NOTE: We are sad to announce that, on September 27, 2026, Jim Borden passed away from pancreatic cancer. Jim, who founded and operated Borden Accuracy, was a great shooter as well as a designer/builder of superb actions and complete rifles. Jim won 11 National Benchest Championships, was a Benchrest Hall of Fame member, and served six terms as President of the International Benchrest Shooters (IBS).
About Jim Borden and Borden Accuracy Jim began shooting high power silhouette and benchrest matches in the mid 1970s while working for a Fortune 500 company as an engineer. In the early 1980s he began building rifles for himself and then for others. Jim excelled as a mechanical engineer, action-maker, gunsmith, machinist, hunter, and benchrest competitor.
In benchrest competition Jim set 10 world records and won 11 National Championships, earning a place in the Benchrest Hall of Fame. Jim served 6 terms as International Benchrest Shooters (IBS) President. Jim ran Borden Rifles/Borden Accuracy with wife Joan, sons Jim Jr. and John, daughter Andrea Mecca and son-in-law John (Mike) Mecca.
Interview with Jim Borden 12/31/2025
At 1:17:50 time-mark Jim explains how he wishes to be remembered: “…Good shooter, good family man, somebody who shared his knowledge and left his legacy in the shooting sports to be followed.”
From the Borden Accuracy Facebook Page
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of James F. Borden, founder of Borden Accuracy Inc., after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Jim built Borden Accuracy on a foundation of precision, quality, integrity, and craftsmanship. His dedication to the shooting community and to producing products our customers could trust was something he took great pride in.
As Jim’s health changed, he thoughtfully put plans in place for the future of Borden Accuracy. In recent years, he had transitioned into more of a guidance role while his wife, Joan Borden, his oldest son, Jim Borden Jr., his daughter, Andrea Borden Mecca, and his son-in-law, Mike Mecca, took on the day-to-day operation of the business.
Borden Accuracy Inc. will continue forward as Jim intended, maintaining the same precision, quality, and commitment our customers have trusted for years.
While we mourn the loss of our husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and founder, we are incredibly proud to carry on Jim’s legacy and the company he worked so hard to build. We sincerely appreciate the kindness, support, and prayers shown to Jim and our family throughout his illness. His legacy will continue in every Borden product that carries his name.”
Memorial Ceremony Will Be Held October 24, 2026
Family and friends are invited to attend Jim’s Celebration of Life which will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 3:00 PM from the Marcho, Sheldon, and Kukuchka Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, PA 18657. A visitation will be held from 12:00 PM until the time of service on Saturday.
Interview with Jim Borden and Erik Cortina
In this video Erik Cortina interviews Jim Borden. This is one of the best long interviews on Erik’s YouTube Channel. You’ll learn quite a bit from watching the video. The full video runs over two hours, so you may want to watch in segments over a couple of days.
All in the Family
Jim’s grandfather was a gunsmith who taught Jim the trade when Jim was very young. Jim’s father and grandfather ran a country business that included an auto repair shop, welding, a small lathe, and a forge. Jim earned a degree in Mechanical engineering at Penn State University. For 23 years he worked for Procter and Gamble (P&G) as an engineer and as an engineering manager/project manager.
Tributes from AccurateShooter Forum members:
Jim was a friend and he will be missed. He had a mind that could solve complex problems and he used it to build some of the best rifle actions available. We are diminished with the loss of this great engineer and Hall of Fame shooter. — James Mock
Jim Borden — Sharer of knowledge, maker of great stuff, mentor, icon, Champion of, and for, bench-rest, and precision shooting. RIP. — RGRobinett
Jim was a great person, he would take time to call you back to help with your rifle project. Smart, honest, hard working. I built numerous rifles both hunting and target rifles using Borden actions. Jim will be missed. — RustyStud (Nat Lambeth)
I love his products but that pales compared to Jim as a human being. He was one of the greats and he’ll be greatly missed. — M. Ezell
It’s not what we take with us but what we leave behind.
RIP Jim Borden, you have left behind a legacy. — ElfGuns
Borden Accuracy/Borden Rifles Success Story
Borden Accuracy/Borden Rifles has been a source for precision benchrest and hunting rifles for many years. Jim started doing his own gunsmithing while competing in benchrest and high power silhouette matches. Jim launched his business in 1987, working nights and weekends while still employed at P&G.
