OK, you’re feelin’ fat and happy after the traditional Thanksgiving Day feast and you need to kill some time. Sure you could rake the leaves or wash the dishes, but why not have some mindless fun targeting turkeys with this online video game? Be forewarned, this Turkey Shoot Game starts pretty easy, but those gobblers get sneakier as you move up in levels. Also — you can take your time and still get through the first five levels, just try to avoid misses.
For more fun, use the up/down and left/right keys on your keyboard to move around the 3D forest and sneak up on the gobblers hiding behind the bushes. Have fun, and enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday!
Smith & Wesson has announced a recall of recently-made Thompson/Center (T/C) Venture rifles due to a potential defect involving the sears on some Venture rifles produced from August 1, 2011 to October 28, 2011. The text of S&W’s Recall Notice, along with a link to the list of serial numbers of affected T/C Venture rifles, are provided below.
SAFETY RECALL NOTICE – November 7, 2011
DESCRIPTION OF THE HAZARD:
During an internal technical review, Smith & Wesson determined that some of the sears used on Venture rifles produced from August 1, 2011 to October 28, 2011, may not have been manufactured to specification. Because the sear is an important part of the firing mechanism, we are asking that all of the rifles produced during this time period be returned to Smith & Wesson so that the firearm can be inspected by our technicians to ensure that the rifle operates in a safe and appropriate manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT INVOLVED:
This recall applies only to Venture rifles manufactured from August 1, 2011 to October 28, 2011. To determine if your rifle is affected, please reference the serial number list located at the link below or by calling Smith & Wesson directly at 1-800-713-0356. If your serial number does not fall within the list of affected serial numbers, your rifle is not part of this recall. CLICK HERE For List of Recalled Serial Numbers.
REMEDY/ACTION TO BE TAKEN: STOP USING YOUR RIFLE. Any unintended discharge of a firearm has the potential to cause injury, and we ask that you stop using your rifle until we have an opportunity to inspect the sear to make certain that there is no condition which will allow the rifle to fire without the trigger being pulled.
To facilitate the inspection and repair, if necessary, of your rifle sear, please contact Smith & Wesson’s customer service department to receive instructions and a prepaid return label for the return of your rifle to Smith & Wesson.
When you return your rifle to Smith & Wesson, be sure to attach the completed information card received from Smith & Wesson, so that your sear can be inspected and repaired, and returned to you as quickly and efficiently as possible.
CONSUMER CONTACT:
Please contact Smith & Wesson directly at 1-800-713-0356, or at venturerecall@smith-wesson.com to arrange for the inspection and repair, if necessary, of your rifle.
Smith & Wesson is going to produce an AR15-type rifle chambered for the .300 Whisper cartridge. This will be an addition to S&W’s Military & Police (M&P) Rifle series. As the first production rifle in the AR platform to be chambered in .300 Whisper (and .300 AAC Blackout), the new rifle offers both sub-sonic and supersonic capabilities. Originally developed and pioneered by J.D. Jones of SSK Industries, the 300 Whisper is based on the .221 Rem Fireball case necked up to .308. Notably, S&W says its M&P15 .300 Whisper is compatible with both the .300 Whisper and the .300 AAC Blackout (BLK) cartridges. The latter is a SAAMI-standardized, trademark-free variant of the .300 Whisper.
Manufactured on the M&P15 (AR-clone) platform, S&W’s new semi-automatic .300 Whisper rifle features an 1 in 7.5” twist, 16″ chrome-moly barrel. Both the forged 7075 aluminum upper and lower receivers have been coated with a Realtree APG camo finish. Standard features include forward assist and a six-position, collapsible CAR stock. MSRP for the complete rifle is $1,119. A separate .300 Whisper AR flat-top upper will also be offered, with an $819.00 MSRP.
“As the popularity of the modern sporting rifle continues to grow, more hunters are seeing the advantages of taking these firearms into the field,” said Mario Pasantes, S&W Senior Vice President of Marketing. “The M&P15 300 Whisper gives consumers the ability to use either lightweight or heavy cartridges during hunting or recreational applications without changing rifles or barrels.”
Is Hunting the Real Market for S&W’s .300 Whisper M&P15?
