|
|
December 16th, 2007
We’re thinking of putting together a group purchase of Bore-Store rifle storage bags, possibly as a “late Xmas, New Year’s Special”, provided there is sufficient interest. These are thick, synthetic fleece bags, treated with silicone and a special rust inhibitor. Bore-Stores are outstanding products, much better than the thin “gun socks” made by other companies. Bore-Stores cushion your rifles, protecting against nicks and dings while you’re moving your guns in and out of the safe. They also effectively safeguard against rust and corrosion. The fleece material is breathable, so it wicks away moisture from the firearm. By contrast, typical hard cases with “eggcrate” foam interiors attract and retain moisture — they can actually breed rust on your guns. Likewise, most zippered soft cases retain moisture. In fact, the linings of some soft cases have chemicals that promote corrosion.
We are working to have a custom Bore-Store size created for Forum members that would provide ample clearance for a large benchrest or varmint rifle with a Nightforce scope and a barrel up to 30″ in length. Smaller sizes would also be available. If you are interested, go to our Shooters’ Forum, and vote in the current Readers’ Poll. You’ll find the poll in the lower right hand corner of the Forum layout. You can check multiple boxes, one to express your interest, and others to indicate the bag sizes you’d prefer.
Why do we hope to arrange this group buy? Because this Editor believes Bore-Stores are the best product on the market for protecting firearms while stored in a safe. I personally have Bore-Stores for every one of my handguns and long guns.
December 15th, 2007
Cerberus Capital Management, a large holding company, has acquired yet another gun maker, this time AR-platform builder DPMS Panther Arms. In the past year, Cerberus has purchased three gun manufacturers: Bushmaster Firearms, Remington Arms, and Cobb Manufacturing. It looks like Cerberus intends to be a major player in the semi-auto AR-platform market, Colt and FN Mfg. LLC notwithstanding. Strategically, the DPMS acquisition places Cerberus in an even stronger position to pursue military rifle contracts–the prize we believed Cerberus was chasing all along.
Randy Luth, DPMS founder and President, remarked, “We were looking for a partner that could enhance our expertise in operations and further develop our sales and marketing capabilities. Cerberus is a partner that can help us in those areas and provide the financial and operational resources required to expand our business. As we look forward, we see increased interest in our new calibers, based on the proven DPMS ‘LR’ rifle platform.” Based in St. Cloud, Minnesota, DPMS manufactures and distributes a complete line of AR15-based rifles and components, as well as rifle platforms in other calibers.
The Cerberus press release says, “Mr. Luth will remain President of the newly formed DPMS Firearms, LLC and will continue to oversee the strategic and operational aspects of DPMS.” We’ll see… after Cerberus bought Remington Arms, there was a high-level shakeup and Bushmaster honchos replaced many Remington top execs.
One positive aspect to Cerberus’ involvement in the gun industry is that the huge political clout Cerberus commands as the “rescuer” of Chrysler Corp. (which Cerberus also acquired) should undermine efforts to ban AR-platform rifles if the Democrats score big in the 2008 elections. Cerberus is big enough to make waves in Washington. Money talks in politics and Cerberus has lots of it.
December 15th, 2007
Here’s a good deal from Cabela’s, a 1-Day-Only special promotion. Herter’s FowlTech Blaze 3-in-1 Parka is on sale, today only, for $49.95–that’s $50 off normal retail. This parka has nice features for hunting–the warp-knit shell is quiet and soft, yet waterproof and breathable. And the shell has a low nap so it won’t pick up vegetation. The 3-in-1 Parka features a zip-out, heavy-weight 400-gram fleece liner jacket, zip front with storm flap, two large button-closed cargo pockets, detachable hood, and even a loop for your deer tag. We’d say this is a great deal for $49.95, while it lasts.
You should read the User Reviews. Purchasers of this coat gave it very high marks. They say it is rugged, but still very stealthy and quiet–an important factor for hunters. Buyers liked the zip-up collar and many handy pockets.
CLICK HERE for Cabela’s home page, then click the link for “One Shot Deals”. The Parka is the first item listed today.
December 14th, 2007
Credit this find to ace British benchrest shooter Vince Bottomley, United Kingdom 1K record-holder and publisher of the excellent Precision Rifle website.
Vince writes: “This beautiful compact press is made by an Italian company, Modulo Masterpiece, run by Vittorio Taveggia. Vittorio builds some superb rifles but he also has a very useful range of accessories for accuracy aficionados. I’m sure you’ll be interested in Vittorio’s loading press — this is offered in several configurations for normal dies, Wilson-style hand-dies, or both. The press is superbly made. Vittorio also crafts very nice Weaver-style rings and bases. Again they are beautifully-finished and very strong. Vittorio also makes stocks and actions. At present, there is no UK importer for the press, but there could be very soon. If you are at all interested in any of the products please drop me an e-mail at vinceb [at] 6ppc.fsnet.co.uk and I’ll pass your interest onto the ‘soon to be’ UK importer.”
Editor’s note: We don’t know of a US importer, but you can contact Vittorio directly. Information for his company in Torino, Italy is found on the Modulo Masterpiece website. Send email to: info [at] modulo-masterpiece.it.
Photo © Vince Bottomley, used by permission
December 14th, 2007
Here’s a sweet deal for you game hunters out there. SWFA is offering a FREE Garmin eTrex hand-held GPS with the purchase of a Burris Fullfield II scope. We’ve checked around the web and the Garmin eTrex, by itself, runs about $95.00. SWFA’s promo price on the Burris 3-9×40 Fullfield II Rifle Scope with GPS is $209.95, so that means your effective cost for the optic is just $115.00. Not bad for a scope with fully-coated lenses and the Burris No-BS “Forever” warranty.