The business became full-time in 1995 with Jim and his wife Joan doing the work. The business was expanded in 1999 with the construction of the new Springville, PA facility and the addition of sons Jim Jr. and John to the staff. Son-in-law John Mecca came onboard in January 2000. Now the Borden shop continues to make some of the finest rifles and actions in the world.
Jim and company began making Rimrock benchrest and Rimrock hunting actions in 2001. They added Borden Alpine and Timberline actions in 2006. These actions are made in an advanced manufacturing facility. To learn more, visit BordenRifles.com
Jim Borden Was Also a Great Photographer
A great engineer and gunsmith, Jim was also a gifted outdoor photographer with a large portfolio of wildlife and landscape images. Jim was truly a Renaissance man. Here are some of his remarkable photos:
NOTE: We are sad to announce that, a week ago, Jim Borden passed away from cancer. Jim, who founded and operated Borden Accuracy, was a great shooter as well as a designer/builder of superb actions and complete rifles.
Jim won 11 National Benchest Championships, was a Benchrest Hall of Fame member, and served six terms as President of the International Benchrest Shooters (IBS). Today’s featured rifle features the outstanding Borden BRMXD action that Jim designed and crafted.
2026 F-Class National Championships Coming Soon to Ben Avery
The 2026 National F-Class Mid-Range and Long Range Championships will be held later this month at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, in Phoenix, Arizona.
To help mark this event, today’s Sunday GunDay story features an American-crafted F-Open rifle campaigned by Sebastian (“Seb”) Lambang at the USA F-Class Nationals in 2023. Seb, the brilliant creator of SEB rests, joystick bipods, and rear bags, competed at the 2023 NRA F-Class National Championships, also held at Ben Avery. For that 2023 event, Seb commissioned a handsome, state-of-the-art F-Open rifle built by Blake Barrel and Rifle. Above is Seb’s F-Open rifle on the firing line at Ben Avery.
Seb Lambang’s impressive 7 FCP rig is chambered for the 7 FCP cartridge, an “improved” 6.5 PRC necked up to 7mm. This handsome rifle was crafted by Blake Barrel and Rifle using a 7mm, 1:8.5″-twist Blake barrel chambered in 7 FCP fitted to a Borden Accuracy BRMXD action. Mated to the Borden action is a Bix’N Andy Competition Benchrest trigger. On top is a March 10-60x56mm HM scope.
The handsome laminated wood XR stock is made by Cerus Rifleworks. The XR stock boasts a R.A.D. recoil reduction system in the rear, and a metal bag-rider system at the forward end of the stock. The rig employs an adjustable F-Class Products F-Open Barrel Tuner.
Seb Lambang is a talented shooter as well as a great craftsman. On the side of his March X scope it states: “Sebastian Lambang, QRA Queens 2022, F-Open Winner”.
Sebastian Lambang — Founder and Chief Designer of SEB Rests
When he is not competing, Seb works hard producing SEB Front Rests, SEB Neo-X Rests, SEB Mini-X tripod rests, and the class-leading SEB JoyPod-X joystick bipod, favored by F-TR shooters worldwide. Here are products at Seb’s warehouse, getting ready to be shipped out.
About the 7 FCP — New 7mm Cartridge Derived from 6.5 PRC
The 7 FCP was a cartridge designed from the ground up by F-Class Products out of Phoenix, Arizona in the fall of 2022. The developers believe it is the “ultimate cartridge” for the F-Class Open Division competition. F-Class Products notes: “We wanted a cartridge that [had] an efficient case capacity [matching] the 7mm Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum. The 7 RSAUM has proven to be the most winning cartridge in world F-Class competitions and many nationals and finale events. The problem with the RSAUM is brass availability. Remington stopped making brass for the RSAUM years ago and recently Norma has also stopped producing brass for it. The only option now is ADG. While the ADG brand of brass is good, it is quite expensive and also is only run in short runs and is hardly ever available.”
So the 7 FCP was developed from the 6.5 PRC, which has high-quality Lapua brass available. The 7 FCP was designed to shoot the 180 grain Berger Hybrid bullet at 2960 FPS out of a 30″ barrel without excessive pressure. SEE: 7 FCP Cartridge INFO FAQ Page.
