The GAP Grind is one of the most popular tactical matches on the planet. So popular, in fact, that this 3-day Pro-Am event will likely “sell out” this year — with more interested shooters than available slots. To ensure you get a spot at the 2018 GAP Grind, which runs October 5-7, 2018, register early. GAP Grind Registration opens June 1st, 2018 at 9:00 am CST. The 2018 Grind will take place at the K&M Precision Rifle Training Shooting Complex in Finger, Tennessee.
If you haven’t experienced major PRS Pro-Am event like the Grind, with hundreds of talented shooters, check out this video from ShootingUSA. Show host John Scoutten provides a competitor’s perspective.
Lots of Action, with 20+ Stages
The GAP Grind is a notoriously challenging, “high tempo” match with minimal down-time between stages. Over the course of 20+ stages, competitors will fire 200+ shots at a variety of steel, paper, moving, and reactive targets out to 1,200 yards. Targets vary in size/difficulty based on the shooter’s position, distance, and time allotted. Most stages include “stressors” — i.e. time limits or required movement(s).
Josh Temnnen Facebook photo
The GAP Grind is held at the impressive K&M Shooting Complex in Tennessee:
GAP Grind Hardware Shelley Giddings, a skilled shooter of both firearms and cameras, snapped these images of state-of-the-art tactical rifles at the 2014 GAP Grind. See more firearms images on Shelley’s Facebook Page.
Wouldn’t it be great if the lamp in your safe would switch ON as you open the vault door, then shut itself off automatically when you close the safe? Well, that is now possible with the new Automatic Cordless Vault Light from Lockdown (a Battenfeld Technologies brand). This unit features 25 LEDs to provide bright illumination in your gunsafe. A sophisticated, automatic light/motion sensor turns the vault light ON when you open the vault, and then turns the unit OFF after you close the safe. This nice bit of technology retails for $40.99. That’s a bit pricey, but the convenience factor may justify the investment for folks who access their safes frequently.
Product Description
Automatic ON/OFF operation triggered by light and motion sensor
Two 25 LED lights with 70 Lumens output each
Uses 3 AAA batteries each (not included)
Strong magnet or screw attachment
6 hours continuous runtime per light
Standby time 8,700 hours
Sensor range 5 meters
There is also a smaller, less expensive 5-LED dome model with a light-sensing mode that turns the unit on as you open the vault door. The 5-LED Automatic Cordless Vault Light can be set to automatically turn on as the vault door is opened and ambient light is detected. A selectable, manual on/off mode is incorporated as well. MSRP is $14.99, product number 222809.
Product Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
Report based on Press Release from U.S. Department of Interior
Continuing his efforts to increase access to public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has proposed opening more than 248,000 acres to new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities at 30 National Wildlife Refuges.
Opportunities include places like Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois and Wisconsin, and deer hunting in Philadelphia at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge being proposed for the first time. The proposal also outlines expanded hunting and fishing opportunities at 136 national wildlife refuges. If finalized, this would bring the number of units of the National Wildlife Refuge System where the public may hunt to 377, and the number where fishing would be permitted to 312.
“As stewards of our public lands, Interior is committed to opening access wherever possible for hunting and fishing so that more families have the opportunity to pass down this American heritage,” Zinke said. “These 30 refuges will provide incredible opportunities for American sportsmen and women across the country to access the land and connect with wildlife.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) proposal would open more new acres to hunting and fishing than in the past and takes steps to simplify regulations to more closely match state hunting and fishing regulations. The changes would be implemented in time for the upcoming 2018-2019 hunting seasons.
Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than $156 billion in economic activity in communities across the United States in 2016 according to the USFWS’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, published every five years. More than 101 million Americans pursue wildlife-related recreation — such as hunting, fishing and birding. The Refuge System is an unparalleled network of 566 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts. There is a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan areas.
“Ensuring public lands are open for multiple uses supports local economies and provides important opportunities for recreation. Further, this proposal means that families and individuals across our nation will be better able to participate in our nation’s tradition of hunting and fishing. We appreciate Secretary Zinke and the Interior Department for advancing this priority, and we will continue to work to improve access to public lands for our sportsmen,” said Senator John Hoeven.
