allowing the transport across National Park Service (NPS) land of bows or crossbows that are “not ready for immediate use”; and
  • Confirming it is proper to use qualified volunteers from the hunting community to cull wildlife on NPS land.

Additionally, this legislation would create an online public database of information on court cases against the U.S. government and would ultimately free up financial resources for conservation measures entitled to those Americans, who in good faith, provide the funding.

Time has come to deliver the transparency in government we were all promised and rightfully deserve.

Archery, Firearms, Fishing, Wildlife

dB Foam Reduces Suppressor “Noise”


dB Foam reduces suppressor “noise” by up to 10 decibels!MKS Supply, Inc., Dayton, OH – Inland Firearms, makers of the incredibly popular Inland series of M1 Carbines, offers up a suppressor foam that really works! Decibel Technologies, LLC is a subsidiary of Inland Manufacturing and dB Foam is marketed exclusively by MKS supply, LLC.

Now for the good stuff! Over the years, suppressors have been additionally muffled with the use of some “liquids.” The effect upon firing the gun is that the liquid became aerosolized and the particulates helped some to interfere with the gases and sometimes lowered the sound, but not reliably. But until now, an efficient and safe wet solution suppressor foam (already pre-aerosolized in the form of tough tiny bubbles) has not been commercially offered.

Many suppressors are pretty costly, so squirting water (little or no effect) or other liquids (some dangerous) into them is not a good idea.

dB Foam is a proprietary, low viscosity (thin), expanding water-soluble foam specifically formulated to do several things for all suppressors:
Enhance suppressor efficiency
Make the suppressor easier to clean
Help reduce internal heat
Lubricate metallic innards to help prevent corrosion
Help protect the muzzle, bore and action from particulates that may be blown back into a firearm with a suppressor attached.
A small (½ second or so) shot of dB Foam will expand to fill the dead space in most suppressors with tough, sound-absorbing bubbles that testing shows will last for more than a week. Read more

Firearms

B&T USA USW-A1

Tampa, FL – After making front-page news at SHOT Show 2017, the Swiss designed and built USW (Universal Service Weapon) first introduced in Europe in 2016 is now available to both law enforcement professionals and commercial customers in the United States. This revolutionary weapon is more than a 9mm pistol, it represents an entirely new category of firearms systems designed to fill the gap between submachine gun and 9mm police carbine.

The USW-A1 was designed to specifically meet the needs of today’s law enforcement professionals, who face challenges that far exceed the capabilities of even today’s most sophisticated pistols, and who during specific conflict situations do not have the time to reach for their standard issue carbine rifle. Now first responders, in most cases patrol officers, can intervene in any sudden event with more stable rapid fire, greater accuracy, and longer range than a standard 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

Taking advantage of an integral spring-loaded folding stock and custom Aimpoint Nano red dot sight, the user can deploy an extremely accurate pistol carbine in as little as 1.5 seconds from its own custom Level 3 polymer holster. The USW-A1 is capable of 1.6″ groups at a range of approximately 27 yards, or 40mm groups at 25 meters. Adding to its stability is a fixed bridge mount for the Aim point Nano, keeping the sight stationery during cycling of the gun.
With the stock folded, the USW-A1 can function as a standard holstered sidearm.

The USW-A1 is available with 17, 19, and 30-round double stack magazines, and can easily be configured with B&T’s own Impuls-11A® Suppressor. All NFA rules and State and Federal laws apply. Read more

Firearms
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