7 FCP Cartridge — Wildcat Based on 6.5 PRC Necked up to 7mm
How Does the 7 FCP’s Case Capacity Compare?
F-Class Products states: “The parent case of the 7 FCP is a 6.5 PRC. The 6.5 PRC is a magnum case that has a head diameter of 0.532″ and has a overall length of 2.020″. It is the same overall length as the 7 RSAUM but with a smaller diameter body. Hence, without improving it, you will get not get the case capacity of a 7 RSAUM case, and therefore you will not get the velocities that the 7 RSAUM produces either.” F-Class Products has compared the capacity of cases commonly used in F-Open competition:
.284 Winchester = 63 grains of water capacity
.284 Shehane = 66.5 grains of water capacity
6.5 PRC = 65 grains of water capacity
7-6.5 PRC = 66.5 grains of water capacity
As you can see by the data above, the 6.5 PRC that is simply necked up to a 7mm does not provide more case capacity than the .284 Shehane. That is why the PRC has the shoulder moved forward.
What Powders Work Well in the 7mm FCP?
F-Class Products has tested many powders with the 7 FCP: “Any powders that work well in a .284 Win, a .284 variant or a 7 RSAUM and/or variant, can work well in the 7 FCP. We have tested many different powders and many show to work excellent. Here is a list of the powders we have tested that work well in our testing and in our customers’ testing:
Hodgdon H4350
Hodgdon H4831
Hodgdon H4831 SC
Alliant Reloder 16
Alliant Reloder 23
Vihtavuori N160
Vihtavuori N550
Vihtavuori N555
This is just a short list of what we believe are the core powders that will burn and work efficiently in the 7 FCP. There are plenty of other powders that also can work, yet they may be temperature sensitive and or not burn efficiently in the case.”
What Velocities Are Optimal?
F-Class products observes: “With the 180 grain Berger bullet we see accuracy from 2920-2980 FPS muzzle velocity. With the 190 grain Hornady A-Tip bullet we see accuracy from 2860-2900 FPS.”
What Twist Rates Do You Recommmend?
F-Class Products recommends a 1:8.5″-twist barrel. An 8-twist can work, yet the accuracy nodes may be narrower than the 8.5 twist. A 9-twist barrel can also work if you are shooting a 184 grain bullet or less. These twist rates are recommended for lead cored bullets. If you are planning on shooting a solid copper bullet, consult the bullet manufacture for recommended twist rates for that particular bullet.
What Is the Parent Case?
The parent case of the 7 FCP is a 6.5 PRC. The 6.5 PRC is a magnum case that has a head diameter of 0.532″ and has a overall length of 2.020″. It is the same overall length as the 7 RSAUM but with a smaller diameter body, hence without improving it, you will get not get the case capacity of a 7 RSAUM case, and therefore you will not get the velocities that the 7 RSAUM produces either.
We are sad to annouce that Benchrest Hall-of-Fame shooter Jack Neary passed away on September 25, 2026. Jack was a great shooter who set records and won many matches during his shooting career. Jack was a world-class benchrest competitor and Team USA member who shared his knowledge with other shooters through live seminars and excellent online videos. May of our Forum members credited Jack for sharing his vast knowledge of reloading and shooting sports. CLICK HERE to access a 12-segment “Reloading Class” series of video Jack hosted for the Vihtavuori YouTube Channel.
Capstone Precision Group, Jack’s employer, released this statement:
Benchrest Shooting Hall of Fame member, firearms industry executive, Team Lapua member and respected friend to many throughout the shooting sports community, John “Jack” Neary passed away on the morning of September 25, just hours before he was scheduled to compete in his next match.
Jack Neary is interviewed by Erik Cortina in this 2025 Video.
Neary’s competitive shooting career spanned more than three decades and was a dominant force in benchrest competition, he captured numerous Regional, National, and World Championship titles throughout his career. He served as President of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association (NBRSA) and was inducted into the prestigious Benchrest Shooting Hall of Fame.
Among his many achievements, Neary earned a World Championship gold medal as a member of the four-man team in 2019, set the Light Varmint 200-yard single-group world record of .160″ in 2011, beat that remarkable feat again in 2019 with a .110″ group (see below), and recently recorded a pending world record 10-shot target measuring just 0.085″. [Editor: By any standards, Jack was one of the greatest Benchrest shooters who ever lived].