Editor’s Comment: If this gun is intended for hunting, we’re not sure Smith & Wesson got this one right. While the .300 Whisper is an interesting cartridge, it was originally designed to run sub-sonic, or be used with a suppressor. At sub-sonic velocities, the cartridge doesn’t pack much punch — not much more than a heavy pistol round. So you’re carrying around an 8-lb rifle (with optics) that only hits like a pistol. On the other hand, it can be loaded up to supersonic velocities, yielding ballistics similar to the .30-30.
But if you run it supersonic, why mess with this oddball cartridge at all? There are many other proven, game-killing chamberings for which a huge variety of inexpensive hunting ammo is widely available. (In fairness, .300 Whisper factory ammunition does exist. Hornady now offers both 1200 fps sub-sonic and 2375 fps supersonic .300 Whisper Ammo.)
Now the use of a .300 Whisper with a suppressor is intriguing. But, realistically, how many American hunters are going to get fingerprinted and pay the $200 tax for a suppressor, not to mention the hefty cost of the suppressor itself? As for the rifle configuration, a 16″ barrel is quite short for a hunting gun, and a wobbly first-gen collapsible stock that rattles is the last thing we’d want to take hunting.
Our guess is that most purchasers of this rifle will simply use it for plinking or tactical games, where the low recoil and long barrel life associated with the .300 Whisper will be welcome. One source suggests that the .300 Whisper has become popular with metallic silhouette shooters due to its low recoil and high accuracy. However we doubt you’ll be seeing many M&P15s on the silhouette course, given the funky, collapsible buttstock and short sight radius. (Under NRA Rules, AR15-type rifles are eligible for metallic silhouette competition under rule 3.1.2, but they must use “standard type stock[s]”.)
Story Tip by EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
Savage has confirmed that, for 2012, it will add a 17 Hornet chambering to its line-up of Model 25 varmint rifles. Savage’s decision to produce Model 25s in 17 Hornet was inspired by the release of 17 Hornet ammo from Hornady (see video below). This new rifle and ammo combo provides an affordable, centerfire option for varminters who want something more powerful than the 17 HMR. Though it has low recoil, the 17 Hornet cartridge offers plenty of speed. Hornady says its new 17 Hornet ammo will push a 20gr V-Max at 3,650 fps — that’s 1300 fps faster than a 17 HMR loaded with 20-grainers.
The 17 Hornet is based on the venerable rimmed .22 Hornet case. However, the case is not just necked-down from .22 caliber. The case designers reduced body taper, moved the shoulder, and changed the shoulder angle to 25°. This effectively modernized the old .22 Hornet case, improving efficiency while retaining the max OAL, so that the 17 Hornet can work in any action big enough for the .22 Hornet.
Hornady claims that its new ammo will push a 20gr V-Max bullet at 3650 fps. Dave Emary, Hornady’s Senior Ballistician, says that “This is just a very efficient little cartridge. It uses half the powder of the 17 Remington, has less fouling, more barrel life, and has the felt recoil of about a .22 Magnum.” Learn more by watching the video above.
Hornady just released a new video that showcases Hornady’s new products for 2012. These include: Critical DUTY® Pistol ammo (9mm and 40 S&W), 17 Hornet® (loaded with 20gr V-Max), and Heavy Magnum® Turkey Shotshells.
The Critical Duty ammo was designed to perform well in FBI protocol tests which demand excellent penetration PLUS reliable bullet expansion to 1.5 times bullet diameter. Hornady achieves this using a “Flexlock” bullet design with a polymer insert in the front of the bullet. The Flexlock plug helps prevents the kind of clogging and nose deformation suffered by conventional hollowpoints when shot through barriers. This allows reliable expansion even after penetrating clothing and other barriers.
New 17 Hornet Varmint Ammo
The new 17 Hornet ammo features a 20gr V-Max bullet in a necked-down 25°-shoulder version of the 22 Hornet parent case. Claimed velocity for this rimmed cartridge is 3650 fps — an impressive number considering the 17 Hornet uses about half the powder of the 17 Remington. Hornady declares that its 17 Hornet ammo will be very reasonably priced, providing an “easy, inexpensive way to get into varminting.”
Last but not least, Hornady’s new Heavy Magnum® Turkey Shotshells pack 1.5 ounces of nickel-plated shot in a full, 3″ 12-gauge shell. This provides exceptional knockdown power for turkey hunters. Notably, these shotshells do NOT require special turkey chokes for your shotgun. Hornady’s proprietary “VersaTite” wad provides a tight shot pattern without special chokes.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has released the results of its latest online survey of active hunters and target shooters. Each month the NSSF surveys shooters’ buying preferences for particular types of merchandise. In August, the NSSF asked shooters to rank the brand(s) of rifle ammo they had purchased most often so far in 2011. Remington lead the way, followed by Federal, Winchester, Hornady, and CCI (in that order).
