|
|
March 13th, 2020
Competitors take note — The CMP Western Games will continue as scheduled at Ben Avery in Phoenix this week, from March 13 (today) through March 22, 2020. However, the CMP has cancelled some other events scheduled this spring due to concerns over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (see below).
Regarding the Western Games, the CMP states: “The Western CMP Games and HP Matches at Ben Avery Shooting Facility, AZ [are] to be Conducted as Scheduled. Participants need to be mindful of sound general health practices to help prevent communication of the virus (frequent hand washing, social distance with others, etc.).”
The Western Games begin Friday, March 13 and conclude Sunday, March 22.
CMP Event Cancellations
1. CMP National JROTC Championship — Camp Perry, OH (March 19-21)
Changed to Postal Match.
This championship event will continue as a postal match with finals. Details will be emailed to teams and coaches as soon as they are finalized.
2. CMP 3-P Regional Airgun Championships — Camp Perry, OH – Sandy, UT – Anniston, AL (March 26-28 and April 2-4)
Changed to Postal Matches.
These regional events will continue as postal matches with finals. Details will be emailed to teams and coaches as soon as they are finalized.
3. CMP 3-P Air Rifle Junior Summer Camps and Clinics Program — Multiple Locations (June, July and August). CANCELLED Completely.
On the Watch List:
CMP 3P Air Rifle National Championship — Camp Perry, OH
(Sporter – June 25-27 and Precision July 11-13)
At this point the CMP is planning to conduct the CMP National 3-P Championship in June and July, but will be monitoring the situation and will announce additional cancellations if needed.
March 8th, 2020
 As we draw closer to the 2020 Presidential election, we are starting to see an upturn in U.S. firearms sales, which had slowed somewhat after President Trump’s 2016 election victory. Combined firearms sales are up 17.3% compared to February last year. We are guessing that folks are getting a bit nervous about restrictions on firearms in the event President Trump doesn’t win a second term.
Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting (SAAF) estimates February 2020 U.S. firearms unit sales at 1,357,643 units, a year-over-year increase of 17.3% from February 2019. Handgun sales (793,301) increased year-over-year by 19.5% whereas single long-gun sales (441,516) increased year-over-year by 12.4%. All other likely background check-related sales (122,826) increased year-over-year by 22.1%. This includes so-called “multiple” sales where the allocation between handguns and long-guns cannot be determined from the data record.
SAAF Chief Economist Jurgen Brauer comments that “it appears as if firearms owners are casting early votes in the upcoming presidential election this year: Unit sales in both, January and February 2020 have been at their highest levels since 2016.”
SAAF’s firearms unit sales estimates are based on raw data taken from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), adjusted for checks unlikely to be related to end-user firearms sales. For example, the FBI’s raw numbers (for February, some 2,776,380) cannot be taken at face value as very large numbers of background checks are unrelated to end-user sales. As a case in point, in February the state of Kentucky conducted about 368,000 so-called permit checks and rechecks alone whereas end-user checks at firearms retailers likely amounted to about 30,000 checks. SAAF makes certain other adjustments to the data based on retailer reports and other information; nonetheless, the estimates still likely understate the “true” number of unit sales.
Small Arms Analytics & Forecasting (SAAF) is a research consultancy focusing on the business & economics of the global small arms and ammunition markets. Politically unaffiliated, SAAF is an independent resource for industry, advocacy, research, and policy-making, as well as for financial analysts and the media.
March 7th, 2020
This week, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio celebrates 25 years on the air, a significant milestone for the original nationally-syndicated radio talk show about guns and the shooting sports. The 25th Annual Episode airs live on Sunday March 8, 2020 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Eastern time on radio stations nationwide. This special show can also be heard online via the GUNTALK PODCAST Site and Apple iTunes.
As a special bonus for Gun Talk Fans, here is a podcast of the first-ever Gun Talk Radio show in 1995.
Bonus Podcast: First Gun Talk Radio Show – March 5, 1995
To celebrate 25 years of radio, Tom Gresham has invited some of his favorite guests to stop by, including Second Amendment Foundation’s Alan Gottlieb, National Shooting Sports Foundation CEO Joe Bartozzi, Ted Nugent, Gunsite’s Ken Campbell, Pro Shooters Julie Golob and Rob Leatham, Sheriff Jim Wilson, and Shootrite Training Academy’s Tiger McKee.