“Hunters, anglers and shooting sports enthusiasts play a crucial role in funding the management and conservation of North America’s wildlife,” said USFWS Principal Deputy Director Greg Sheehan. “We are providing sportsmen and women with more access to our national wildlife refuges and streamlining regulations to more closely align with our state partners. And that’s good news for our customers.”
TALLADEGA, Alabama — The Annual D-Day Anniversary Matches will be held June 8-10, 2018, at the CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama. The event commemorates the Anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy in June, 1944. In 2015, the $20-million-dollar Talledega Park celebrated its Grand Opening with its first D-Day Match. That was a great success, and the 2018 D-Day Match promises to be even better. This has become a hugely popular event — last year there were over 250 competitors. For many, this match was their first opportunity to shoot on electronic targets. That speeds up the relays and nobody complained about not having to do pit duty.
It’s not too late to join the fun — there are still slots available for the event. You can register online. For more information, email shall [at] thecmp.org or phone 256-474-4408 ext. 414.
EDITOR: Worth Watching! Guys, this nicely-produced video shows multiple disciplines (including Service Rifle, Carbine, Pistol, and Vintage Sniper) and lets you see how the electronic targets work. We highly recommend you watch this video.
Electronic Targets + No Pit Duty = More Fun
Competitors will be firing all matches on electronic targets. The John C. Garand Range has a huge firing line with monitors at all shooting stations. These connect to three banks of electronic targets positioned at 200, 300, and 600 yards. Spectators can view the results in real time on large monitors.
INVITATION: The CMP’s John C. Garand D-Day Anniversary Match is a big event with many different competitions for rifle and pistol shooters. Along with the signature M1 Garand event, a Vintage Sniper Match, EIC Service Rifle Match, .22 Rimfire Pistol Match, EIC Service Pistol Match, and .22 Rimfire Pistol matches will be conducted.
State of the Art Shooting Facility in Alabama
The 500-acre CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park is one of the most advanced outdoor shooting facilities in the Western Hemisphere. The facility includes a 600-yard rifle range, a 100-yard multi-purpose range, and a 50-yard pistol range, equipped with Kongsberg electronic targets and scoring monitors that allow shooters on the firing line to review shots in a matter of seconds. Since the 54 targets at each line register hits and calculate the scores, no pit duty is required at Talladega.
State-of-the-art Kongsberg target systems are used at the CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park.
Here’s a good deal from MidwayUSA. Heck you can even use Father’s Day as an excuse to buy a pair of these $24.99 Shooting Mats. Regularly priced at $39.99, these mats are now 15 bucks off — that’s a 37% savings. We’ve used this particular mat many times. It’s obviously not the most deluxe mat you can buy, but it does the job and should last a long time based on our experience. This mat rolls up into a nice package with carry handle.
If you’re not convinced, read the reviews on MidwayUSA.com — most purchasers give this four or five stars. Here’s a review from a verified buyer: “Very nice basic mat for the money. Well-made and quality materials. I use it at the range on concrete pad. Very comfortable without a lot of bulk. Highly recommend this mat.” Another verified purchaser wrote: “I originally bought the larger Midway mat which is also a good mat but a little large when on a firing line at a CMP or NRA High Power match. This mat is much easier to handle in a competition situation.”
Shooting Mat Specifications
Material: 400D PVC Coated Polyester, with ruberized areas for elbows and knees.
Unrolled Dimensions: 67″ Long x 26.75″ Wide (Does not include length of the front flap
Rolled Dimensions: 6.5″ Diameter x 26.75″ Wide
Front Flap: Tapers from 27″ Wide to 48.5″ wide extending 11.5″ from the front edge of the mat
Padding Thickness: Roughly .25″ thick, roughly .335″ thick at the elbow and knee pads, and roughly .305″ thick off of the elbow knee pads
Here is interesting news, particularly for pistol shooters and PRS competitors. You can now get premium, induction-annealed cartridge brass from SIG Sauer, the noted maker of Swiss-designed pistols and rifles. SIG Sauer is now manufacturing pistol and rifle brass at its state-of-the-art ammunition facility in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Notably, all Elite Performance rifle shell cases are induction annealed for consistent neck tension and case longevity. SIG states this brass is “engineered to exacting tolerances” and “the geometric consistency … ensures each primer is held tightly in its pocket. Flash holes are precise with no burrs and the superior metallurgical properties of the SIG Sauer cases enable repeated reloading.”
