SOCOM, the U.S. Special Operations Command, is going silent in a big way — purchasing $23.3 million worth of suppressors (and adapters) from Surefire, LLC of Fountain Valley, California. The huge contract, for an indefinite quantity of sound suppressors, suppressor adapters, blank firing adapters and training adapters, was awarded by officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center — the primary solicitation center for U.S. Special Operations Command — as part of the Family of Muzzle Brake Suppressors (FMBS) contract.
This is good news for SureFire, which has expanded its product line from durable, high-output lamps to a wide variety of tactical hardware. It was a major coup for SureFire to secure a large part of the FMBS contract. According to Surefire: “The FMBS solicitation was the most comprehensive modern suppressor evaluation conducted by the U.S. military to date. [Suppressor systems were] subjected to prolonged testing on a variety of firearms platforms. SureFire suppressors were chosen based on test criteria such as: Reliability, Sound Reduction, Accuracy, Point of Impact Shift, Endurance/Durability, and Operational Suitability. While these requirements reflect the suppression needs for firearms including the MK13 sniper rifle, the United States Marine Corps is already employing SureFire’s FA762SS suppressor system on every M40A5 sniper rifle.”
Watch Video to View SureFire Fast-Attach Suppressors in Action
Results are in from the inaugural IDPA World Championship held September 21-24, at the Universal Shooting Academy in Frostproof, Florida. There were 387 competitors from 18 different countries. Triple-digit temps, high humidity, rain, and muddy conditions made the 22 challenging stages even more difficult.
Champions were named in each of IDPA’s five divisions, based on elapsed time and penalties for “points dropped”. Robert Vogel topped the field of Standard Service Pistol (SSP) shooters, with a superb 248.29 score — the best score for the match and over 40 points better than any other SSP shooter. Robert was also the High Scoring Law Enforcement competitor. In the video below, Robert demonstrates the skills that carried him to victory in Florida.
In other classes, James McGinty became the first-ever World Champion in the Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP) Division by scoring 283.31 with his STI 2011 9mm. Glenn Shelby, with a score of 299.48, took the Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) Division shooting his Wilson CQB. Among the wheelgunners, Jerry Miculek shot a modified .45 ACP S&W Model 625 to win the Enhanced Service Revolver (ESR) Division. Miculek hammered through the tough stages during the monsoon-like weather, scoring 411.79. In Standard Service Revolver (SSR) Division, Craig Buckland led the way with a 426.9, using his S&W Model 19. Other notable competitors were: James Myers (Most Accurate Shooter); Tom Yost (Top Senior); and Tierrani Hendrix (High Lady).
Pala, California Multi-Stage Varmint Silhouette Shoot About 24 miles east of Oceanside, California (near the Camp Pendleton Marine base) is the Pala Reservation. On that Native American land you’ll find a Casino Resort, plus an excellent shooting range. The first Sunday of every month, shooters come to Pala for the Varmint Silhouette Match. At five different yardages, ten steel “critter” targets are set as follows: 200 Meters – Field Mice (“pikas”); 300 meters – Crows; 385 meters – Ground Squirrels; 500 meters – Jack Rabbits; 600 yards – Prairie Dogs.
There’s a North County Shootist Association Varmint Silhouette match this Sunday, October 2, 2011. You’ll need an accurate rifle, and 80-100 rounds of ammo. You can shoot either rested prone (F-Class style), from bipod, or from a portable bench with front pedestal and rear bag. Any rifle 6.5 caliber or under is allowed, with no weight restrictions. Muzzle brakes are permitted. There’s a one-hour sight-in period starting at 8:00 am, and the match starts at 9:00 am sharp. The folks at Pala run a tight ship, cycling multiple relays efficiently, so everybody gets to shoot 50 targets (10 each at five different yardages), and the show is usually completed by 1:00 pm. (Then if you want… head over to the Pala Casino for gambling fun, or a spa treatment.) CLICK HERE for Match Info. Your Editor has shot with the folks at Pala, so I can assure any first-time participants that this event is well worth attending. The Fun Factor is very high.