Beyond his own competitive success, Neary dedicated countless hours to growing competitive shooting sports. He hosted clinics and seminars across the country, teaching newcomers how to get started in competitive shooting, precision handloading with Lapua and Vihtavuori components, custom bullet making, reading wind conditions, and numerous other aspects of precision shooting. Committed to sharing his knowledge and experience, he launched the YouTube channel All Things Benchrest with Friends, creating a lasting educational resource for shooters of all skill levels[.]
Neary joined Capstone Precision Group in May 2009 as Sales and Marketing Manager, where he combined his passion for shooting with his extensive business and industry expertise. Throughout his tenure, he became a trusted voice within the firearms industry and a valued ambassador for the brands he represented.
As news of this tremendous loss spread throughout the shooting community, tributes poured in from competitors, customers, and friends alike. Many shared stories of how Neary helped them get started not only in benchrest shooting, but across a variety of shooting disciplines. “A true gentleman,” “generous with his knowledge,” and “an inspiration to everyone around him” were among the many sentiments expressed by those fortunate enough to know him.
While his competitive achievements are remarkable, Neary will be remembered most for his unwavering faith in God, his devotion to family, his generosity toward others, and the passion and competitive spirit he brought to the range every time he stepped behind a rifle.
The shooting sports community has lost one of its greatest ambassadors, but Jack Neary’s legacy will continue through the countless shooters he mentored, the records he set, and the friendships he forged throughout a lifetime dedicated to the sport and industry.
World Record 200-Yard 5-Shot Group by Jack Neary
No, that’s not two shots — it is FIVE shots, with basically four in one hole and a fifth very slightly over. If that’s not impressive enough, consider this stunning 0.110″ group was shot at TWO HUNDRED yards — the length of two football fields. This amazing group was shot by Jack Neary at the 2019 World Benchrest Championship (WBC) held in Calgary, Alberta.
There is an informative article on the NRA’s American Hunter website regarding suppressor use for hunting. The article, What Hunters Need to Know About Suppressors, answers common questions about suppressor use on hunts. Suppressors are currently legal in 42 states, and can be used for hunting in 41 states (Connecticut prohibits suppressor use while hunting).
As that NRA article is a few years old, it does NOT have current information on suppressor purchasing rules and fees. Effective 1/1/2026, there is NO $200 fee to acquire a suppressor (aka silencer). There have been recent legal challenges to the NFA paperwork rules for purchasing a suppressor. Some states are honoring the injunction issued by a Federal court in Silencer Shop v. ATF, so in some states an NFA Form 4 may not be required. But you should still expect to fill out some paperwork in most states. Get current suppressor regulations by state on the Silencer Shop website.
The American Hunter article also discusses how well suppressors actually reduce noise. User should be aware that the sound level of a large, centerfire hunting cartridge will still exceed 130 decibels (dB) on average, even with a typical suppressor (silencer) in place. For that reason, we recommend that hunters continue to wear ear protection even when they shoot suppressed.
For example, Thunder Beast Arms says its Ultra 9 Suppressor will reduce the report of a .308 Win to 132-134 dB: “The ULTRA 9 will suppress a typical .308 bolt-action rifle down to approx. 132-134 dB. It also has very little or no ‘first round pop’ (FRP) in most applications.” NOTE: These dB levels are measured in accordance with MIL-STD-1474D using BK 2209 SLM offset one meter from muzzle.
How Loud Are Unsuppressed Rifles?
Firearms Are Loud — 140 dB to 175 dB. Audiology group ASHA explains: “Almost all firearms create noise that is over the 140-dB level. Exposure to noise greater than 140 dB can permanently damage hearing. A small .22-caliber rifle can produce noise around 140 dB, while big-bore rifles and pistols can produce sound over 175 dB. Firing guns in a place where sounds can reverberate, or bounce off walls and other structures, can make noises louder and increase the risk of hearing loss. Also, adding muzzle brakes or other modifications can make the firearm louder. People who do not wear hearing protection while shooting can suffer a severe hearing loss with as little as one shot[.] Audiologists see this often, especially during hunting season when hunters and bystanders may be exposed to rapid fire from big-bore rifles, shotguns, or pistols.” Source: ASHA, Recreational Firearm Noise Exposure.
