Are you ready for laser-equipped arrows? This is NOT a practical joke, or some Hollywood fantasy. Laser arrow technology is here today. Clean-Shot Archery has engineered hunting and competition arrowheads that contain miniaturized lasers. Clean-Shot’s new Spot-On™ arrow tips are the world’s first field-sighted laser broadheads and target points. Chip McBroom, Clean-Shot’s Marketing VP, claims “this product represents a quantum leap in technology for the bowhunter.” The laser’s high visibility enhances a bowhunter’s ability to aim in low light — this can effectively extend the hunt by an hour or more in fading light.
With laser-tipped arrows, the archer uses the laser to sight in the target. This is NOT a remote laser guidance system. There is simply a small battery-powered laser fitted in each Spot-On Target Point or Broadhead. The laser in the Spot-ON arrow tip automatically activates at full draw via a bow-mounted magnet. These Laser Target Points and Broadheads can be used with all archery bows, including crossbows. Arrows tipped with Laser Target Points or Laer Broadheads boast 24″ of elevation adjustment at 30 yards as well as left/right adjustment. You adjust elevation and left/right displacement with simple set screws. Once the heads are “calibrated” with the set screws, the arrows should fly to the red laser dot — if the archer does his part.
Laser Broadheads are Effective and Reusable
Spot-On’s Laser Broadheads feature three replaceable blades, so the units can be re-used even after killing game. Spot-On Laser Broadheads come in 125 grin weight but can be adapted to 150 grains. Broadhead Kits include a 12v car charging unit to recharge the laser batteries. If you use a peep sight the Spot-On Laser Broadhead helps eliminates the parallax error inherent with peep sights.
Spot-on claims that its Laser Broadheads are “changing the way modern day archers prepare, practice, and hunt”. If this technology catches on we’d have to agree. No doubt, by now you’re asking, how much do these gadgets cost? MSRP on a full kit with the bow-mounted magnet and either two (2) Target Points OR two (2) Laser Broadheads is $139.99. MSRP on a two-pack of either Target Points or Broadheads is $99.99 (no magnet or charger). CLICK here for product specs and pricing information.
Story tip by EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
We first ran this video a couple years back, but now that Carl Zeiss Sports Optics has taken over North American distribution of the super-premium Hensoldt line of optics, we thought our readers might enjoy another look at the remarkable Hensoldt 6-24x72mm SAM scope.
This optic integrates superb, ultra-bright apochromatic fluorite glass with a calculator module that provides ballistic info and weather data to the shooter. SAM stands for “Sniper Auxiliary Module”. An integrated ballistics calculator can be programmed for up to four different types of ammo. Sensors in the integrated ring mount measure weather parameters. These values, as well as scope data, are then directly projected into the visual field of the eyepiece. This provides selectable displays of elevation clicks, windage clicks, angle of fire, cant angle, temperature, and air pressure.
This 6-24x72mm Hensoldt may be the most advanced rifle scope on the planet. With a price of $11,982.00, it is certainly one of the most expensive. Take a 360° tour with this cool video:
More Hensoldt Scopes — Video Review
Here’s a related video from CS Tactical, reviewing a variety of Hensoldt scopes, including the “monster” 6-24x72mm.
Metallic Sights Standing Competition Video
Yesterday, 21 August, marked the opening of the Smallbore 3-Position Competition at the NRA Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio. The video below shows some of the shooters during the standing segment of the Metallic Sight portion of the smallbore championship events.
Standing Position Shooting
This week, smallbore competitors compete in three different positions: Prone, Standing, and Kneeling. Here are images from the standing portion of the event.
Prone Shooting
Here is a slide-show from the prone segment of the Smallbore three-position tournament at Camp Perry. These photos were taken on 21 July, during the first relay.
Images provided courtesy the NRA Blog, used by permission, all rights reserved.
Top Shot fans… get ready. The third season of the hit TV show Top Shot premiers on the History Channel Tuesday, August 9th at 10:00pm (9:00pm Central). Visit History.com for photos and bios of all Season 3’s sixteen new competitors. Those vying for the $100,000 Top Shot grand prize include Mike Hughes, a USPSA production division shooter from Washington, and ace ICORE and USPSA wheelgunner Cliff Walsh of Florida. Other practical pistol shooters include Amanda Hardin from Alabama and Mark Schneider of Florida. Watch the video below for a Season 3 sneak peek, including short profiles of all the competitors.