Portrait Photographer Lindsay McCrum’s new book, Chicks with Guns, is drawing welcome attention to the growing number of women who own firearms for target shooting, hunting, personal defense and collecting. [Editor: Over 15 Million American women are packing heat according to Msnbc.com.]
The book’s intent is described this way: “Because gun ownership and shooting cut across class, age, occupation, background and geography in America, guns are resolutely democratic. And the women depicted in ‘Chicks with Guns’ represent this variety. They reside in all regions of the country, come from all levels of society, and participate seriously in diverse shooting activities. From policewomen to hunters, ranchers to competition shooters, the collection of portraits in ‘Chicks with Guns’ defies stereotypes often associated with aspects of the popular culture of both guns and women.”
McCrum’s photographs tell a powerful story, just as these statistics do: Participation by women in target shooting has increased 46.5 percent from 2001 to 2010 and in hunting by 36.6 percent in the same period, according to the National Sporting Goods Association. In an NSSF survey of firearms retailers, 61% of respondents saw an increase in female customers in their store in 2010 over 2009.
Other evidence, too, such as the strong turnouts by women in concealed carry classes nationwide and in NSSF’s First Shots seminars, helps confirm this trend. (First Shots introduces newcomers to target shooting by providing both a classroom overview and supervised live-fire experience.) This is nothing new to the hunting and shooting community, but we think the compelling photographs in “Chicks with Guns” will bring the trend to life for those less familiar with our traditions and our pastimes.
Editor’s Comment: I wouldn’t rush out to buy this book for your coffee-table, though it might make a nice gift for a lady shooter in the family. I’ve looked through the book. The photography is professional, but overall, mostly static and uninspired. I’d give it a B+ grade. This book wouldn’t have received much media attention but for the somewhat controversial subject matter and the catchy title. Still, ‘Chicks with Guns’ presents female shooters in a positive light, and that’s a good thing.
Got gun gear? Need mobile storage? Here are three handy storage solutions that can haul your stuff safely without breaking your budget. In fact, our first recommended item costs less than a buck. How can you argue with that!
The 99¢ Compact Tool Box — Fits inside a Backpack
Here’s a great item for hunters and tactical guys. Right now, the 99¢ Store is selling a small, 11″x5″x4″ plastic tool box. The price — you guessed it — is just ninety-nine cents. Hey that’s less than the cost of a cup of coffee. We like this unit because it is small enough to fit in a backpack or large duffle bag. It can keep your pointy tools from poking holes in your pack, or provide hardshell protection for pricey items such as range-finders, cameras, and Kestrels. As you’d expect, the box isn’t perfect — the snap closure could be tighter. But the tool box does the job. It’s a very handy size, and the price is so cheap you can hardly go wrong. I bought two — one for gun stuff and the other for emergency gear in my vehicle. Note: This item is not listed online at 99only.com — availability may vary from store to store.
Lockable Utility Boxes — Good for Guns, Ammo, Tools
Northern Tool sells a versatile, lockable Utility Box for just $10.99. This is available in Green (Item# 26169) or Orange (Item# 26171). There is also a larger version with a top tray for $15.99 (Green, Item# 26170 or Orange, Item# 26172). We like these storage boxes. They have a rubber weather-seal, and the tupperware-type plastic is gentle on your tools or firearms. The sturdy locking system lets you use these boxes to transport handguns in jurisdictions (such as California) where a locked container is required. The smaller box can easily hold two medium-sized handguns, plus ammo and shooting glasses. It’s also nice to have a lockable box to hold expensive accessories such as wind-meters and cameras. The big box (15″L x 8″W x 11.5″H) is strong enough to sit on and holds plenty of gear. We have a few of these boxes (both large and small) and they’ve held up through years of service.