How Much Does a Good Suppressor Really Reduce Firearm Sound Levels?
That depends on the rifle, the cartridge, and the effectiveness of the suppressor. The American Hunter article explains: “Suppressors retard the speed of propellant gases from the cartridge that rapidly expand and rush out of the barrel. It’s these gases that produce the loud boom that’s heard for miles. A suppressor’s series of internal baffles slows these gases so they are not all released at once, thereby muffling the sound.” Many good commercial suppressors can achieve 30-35 dB sound suppression. However, Zak Smith of Thunder Beast Arms says: “There are a bunch of manufacturers who publish values that are not reproducible, or use an ad-hoc test instead of a mil-spec test. In many cases we’ve tested the exact same suppressors they’ve advertised with 30-40 dB reductions and found they are actually in the high 20s instead.”
Again, for this reason, we recommend that hunters use ear protection, such as NRR 25+ banded ear plugs, even when shooting suppressed.
Choosing a Suppressor for Hunting Use
The American Hunter article explains that there are many types of suppressors on the market. Bigger suppressors are heavier, but they normally are more effective. You also have a choice in muzzle attachments:
“For most hunting applications, direct thread is the best choice. If you intend to buy only one suppressor yet you have multiple guns, it’s advantageous to buy a model sized and rated for the largest caliber you intend to use. While a suppressor made specifically for a .223 Rem. will reduce the sound of that round slightly better than a model made for .30 caliber, for example, you can use a .30-caliber can for smaller calibers — but not vice-versa. In general, the bigger the can, the more it reduces sound. Smaller suppressors, however, are easier to carry in the woods.” — American Hunter
States Where Suppressor Ownership is Allowed
Currently, the following 42 states allow private ownership of suppressors: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY. NOTE: Suppressors are legal in Connecticut, but hunting with silencers is not allowed in Connecticut.
How to Acquire a Suppressor
To acquire a quality suppressor, you first should shop around, comparing verified performance and price. Unfortunately some manufacturer’s dB (sound level) claims are exaggerated. Give due consideration to size, weight, and durability. When you’ve selected a brand and model, find a reputable dealer authorized to sell suppressors. There have been many recent policy changes by the ATF. Such changes are covered by this video:
BENEFITS OF SILENCERS
NOISE REDUCTION
According to OSHA, the threshold for a hearing safe impulse noise is 140 dB. Without hearing protection, exposure to any impulse noise over 140 dB causes varying degrees of permanent noise-induced hearing loss, which can also lead to tinnitus. Most well-engineered silencers take the dB level of their host firearm well below 140 dB, making those silencers effective primary hearing safety devices. You should always still wear hearing protection (muffs or plugs) when using suppressors.
RECOIL REDUCTION
By containing the explosion at the muzzle, suppressors significantly reduce perceived recoil energy, reduce the rifle’s rearward movement on recoil, and reduce rifle torquing and muzzle flip. The reduction of recoil (and rifle torquing/hopping) lessens shooter fatigue and helps the shooter get his sight picture back on target rapidly after firing. With smaller calibers, a suppressor may enable the shooter to maintain a nearly-continuous sight picture, following the shot into the target. In addition, by reducing felt recoil (and muzzle blast), a suppressor can help inexperienced shooters avoid flinching.
The 2026 CMP New England Games were held September 19-27, 2026 at the Camp Ethan Allen National Guard Training Site in Jericho, Vermont. This is one of the nation’s most scenic ranges, with beautiful green countryside and generally good shooting conditions.
At this year’s CMP New England Games some impressive new records were set by SGT Zevin Linse, a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Rifle Team. The CMP reports that USAMU SGT Linse set a new CMP National Standing Position High Power 200-yard Record.
After setting a new mark early in the games with a 200-13X standing score SGT Linse returned on September 26th to break his own record — raising it to 200-14X — the best-ever at a CMP Competition.*
Along with this remarkable single match performance, SGT Linse shot superbly throughout the entire event, racking up a new CMP National Aggregate Record. His impressive performances on the line over three days of 80-shot matches led to Linse’s 2400 Aggregate score of 2390-136X, a new CMP Match record.