Rifle Brass Pricing is Attractive
We haven’t tried SIG Sauer rifle brass yet, but we are tempted as pricing is competitive. For example, a 50-count bag of 6.5 Creedmoor brass costs $33.95 on SIG’s online store. Varminters take note — 50 22-250 brass cases cost $25.95, while a 100-ct bag of .223 Rem brass is $35.95 (just 36 cents each).
SIG rifle cases are available for these cartridge types: .223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 BLK, .308 Win, .and 300 Win Mag. Coming soon are .270 Win and .30-06 Springfield brass. Cases for most rifle cartridge types are sold 50 to a bag (100 for .223 Rem).
SIG Pistol Brass Sold Both Primed and Unprimed
SIG’s pistol brass is offered either primed or unprimed, at affordable prices. For example, 100 .45 ACP cases cost $33.95 primed, or $27.95 unprimed. 9mm Luger is even cheaper — just $25.95 for primed cases, or $20.95 for 9mm unprimed. To save time, we’d be tempted to buy the primed cases.
SIG pistol cases are available, primed or unprimed, in 100-ct bags for the following cartridge types: .380 Auto, 9mm Luger (9x19mm), .357 SIG, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 40 S&W, 10mm Auto, .45 ACP.
COMMENT: Honestly, we don’t see many Benchrest and F-Class competitors moving away from Lapua brass which is superb, and holds the vast majority of records in those disciplines. However, for other disciplines, such as 3-Gun and Tactical matches, where you may not be able to recover your brass, it makes sense to consider cheaper alternatives. Likewise, varminters, who may shoot hundreds of rounds in an outing, may favor less costly cartridge brass.
“Each brass case undergoes rigorous in-line and post production quality assurance testing to ensure a flawless casing”, said Brad Criner, SIG Sauer’s Senior Director of Brand Management and Business Development. “The result is unparalleled durability and dependability.” All SIG Sauer Elite Performance ammunition and components are manufactured at SIG’s new ammo plant in Jacksonville, Arkansas. For more information on SIG cartridge brass visit the SIG Sauer Brass Webpage.
For self-defense in your home or shop, you want quick access to your handgun. This is possible with a security box that works rapidly with the touch of your fingers*. Such smaller safes can be opened in a couple of seconds, while still keeping handguns secure from kids or any unwanted visitors. Right now the two-level GunVault GV2000C-Deluxe is on sale for $117.90 at Amazon with Free Shipping. This is a good deal. This same dual-level safe sells for $155-$195 at most other vendors.
The MultiVault Deluxe (SKU: GV2000C-DLX) employs the Patented No-Eyes® Keypad and/or back-up security lock to open the safe. This GV2000C Deluxe unit includes a motion detector and a convenient interior light. It will also automatically block entry after multiple incorrect attempts. This GunVault can be secured via a heavy security cable so a thief can’t simply grab the safe and run. Interior dimensions are: 6″ High x 9″ Wide x 12.75″ Deep. We should note that there are other more expensive safes that employ RFID technology. That works well if you carry a fob or RFID ring. But for shop installation, we like the simplicity of the button keypad. RFID-equipped safes are also much more expensive.
There is also a smaller GunVault safe, the GV1000C-STD, shown below. This single-level model also opens with a finger sequence on the keypad. This smaller safe is also on sale currently on Amazon for $88.36 with free shipping. If you prefer the biometric version (that can also open with a fingerprint scan), that costs $214.64.
And for under-desk use in a workshop or business, GunVault offers the SV500 Handgun SpeedVault. This places a pistol in a vertical position under a counter or desk-top. Activate the four buttons in the correct sequence and the unit opens downward so you can quickly grab the pistol. This SpeedVault has multiple mounting options, and, like other GunVault safes, there is a back-up override key.