SWFA is also offering a Garmin eTrex GPS with the purchase of a Burris 4.5-14×42 Fullfield II rifle scope. The package price for the 4.5-14×42 model and GPS is $339.95. Both Burris scopes (3-9 and 4.5-14) feature 1/4-MOA clicks and a Ballistic Plex reticle. This reticle design has vertical hash marks to help with holdover at long range.
The Garmin eTrex GPS is considered a rugged classic. It is compact and light weight at mere 5.3 ounces with batteries, with the buttons positioned on the side for easy, one handed operation. The casing is rugged and waterproof to IPX-7 standards. The eTrex will operate for about 15 hours on two AA batteries.
December 13th, 2007
From an upcoming documentary, here’s a nice clip about young women who are involved in the shooting sports. We think this is the kind of positive story that needs to be told by organizations such as the NRA. A variety of teen female shooters are interviewed, including a World Champion Skeet Shooter. Many of the girls mentioned that shooting gave them “a chance to spend fun time with [their] dad.” Others noted that shooting gave them a chance to train and compete with adults, and that was very fulfilling.
CLICK HERE to WATCH VIDEO
The video reveals that, “since 2004, the number of elementary and high school girls competing in shooting sports has increased by 178%.” If you enjoyed this trailer and want to learn more about the feature documentary, “A Girl and a Gun” by Cathryne Czubek, visit AGirlandaGunfilm.com. Producer/Director Czubek notes: “Women and guns have been inexplicably linked throughout American history, but a recent spurt in female gun-ownership begs a closer examination into what’s driving this trend.”
December 13th, 2007
 Readers may have noticed that there are large, blank blocks in many of our editorial layouts today. That’s because, despite having approved this site for its Adsense program, Google decided last night that it did not want its ads for Gunsmiths, Reloading Supplies, Shooting Gear, and Rifle Scopes to appear on a web site that features Gunsmiths, Reloading Supplies, Shooting Gear, Rifle Scopes and other “gun stuff”.
 To comply with Google’s policies, and to continue to provide a venue for Google’s Pay-Per-Click Adsense advertisers who purchased ads for gun supplies, gunsmithing services, gun safes, hunting gear, rifle scopes and the like, we have created a new webpage. On the new page, you won’t find any pictures of guns–just sweet pink fuzzy bunnies instead.
On our new Fuzzy Bunny page, we make sure to tell readers that guns are bad and fuzzy bunnies are good. You’ll learn that guns are “icky and scary” and you don’t need to have them. Conveniently though, you’ll still be able to find nice pink, click-friendly Google ads for rifle scopes, spotting scopes, hunting gear, gunsafes and all those other things. You’ll also find handy reprints of our technical guides about rifle scopes and spotting scopes.
 Fuzzy Bunny Homepage
Have fun, shop safe, and remember … Google and the Fuzzy Bunny always know what’s best for you!
December 12th, 2007
Here’s a product that should interest all F-Class shooters. It is a new bipod that offers unrivaled stability from an ultra-wide footprint. Nick-named the “Ski Bipod”, this impressive unit is custom-crafted by Canadian Henry Rempel, who also conceived the design. The height of the bipod is adjustable as is the distance between the runners or “skis” that contact the ground. And there is a cant adjustment allowing the rifle to be leveled on uneven ground. The reason Henry used ski-like runners rather than flat pads is that this allows the rifle to slide slightly reward during recoil. That eliminates much of the hop and rotation associated with conventional bipods.
Forum member Keith Skjerdal reports: “A lot of F-CLass guys in Canada are using the Ski Bipod made by Henry Remple out of Calgary. It is very well made and steady as a conventional pedestal rest. Even some guys in the USA and Britain have them now. If you want the best, this is it, in my opinion. This makes the trip to the mound easier than with a big pedestal rest. Downside? Well, since the Ski Bipod attaches to your rifle, it counts in your total weight under the rules. The Ski Bipod adds roughly 3.5 pounds to your gun’s weight. The cost is around $400-420 Cdn (this basically covers the cost of materials and all that milling work.)
To get one, contact Henry Rempel from Calgary. He does not have a web site. His home phone number (after 7 pm) is 1-403-272-8416. I think his email is henry.rempel [at] hotmail.com.”
Photos Copyright © Richard Dreger, used by permission.
December 12th, 2007
MyOutdoorTV.com has been relaunched with a new design that gives viewers more options in how they select and watch videos. Now organized into channels that target viewers’ interests, the redesigned site allows easier navigation of MyOutdoorTV’s large library of outdoor programming.
“With our library of titles and individual videos growing so rapidly, we’re making sure the site evolves to keep pace,” said Chris Moise, CEO. “Our new design does a better job of highlighting our award-winning programming by category[.].”
The home page of the redesigned site lists six networks that classify shows by general topic: Wildlife & Nature, Fishing, Hunting/Shooting, The Showroom, State Explorer, and Travel. The viewer can choose a network to explore, or go directly to a favorite show or state by clicking on “Online TV Listings.” One can also use the site’s Search feature to find an activity, species, location, or other keyword.
December 11th, 2007
Birchwood Casey Bullseye Challenge
It you want to burn some time on a cold winter evening (or in the daytime–just don’t tell the boss), have fun with this online flash shooting game from Birchwood Casey. It’s easy — just aim the crosshairs at the ten-ring when each bull pops up. Warning: This game is loud, so you may want to turn down your sound levels before starting.
CLICK HERE to LAUNCH GAME
|