Wheeled, Lockable Mobile Chest Can Haul It All
If you need to haul a ton of gear, consider the Stanley Pro Mobile Chest (model 033026R). The main compartment of this thing is big enough to hold a front pedestal rest, a couple sand-bags, plus muffs and more. There’s also a small, see-through, pop-top parts caddy on top. Use that for stowing small tools, jags, patches, brushes and other supplies. Right now you can get this (#033026R) Mobile Chest at Ace Hardware for just $49.99. You can order online and Ace will ship the unit for free to your nearest Ace Hardware Outlet.
Grafs.com and MidwayUSA recently announced some attractive discounts and promotions. Grafs.com offers great prices on CCI and TulAmmo primers, plus discounted Hazmat fees. Midway offers money-off promo coupons — the more you spend, the more you save.
Deals at Grafs.com
$15.00 Hazmat Fee (reduced from $25.00).
ACT SOON, deal expires 11:59 pm CST, Monday, October 3, 2011
TulAmmo Primers: $79.99 for 5000 primers. (Most rifle sizes available. These primers are virtually identical to Wolf-brand Russian primers, and are made in the same factory).
CCI Primers: $114.59 for 5000 primers. Price for CCI 400 (small rifle) or CCI 500 (small pistol) only. This works out to $23.00 per 1000. CCI 400 primers are used by many top 600-yard shooters.
MIDWAY DISCOUNT CODES (Online purchases only. Good through October 15, 2011)
$10 Off $100 or more – Use Promotion Code 1101174
$50 Off $500 or more – Use Promotion Code 2101174
RULES: Codes can only be used once. Sale, clearance, out-of-stock, Nightforce and FNH products do not count towards the total and Gift certificates do not count towards the total. Online orders online. Cannot be used with any other promotion code, or combined with dealer, birthday or “Specials” pricing.
The best action pistol shooters on the globe are heading to Philippsburg, Germany next September. Germany was chosen to host the 2012 World Action Pistol Championship (WAPC). This event takes place every other year — Australia hosted the last WAPC in 2010. Phillipsburg, site of Germany’s largest indoor/outdoor Shooting Range, is roughly 23 miles from Heidelberg. The Schiessanlage (shooting range) Philippsburg has previously hosted IPSC German and European Championships.
Shooting Range Philippsburg
76661 Philippsburg, Am Schießstand 1 (Prolongation of Street “Mittlerer Weg“)
Phone: +49 7256 9243889
E-Mail: info@sapb.de
Web: http://www.schiessanlage-philippsburg.de
The format of the World Championship is very similar to that of the Bianchi Cup; everything from the courses of fire to the evening activities. Each year, the host country determines how many shooters will represent each country from the various divisions (Production, Open, Metallic). Once that has been decided, scores from the two previous Bianchi Cups will determine who represents the United States. Competitors can also receive an invitation to be part of a Ladies, Senior, or Junior team.
At the most recent (2010) WAPC in Australia, Team USA dominated the competition. Amazingly, Americans Doug Koenig (1920-188X), Carl Bernosky (1920-181X), and Bruce Piatt (1920-177X) all shot “perfect” 1920 scores to finish first/second/third. We know the Europeans have been training hard, and we expect tough competition for the Americans next September in Philippsburg.
Smith & Wesson is replacing its President/CEO. This comes after Smith & Wesson stock hit rock bottom last week, trading at $2.49 per share, a 52-week low. Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: SWHC) today announced that P. James Debney has been appointed President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. The company said the executive reshuffling was done “in accordance with the company’s comprehensive management succession planning process.” Debney previously served as Vice President of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation and President of the company’s firearm division. Debney will replace former President/CEO Michael F. Golden, who will continue as a member of S&W’s Board of Directors.
According to the Outdoor Wire: “The remaining term of former President and CEO Michael F. Golden’s employment contact has being bought out by the company, but Golden will continue as a member of the Board of Directors[.] Golden’s contract is expected to impact the company’s current quarter earnings per share by as much as two cents, with the gross numbers to be included in the quarterly 10-Q set to be released after the close of the stock markets today.” Smith & Wesson stock, as of the time of this Bulletin release, is trading at $2.58 per share, gaining back a bit from the $2.49 low on Sept. 23, 2011.