Fans of 3-Gun competition should watch this week’s episode of Shooting USA television. Wednesday’s show features the Fort Benning 3-Gun event, the only multi-gun match held on an active Army base. At this 3-Gun match, the USAMU Action Shooting Team created very tough stages, with combat-type challenges for the competitors. The video below shows stages at the 2010 Fort Benning 3-Gun Competition. The video begins with a competitor firing an Army-supplied M249 machine gun.
M24EI Sniper Rifle, Henry Rifle, and Julie Golob Also Featured
In addition to the Fort Benning 3-Gun coverage, this week’s ShootingUSA broadcast features three other interesting items. Shooting USA provides a first look at the U.S. Army’s new, upgraded sniper rifle, the M24EI, based on Remington’s XM-2010 modular rifle. Also, Shooting USA tells the history of the Henry Rifle, the first really successful lever rifle and the predecessor of Winchester’s classic Model 1866 and Model 1873 lever guns. Last but not least, Team Smith & Wesson captain Julie Golob gives a lesson in IDPA shooting — one of today’s most popular pistol competitions.
This rare .44 caliber Henry rifle, used during the Civil War, sold for $48,300 at a 2009 auction.
Shooting USA airs Wednesday on the Outdoor Channel at these times:
A “Special Edition” of NRANews.com highlights the perpetual NRA trophies awarded at the NRA National Championships. In this webcast, reporter John Popp and Mike Krei, Director of NRA’s Competitive Shooting Division, tour the Camp Perry Trophy Room. The Trophy Room holds roughly 130 statues, cups, plaques, and other awards that have commemorated the accomplishments of pistol and rifle shooters for more than a century. The oldest trophy dates back to the historic 1874 Creedmoor challenge match between Irish and American rifle teams.
Traveling Trophy Road Show
The seven-week span of the Camp Perry National Matches is only time all these NRA trophies are gathered together in one place. Krei explained: “[The trophies] are all in traveling cases… we bring them out annually (from NRA headquarters) and set them up [at Camp Perry] so everyone can see them.” Notable shooters such as Carl Bernoski, Sherri Gallagher, David Tubb, John Whidden, and Lones Wigger have their names etched on historic trophies like the Norman Adair Trophy, the Frank Parsons Memorial Trophy and the Wimbledon Cup.
To watch the Camp Perry Trophy Room webcast, log on to NRANews.com, select “SHOW ARCHIVES” then click on the “Jul 14″ tab near the top left corner. Scroll down (using the slider bar) to find the “Curator’s Corner” link, showing a 00:15:47 play time. Click on that and the video should load on the right within a few seconds. Be sure to click on the Curator’s Corner video first — if you click on a different video you’ll have to sit through the whole thing before the Curator’s Corner Video will play. Also, when you click the Curator’s Corner Video, the actual trophy feature doesn’t start until 01:47:00 point in the clip.
There will be future NRANews.com segments from the Trophy Room. These will be webcast on NRANews.com in the near future. Audio-only versions of the Trophy Room webcasts will also air on Sirius/XM Patriot Satellite Radio.
The Shooting Wire reports that there are just two days left to take advantage of the early registration discount for the 2011 Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships. Competitors must submit Match Applications this Friday, July 15, 2001, to take advantage of the discounted match fee. If you get your application postmarked by Friday then you’ll also be entered in a drawing for a new Ruger Mark III pistol. If you aren’t familiar with the Steel Challenge, held each year in Piru, California, it is one of the top pistol competitions in the world. Check out this video highlighting our friend K.C. Eusebio, who has set fastest times on many of the Steel Challenge Stages.
Here’s an amusing story, if a sad one for Porsche fans. After his Porsche 911 sports car broke down, the owner, faced with a massive repair bill, decided to donate the vehicle to a local charity — the Commonwealth Second Amendment (Comm2A), a group that works for gun law reform in Massachusetts. Well Comm2A, with co-sponsor Northeast Shooters, decided the best use of the donated Porsche was as a target! The two organizations hosted a fund-raising shoot-out, with the Porsche as the star of the show.