* This is NOT a biometric safe that opens by scanning a fingerprint. This safe uses a sequence of physical key presses with your fingers. “Learn Buttons” make it easy to program millions of user-selectable access codes. A built-in computer blocks access after repeated invalid keypad entries. GunVault does offer a biometric GVB2000 safe for $229.97 at Amazon. Honestly, we prefer the mechanical version at half the price. Less to go wrong.
We’ve always liked the capacious, durable range boxes from MTM Case-Gard. And MTM offers a special “Tactical” version for AR shooters. This detachable-lid Tactical Range Box features a magwell-filling “action block insert” to support your AR securely during cleaning. Magwell posts like this have been used for years by AR gunsmiths. It’s a fast and convenient way to secure your AR.
The Tactical Range Box also comes with two adjustable cradles that will support most conventional bolt-action rifles and lever guns. These plastic cradles are gentle on fancy stocks, and they can be removed and stowed in the bottom of the box during transport.
The Tactical Range Box uses a two-piece design. The removable top storage compartment holds oils, solvents, brushes, patches, and small accessories. Unlatch the top box to reveal a large, deep storage area that will hold tools, earmuffs, ammo boxes and other larger items. MTM Range Boxes are big enough to hold pretty much everything you need at the range, except your front rest and rear sandbag. Midsouth Shooters Supply offers the MTM Tactical Range Box (item 008-TRB40) for just $43.84. Like MTM’s standard Shooting Range Box, the Tactical Range Box is well-built and much less flexy than generic plastic tool-boxes. Check out the features of this range box in the video below.
For more info, contact MTM® Molded Products at (937) 890-7461 or visit MTMCase-gard.com.
Recently the State of New York launched a campaign intended to force banks and insurance companies to stop doing business with gun industry companies. Both the N.Y. State Dept. of Financial Services (DFS) and the N.Y. State Controller’s office have tried to compel banks and insurers to abandon the gun/firearms industry. According to the N.Y. Daily News, “Gov. Cuomo’s administration is urging banks and insurance companies in New York to reconsider any ties they have to the gun industry”. (READ FULL Story)
Now the NRA is fighting back. On May 11, 2018, the NRA filed suit against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the N.Y. State Dept. of Financial Services (DFS), alleging violations of the NRA’s First Amendment rights.
The Federal Court lawsuit claims that Cuomo, DFS Superintendent Maria T. Vullo, and DFS engaged in a “campaign of selective prosecution, backroom exhortations, and public threats” designed to coerce banks and insurance companies to withhold services from the NRA. The NRA argues that such tactics vastly overstep DFS’s regulatory mandate, and seek to suppress the speech of Second Amendment supporters and retaliate against the NRA and others for their political advocacy. The lawsuit seeks millions of dollars in damages to redress harms inflicted by the DFS campaign.
Among other things, the lawsuit cites a pair of “guidance” letters issued on April 19, 2018, by the DFS to the CEOs of banks and insurance companies doing business in New York. Styled as regulatory “risk management” advisories, the letters encourage institutions to “take prompt actions” to manage “reputational risk” posed by dealings with “gun promotion organizations.” The same day, Cuomo issued a press release in which Vullo directly urged “all insurance companies and banks doing business in New York” to “discontinue[] their arrangements with the NRA”.
The lawsuit claims that the “guidance” letters were accompanied by back-channel communications and targeted enforcement actions, which further reinforced the Cuomo administration’s message that it is bad business in New York to do business with the NRA.
The lawsuit explains that the DFS mandate — preceded by an “investigation” orchestrated by gun-control activists into insurance programs sponsored by the NRA — has already caused several insurance companies to sever relationships with the NRA and to plan to cancel the insurance policies of law-abiding New York consumers.
According to the complaint, the directive of Cuomo and Vullo has had its intended effect — to advance Cuomo’s longstanding opposition to gun-rights supporters and to distort insurance markets in the service of a political agenda.