If you’re involved with junior shooters at your club, or if you have some kids in your household, tell them to check out the new digital version of NRA Insights, the NRA publication for juniors. NRA Insights recently launched its premier digital edition on the web. Starting with the October 2011 InSights eZine, the digital editions combine stories with a variety of interactive features, videos, and interactive quizzes and games.
Wendy LaFever, NRA InSights Managing Editor, states: “For 31 years, InSights has covered a wide variety of topics of interest to young shooters, including shooting tips, coverage of Junior competitions, hunting topics, youth-appropriate gear reviews and inspiring stories from the young shooters themselves. Now we’re bringing the reading experience to the next level, with fun videos, interactive quizzes and cool animation.” To get a Junior membership for your young shooter, visit www.nramemberservices.org or call (877) NRA-2000.
Midsouth Shooters Supply has always offered a large inventory of products at attractive prices. Now we’re pleased to report that Midsouth has completely revamped its website. The new, updated site is faster AND much more user-friendly. The keyword/product search is easier to find and very fast. Products are now organized into logical categories such as: Reloading, Optics, Ammunition, Hunting, Gun Parts, Tactical, Gun Care, and Knives. There is even a prominent, highlighted tab for Clearance Items.
Midsouth has also improved the way product categories are displayed. Now when you click on a type of product from the pull-down menu, a grid page loads immediately. This displays thumbnails of all the products in that category (along with price, item number, and inventory status). This makes it easy to quickly compare similar products from a variety of manufacturers. The new layout really works well. To see for yourself, try out the Binoculars Page or Laser Rangefinder Page.
Find Latest Bargains in PDF Supplements
Along with the new product displays and streamlined shopping cart system, Midsouth’s updated website offers handy, one-click access to Midsouth’s Master Catalog and Product Flyers. You can view these PDF files with your web browser, or download them for future reference. And it is easier than ever to request a printed catalog, if you prefer to do your shopping offline the old-fashioned way. Here are a couple notable bargains we saw in the Fall Flyer:
Varmint Nightmare X-Treme Bullets
.224 Cal, 55gr HP, $46.06 for 500
Sourced from an undisclosed premium bullet manufacturer, these 22-cal Varmint Nightmare X-Treme bullets are proven performers. These bullets are offered in both softpoint ($46.01) and hollowpoint ($46.06) versions in 500-count bulk packs. Also on sale are 500-ct boxes of .204-caliber and 17-caliber Varmint Nightmare X-treme Bullets. Look no further if you need a good quality, low-cost bullet for a high-round-count varmint expedition.
Allen 50″ Large Rifle Case, with Pockets, $33.51
We are often asked, “Where can I find a quality, thickly-padded soft case that fits a rifle with a 27″-29″ barrel?” Well, Midsouth offers the excellent Allen Euro case. With its 50″ length, this case will hold rifles with long tubes. Plus there is plenty of room up top for a large, high-magnification scope. This is a good choice for a long-barreled varmint rig.
SOCOM, the U.S. Special Operations Command, is going silent in a big way — purchasing $23.3 million worth of suppressors (and adapters) from Surefire, LLC of Fountain Valley, California. The huge contract, for an indefinite quantity of sound suppressors, suppressor adapters, blank firing adapters and training adapters, was awarded by officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center — the primary solicitation center for U.S. Special Operations Command — as part of the Family of Muzzle Brake Suppressors (FMBS) contract.
Results are in from the inaugural 
About 24 miles east of Oceanside, California (near the Camp Pendleton Marine base) is the Pala Reservation. On that Native American land you’ll find a Casino Resort, plus an excellent shooting range. The first Sunday of every month, shooters come to Pala for the 
$15.00 Hazmat Fee (reduced from $25.00).
The best action pistol shooters on the globe are heading to Philippsburg, Germany next September. Germany was chosen to host the 2012 
If you’re involved with junior shooters at your club, or if you have some kids in your household, tell them to check out the new 
Varmint Nightmare X-Treme Bullets