Linse shattered the previous record of 2383-111X, set at last year’s New England Games by MSG Kristoffer Friend of the U.S. Army Reserve team. It should also be noted that Linse’s teammate, SPC Amber Kingshill, also broke the previous record with an impressive 2400 Aggregate score of 2386-114X.
Will you be traveling out of state this spring? Or do you have questions about your own state’s firearms laws? Then you’ll want to have quick access to summaries of gun laws in America’s 50 states. Here’s a very valuable online resource you may want to bookmark.
The NRA-ILA (Institute for Legislative Action) has a great feature on the NRA-ILA’s homepage. From the NRA home page, NRA-ILA.org, you can instantly access a host of information for all 50 states. There is a menu box that includes all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, New York City, and Guam. Look for the box that appears below the “NRA-ILA Top Stories Banner”:
Alternatively, look at the UPPER LEFT for three horizontal lines. Click that to open a drop-down menu. Then select the third line Gun Laws > State Gun Laws. That will open a page with all the 50 states listed in order A to Z. Or bookmark the NRA-ILA State Gun Laws Page.
Shown below is part of the NRA-ILA’s coverage for Texas. There is a summary of the most important Texas gun laws. Below that is a map showing the states that recognize Texas carry permits.
What are the top-selling new bolt-action rifles in the USA? You might be surprised — there are no Remingtons among the Top 5 bolt guns. In the bolt-action category, Ruger has the top spot with its Ruger American Rifle, followed by the Winchester Model 70, Tikka T3x Lite, Ruger American Ranch, and standard Tikka T3X. Below we list the Top TEN Bolt action rifles, based on sales for the full 12 months of 2025. These rankings are based on Gunbroker.com sales data, listed on the Gun Genius Report Page. Every month, Gun Genius lists the Top 5 Best Selling Guns for each major category of firearms sold on GunBroker.com. This culminates in this year-end report detailing the Top Selling Firearms of the Year. Results from the 2025 year-end report are shown below.
Shopping for a rifle? Your buying decision may be simplified by seeing what other consumers have chosen, as revealed by nationwide sales trends. You can check firearms sales figures using “Gun Genius”, a data-crunching service of Gunbroker.com. On GunGenius.com you can select any type of firearm (handgun, rifle, shotgun) and see the top sellers for that category. Below are the Top Ten best-selling NEW bolt-action rifles. On the Gun Genius site you’ll find links for gun specifications.
Here are the TEN top-selling NEW bolt-action rifles for 2025:
1. RUGER AMERICAN RIFLE
2. WINCHESTER 70 SUPER GRADE
3. TIKKA T3X LITE
4. RUGER AMERICAN RANCH
5. TIKKA T3X
6. RUGER AMERICAN PREDATOR
7. WINCHESTER XPR
8. RUGER HAWKEYE
9. BROWNING X-BOLT
10. RUGER M77 HAWKEYE
Get Sales Rankings for Other Categories of Firearms
On GunGenius.com, in addition to the bolt-action rifle category above, you can chose lever-action rifles, semi-auto rifles, single-shot rifles, semi-auto pistols, revolvers, semi-auto shotguns, pump shotguns, and more. You can also filter for sales trends (upwards and downwards). Drill down to see detailed product specifications and current prices.
Today — September 26, 2026 — is National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD). We’re proud to recognize how important hunting is for millions of Americans — as a source of food for families and as an important connection with nature and the outdoors. The NFHD website has helpful resources for hunters, and in this article we provide links for Where to Hunt, How to get Hunting Licenses, and Hunter Education.
NHFD was first established by President Nixon in 1972. According to NationalToday.com, NHFD’s “roots go back more than 100 years to President Theodore Roosevelt, who introduced the first laws regulating the hunting of wildlife in the United States.”
This month we hope some of our readers can take new shooters afield and introduce them to hunting. Many hunters receive their first introduction to hunting from family or friends as a tradition passed down from generation to generation. There are over 9.2 million hunters in the United States.
To have a successful hunt you must first get to areas where game thrives. Finding the right places to hunt is essential. The NSSF offers a nationwide Where-to-Hunt database of hunting areas. You can click on a particular state, then specify the specicies you wish to hunt. This is a very useful resource.
In most states, when hunting game animals, you’ll need a hunting license and/or zone permit. The Federal Fish & Wildlife Service has state-by-state listing for hunting licenses on FWS.gov. Click the box below to learn how to get hunting licenses in your region.