The lawsuit says, “As a direct result of this coercion, multiple firms have succumbed to Defendants’ demands and entered into consent orders with DFS that compel them to terminate longstanding, beneficial business relationships with the NRA both in New York and elsewhere.”
On May 2, 2018 and May 7, 2018, Lockton Companies, LLC and Chubb Ltd., respectively, announced they will pay millions of dollars in fines to DFS and cease doing business with the NRA — for no other reason than many of the insurance programs with which they are associated carry the NRA brand. On May 9, 2018, Lloyd’s of London announced that it is directing insurance underwriters to terminate any existing partnerships [with the NRA].
The amazing Doug Koenig, shown above, has won 18 Bianchi Cup titles, more than any other human.
Many of the world’s top pistoleros are in Missouri this week competing in the 2018 NRA Bianchi Cup, the USA’s most prestigious action pistol match. This year’s Bianchi Cup event, which follows the NRA National Action Pistol Championship, runs May 22-25, 2018 in Hallsville, Missouri at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club. Today there will be registration and a Special Multi-Gun Match. The official First Shot Ceremony is on Wednesday, May 23rd, at 7:45 am. Then Cup competition begins promptly at 8:00 am on Wednesday.
Due to the high accuracy required in each stage of the Bianchi Cup, the tournament is widely considered one of the most difficult handgun championships on the planet. To finish on top, you have to be near-perfect.
As in 2017, this year’s match will feature a second “Championship” Round. There will be no multi-gun aggregate match. After completion of the match’s 192-shot, 1920-point aggregate, the top 36 competitors will fire an additional 192-shot Championship Round. Scores from the Championship Round will combined into an overall Aggregate to determine each category’s champions. CLICK HERE for 2018 Bianchi Cup Program Guide.
Watch Colt Speed Event at 2013 Bianchi Cup Championships:
Ace Shooter Jessie Harrison (from Bianchi Photo Archive)
About the Bianchi Cup
The Bianchi Cup is the NRA National Action Pistol Championship, a major tournament held every May in Columbia, Missouri. The premier action pistol championship, the Bianchi Cup boasts the largest purse of any tournament on the action pistol calendar. The Bianchi Cup is the only major shooting tournament that has retained its original Course of Fire since its inception. The Course of Fire consists of four separate matches:
The Practical Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits.
The Barricade Event: From within shooting boxes and behind barricades, a shooter fires at targets on either side of the barricade at different distances and under varying time limits.
The Falling Plate Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at 8 inch round steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards under varying time limits.
The Moving Target Event: From within shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards, the shooter fires at a target moving from left to right with the target being exposed for only 6 seconds.
At the Bianchi Cup, there are six categories for individual competitors: Civilian, Police, Service, Junior, Woman, Senior, Grand Senior, New Competitor, International, and Revolver.
Competitors need plenty of ammo at the Bianchi Cup. Look at that collection of magazines.
Here is interesting news, particularly for pistol shooters and PRS competitors. You can now get premium, induction-annealed cartridge brass from SIG Sauer, the noted maker of Swiss-designed pistols and rifles. SIG Sauer is now manufacturing pistol and rifle brass at its state-of-the-art ammunition facility in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Notably, all Elite Performance rifle shell cases are induction annealed for consistent neck tension and case longevity. SIG states this brass is “engineered to exacting tolerances” and “the geometric consistency … ensures each primer is held tightly in its pocket. Flash holes are precise with no burrs and the superior metallurgical properties of the SIG Sauer cases enable repeated reloading.”
We’ve always liked the capacious, durable range boxes from 
Many of the world’s top pistoleros are in Missouri this week competing in the 2018 NRA Bianchi Cup, the USA’s most prestigious action pistol match. This year’s Bianchi Cup event, which follows the NRA National Action Pistol Championship, runs May 22-25, 2018 in Hallsville, Missouri at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club. Today there will be registration and a Special Multi-Gun Match. The official First Shot Ceremony is on Wednesday, May 23rd, at 7:45 am. Then Cup competition begins promptly at 8:00 am on Wednesday.