Jaloponik blog writer Matt Hardigree explains: “After the engine of his Porsche 911 decided to die (and take much of the cooling system along with it in some kind of powertrain suicide pact), the owner considered the $20,000 repair job and instead decided to donate the car to a non-profit. A non-profit dedicated to protecting gun rights. [A]pproximately 140 people showed up for the fundraiser. It’s difficult to know exactly how much ammo was spent decimating the Porsche, but 10,000 seems to be the conservative estimate.” READ full article HERE.
Editor’s Comment: While I understand the purpose of the fund raiser, I wonder if the Porsche would have be worth more in parts value than the sum collected from the shooters. On the other hand, as Jalopnik’s Hardigree writes: “Who hasn’t wanted to take a few shots at a 911, even an older model, after years of dealing with Porsche drivers?”
This Monday, June 27, at 9:00 pm, Barrett Firearms Mfg. will be featured on a National Geographic special entitled Snipers, Inc.. The hour-long show tells the story of Ronnie Barrett, his innovative large-caliber sniper rifle designs, and how he built a multi-million dollar business. Barrett Firearms introduced the semi-automatic .50-Cal M82 in 1982 but did not make any significant sales until 1989. Soon afterward, the M82 was purchased by the United States armed forces, and it was deployed in the Gulf War. Today the company has contracts with dozens of countries to supply sniper rifles. The success of the M82A1 has spawned several other models of .50 BMG rifles, including the M95, M99, and M99-1. These are lighter, lower-cost bolt-action rifles. One of the most recent offerings from Barret is the M107A1, unveiled in January 2011. M107A1 enhancements include a 4-lb weight reduction, increased accuracy, and a quick attachment for a Barrett suppressor.
The Nat Geo promo states: “Selling guns to snipers is all in a day’s work for one small-town Tennessee family. Ronnie, the designer and businessman at the helm of Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, and his two children, are responsible for creating the M107 sniper rifle. The M107’s power and precision allow snipers to destroy multiple targets from more than 20 football fields away. NGC goes inside this family of firearm ‘rock stars’.” In the video below, Ronnie Barrett talks about the M107A1 and the new multi-caliber MRAD rifle system. (It’s an interesting Nat Geo video, well worth watching.)
For the next few days, Harbor Freight is selling an 11-drawer rolling tool cabinet for just $169.99 with CODE 71638506. This U.S. General Roller Cabinet measures 17″ D x 27″ W x 52″ H (without handles), and can hold up to 350 pounds of tools and gear. The finish is a black powder-coat, and the lockable drawers have non-slip liners. The only assembly required is attaching the handles to the drawers. NOTE: You should pick this up at a Harbor Freight store, as the Roller Cabinet weighs 151 lbs. (crated) and has an $89.95 additional freight charge! Once the sale expires on 6/26/2011, you can still order the U.S. General 11-drawer roller cabinet for $199.99.
Get What You Pay For?
We know this is a thin-walled, entry-level unit. It certainly does NOT have the quality of a Snap-On Roll Cart tool chest, but you could pay nearly $1400.00 for a Snap-On rolling cabinet. Even a Craftsman mobile tool chest (of similar capacity) could easily set you back $700.00 or more. For some folks, the Harbor Freight unit will suffice pretty well until they can upgrade. And the money one saves can be used for tools to put in those many drawers. The video below does a good job explaining the cabinet’s features — and it shows the inside capacity of most of the drawers and compartments.
Fans of 3-Gun competition should watch this week’s episode of 
A “Special Edition” of NRANews.com highlights the perpetual NRA trophies awarded at the NRA National Championships. In this webcast, reporter John Popp and Mike Krei, Director of NRA’s Competitive Shooting Division, tour the Camp Perry Trophy Room. The Trophy Room holds roughly 130 statues, cups, plaques, and other awards that have commemorated the accomplishments of pistol and rifle shooters for more than a century. The oldest trophy dates back to the historic 1874 Creedmoor challenge match between Irish and American rifle teams.
The 
Here’s an amusing story, if a sad one for Porsche fans. After his Porsche 911 sports car broke down, the owner, faced with a massive repair bill, decided to donate the vehicle to a local charity — the 
This Monday, June 27, at 9:00 pm, 