The NSSF also asked hunters and shooters about their overall spending patterns for the year 2011. Respondents were asked: “Do you think you are buying more, less, or the same amount of hunting equipment so far in 2011 as compared to 2010?”
Here’s an example of a major manufacturer stepping up to help our service men and women. A portion of the sales price of Federal® Ammunition’s new Top Gun® 12-gauge target load shotshells will go directly to support the Wounded Warrior Project. According to Federal: “An on-box royalty program sends proceeds from every sale of the patriotic [red, white, and blue] Top Gun product directly to support Wounded Warriors.”
The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is “to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.” To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project, visit WoundedWarriorProject.org.
Top Gun® Target Shotshells Specifications
Top Gun Target loads, product TGL12U, are designed for high-volume shooters. These red, white and blue shotshells are made to provide consistent performance at reasonable prices. They loaded with 1 1/8 ounces of #8 shot, spec’d at 2.72 Dram equivalent to run at 1175 fps.
No hunting on Sunday — sounds old-fashioned, right? It may surprise you, but 11 states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia) still have sunday-hunting prohibitions that date back to “blue laws” enacted in the 1700s. But now there is a strong effort to change that in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Sportsmen Urged to Attend 10/27 Hearing
The Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee will hold its third and final public hearing on Thursday, Oct. 27, beginning at 9 a.m. in Room 140 of the Main Capitol Building in Harrisburg, PA. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) along with the Sunday Hunting Coalition is urging all sportsmen to come out and show their support for the removal of this antiquated blue law. NSSF has sent this call to action to every firearms retailer in the state urging their customers to support the repeal and take action by calling committee members. The NSSF estimates that allowing hunting on Sunday could increase economic activity in Pennsylvania to the tune of more than $764 million annually.
Here’s a nice promo offer just in time for hunting season. Cabela’s is offering $20 off all orders of $150.00 or more. In effect through October 25, 2011, Cabela’s $20 off deal is good for catalog purchases, online purchases, and even in-store purchases. Just click this link or the graphic above to go to the promo page. Be forewarned, you do need to enter your email address to get the rebate code.
While you’re shopping at Cabelas.com, now’s a good time to gear up for the fall hunting season. Cabelas is having a huge sale on hunting clothing, with prices up to 70% off. You’ll find everything you need for the wild, from camo clothing, to Hi-viz safety vests, and even gloves and headwear.
Disclosure: As a Cabela’s affiliate, AccurateShooter.com can receive a small precentage of online sales generated by our links.
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.
But if you run it supersonic, why mess with this oddball cartridge at all? There are many other proven, game-killing chamberings for which a huge variety of inexpensive hunting ammo is widely available. (In fairness, .300 Whisper factory ammunition does exist. Hornady now offers both 1200 fps sub-sonic and 2375 fps supersonic 
Our guess is that most purchasers of this rifle will simply use it for plinking or tactical games, where the low recoil and long barrel life associated with the .300 Whisper will be welcome. One source suggests that the .300 Whisper has become popular with metallic silhouette shooters due to its low recoil and high accuracy. However we doubt you’ll be seeing many M&P15s on the silhouette course, given the funky, collapsible buttstock and short sight radius. (Under 
The Critical Duty ammo was designed to perform well in FBI protocol tests which demand excellent penetration PLUS reliable bullet expansion to 1.5 times bullet diameter. Hornady achieves this using a “Flexlock” bullet design with a polymer insert in the front of the bullet. The Flexlock plug helps prevents the kind of clogging and nose deformation suffered by conventional hollowpoints when shot through barriers. This allows reliable expansion even after penetrating clothing and other barriers.
New 17 Hornet Varmint Ammo
Here’s an example of a major manufacturer stepping up to help our service men and women. A portion of the sales price of Federal® Ammunition’s new 
No hunting on Sunday — sounds old-fashioned, right? It may surprise you, but 11 states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia) still have sunday-hunting prohibitions that date back to “blue laws” enacted in the 1700s. But now there is a strong effort to change that in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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 