For all hunters, whether they have mentors to guide them or not, the most important first step into the woods begins with a state-certified hunter education course. Click the box below to see hunting education opportunities around the nation.
Game Resources — To learn more about different game species, click these NSSF links:
To help you prepare for a fall hunt, here is a free, printable Deer Practice target. Hone your skills on a trio of bucks with a red bullseye centered on the animals. You can print the targets in black and white, but they look best in color. Right-click the image below to download a FREE printable target PDF file.
The 41st Annual Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) kicks off today (9/25/26) in Dallas, Texas. The event will continue through Sunday, September 27, 2026.
Co-hosted by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), this is one of the most important gatherings of Second Amendment legal experts and Federal ATF and DOJ administrators. To view the full list of GRPC 2026 speakers and the final agenda visit SAF.org/GRPC.
LIVEstream GRPC Events Saturday and Sunday
For those who can’t make the event, the Saturday and Sunday GRPC 2026 sessions will be livestreamed on SAF’s YouTube channel beginning at 8 a.m. (CST) on Saturday and 9 a.m. (CST) on Sunday. You can also view via the SAF Livestream links below, or click on the Video starting Saturday morning.
The 2026 GRPC event runs at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport hotel. The $25 Registration Fee includes access to all Gun Rights Policy Conference events, including Friday and Saturday evening receptions.
This year’s keynote address will be given by the Honorable Roger T. Benitez (Ret.), a highly respect Federal Judge who authored many landmark decisions while serving as a Federal District Judge in California. Judge Benitez authored multiple key decisions which have helped to restore and safeguard gun rights in California. Judge Benitez is considered to be one of the most important judicial defenders of the Second Amendment in the post-Heller era. Other notable speakers are ATF Director Rober Cekada, and William Kirk, Second Amendment attorney, and host of the Washington Gun Law YouTube channel.
Additional Notable Speakers Will Include: Robert Leider, ATF Chief Counsel Barry Arrington, Acting Chief of Civil Rights Division (2d Amend. section), U.S. Department of Justice Joseph Greenlee, NRA Institute for Legislative Action Litigation Counsel Office Alan M. Gottlieb, Founder and Executive V.P., Second Amendment Foundation Adam Kraut, Executive Director, Second Amendment Foundation Chris Boeck, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer at Silencer Shop Mark Smith, Constitutional lawyer and host of The Four Boxes Diner YouTube Channel Cam Edwards, Editor of BearingArms.com and the host of the Cam & Company podcast Brandon Herrera, Second Amendment advocate and Congressional candidate
Pre-Conference AMM-Con Event
In addition to attending GRPC, registrants can also participate in the AMM-Con pre-conference event on Friday, September 25. This is a gathering of leading Second Amendment media personnel.
2026 GRPC Official Sponsors
GRPC 2026 is sponsored by NSSF, USCCA, U.S. Law Shield, Silencer Shop, Colt, Vortex, Magpul, Credova, Volquartsen, Trijicon, GrabAGun, RAYVN Group, AZFirearms Auctions, and Taurus.
This Saturday, September 26, 2025, is National Hunting and Fishing Day.
There are over 9.2 million hunters in the United States. The fees paid by hunters are essential to support conservation efforts and to protect/maintain habitats.
These infographics explain the vital role that American hunters play in protecting wild species in North America. Currently 60% of state Fish & Wildlife Agency funding comes from excise taxes and licensee fees paid by hunters and anglers. The system has provided billions of dollars for conservation over the past nine decades. Since the late 1930s, hunters, target shooters and the firearms industry have been the nation’s largest contributors to conservation, paying for programs that benefit America’s wildlife.
The Pittman-Robertson Act generates $700 million annually, which is distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to state fish and game agencies across America.
Jim began shooting high power silhouette and benchrest matches in the mid 1970s while working for a Fortune 500 company as an engineer. In the early 1980s he began building rifles for himself and then for others. Jim excelled as a mechanical engineer, action-maker, gunsmith, machinist, hunter, and benchrest competitor.
Borden Accuracy/Borden Rifles Success Story
NOTE: We are sad to announce that, a week ago, Jim Borden passed away from cancer. Jim, who founded and operated 
How Does the 7 FCP’s Case Capacity Compare?