 Tom Gresham noted: “When I created Gun Talk in 1995, gun owners had just seen the passage of two massive anti-rights laws — the Brady Act and the Clinton Gun Ban. The media, when it covered this at all, lied and continued to lie … even when corrected. America’s 100 million gun owners were sick of the slanted news coverage, and they found Gun Talk to be a breath of fresh air…”
“Today, we face many of the same challenges… Gun Talk radio is perhaps more important today than … 25 years ago. Whether it’s helping the first-time gun buyer sort out what he needs to buy, or exposing politicians who claim to be supporters of the Second Amendment while putting restrictions on this right, there’s plenty to talk about.”
Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk radio show airs live on Sundays from 2PM-5PM Eastern, and runs on more than 270 stations. Listen on a radio station near you or via LIVE Streaming. All Gun Talk shows can also be downloaded as podcasts at http://bit.ly/GTRpodcast, Apple iTunes, or through the Gundelio Apps. Gun Talk is also available on YouTube, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and GunTalk.com.
March 6th, 2020
This week the NRA filed legal challenges against Initiative Petition 61 and Initiative Petition 62, which severely restrict and regulates commonly-owned firearms (and magazines), making it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
NRA previously filed a legal challenge against Initiative Petition 60 last Friday. The legal challenges assert that the ballot titles violate Oregon law (ORS 250.035) by not alerting voters of the changes in the law proposed in the measures.
Initiative Petition 60 would enact the separate aims of two related measures, Oregon Regulation of Firearms Initiative (Initiative #61) and Oregon Regulation of Ammunition Initiative (Initiative #62). Initiative #61 would regulate certain firearms, and Initiative #62 would restrict the sale, purchase, and transfer of ammunition magazines that contain more than 10 rounds.
Initiative Petition 61 restricts many commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms it deems as “assault” firearms based on cosmetic features that do not fundamentally change how they operate. In addition this petition bans certain rifle sales to young adults 18-20. The NRA states: “Semi-automatic firearms fire only one shot per action of the trigger, have been available to American consumers for over a century, and are used by law-abiding citizens for a wide range of legitimate purposes. It will become more difficult for law-abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights as this initiative imposes a mandatory waiting period, training requirement, and redundant background check before law-abiding citizens can take possession of the affected firearms.”
Initiative Petition 62 bans any magazines with a capacity greater than ten rounds of ammunition. The NRA notes: “Magazines that hold more than ten rounds are standard equipment for commonly-owned firearms that many Americans legally and effectively use for an entire range of legitimate purposes, such as self-defense or competition. While citizens who own banned magazines prior to the effective date are ‘grandfathered’ and are allowed to retain them, the restrictions make them unusable for self-defense. Pre-ban magazines may not be loaded into a firearm during transport and are subject to one-size-fits-all storage requirements.”
NOTE: The sponsor of these anti-gun initiatives, the left-wing Lift Every Voice Oregon, attempted to place similar initiatives on the ballot in 2018 but failed due to legal challenges to the inadequate and deceptive summaries provided on the ballot.
March 3rd, 2020
The Hickory Groundhog and Egg Shoot, the richest varmint shoot East of the Mississippi, is one month away. Now in its 40th year, the popular Hickory Shoot will be held starting at 8:00 am on April 4, 2020 near Hickory, North Carolina. For four decades, the event has been hosted the first Saturday of April each year by Larry Willis of Bull’s Eye Sporting Goods, (704) 462-1948. The basic entry fee is $40.00 per gun. That gives you a chance to win a bundle of cash, plus valuable prizes such as Shehane stocks and Nightforce optics.
The Hickory Groundhog and Egg Shoot is the best event of its kind in the Southeast. Yes, conditions can be challenging (with mirage and switchy winds), but you can win big. In years past over $7,000 worth of prizes and cash has been awarded. Shooters can also compete in an Egg Shoot for cash and prizes. With a mere $2.00 Entry Fee, the Egg Shoot is a popular highlight.
Hickory Groundhog Shoot Course of Fire
The normal course of fire consists of three sets of paper groundhog targets at 100, 300, and 500 yards, and NO Sighters. They do have a bench for handicapped shooters not able to shoot from the prone position. Most competitors will shoot at the head at 100 yards because the points are higher. At the longer distances, 300 yards and 500 yards, most shooters go for body shots on the paper groundhog target. The Hickory employs “worst-edge” scoring, meaning if you cut a scoring line you get the next lower score.
Anatomy of a Hickory-Winning Rig — Brady’s Record-Setting 6BR
If you wonder what kind of rifle can win the big money at the Hickory Shoot, have a look at Terry Brady’s 42-lb 6BR. In 2010, Terry won the Custom Class in the Hickory Shoot, setting a match record with a 99 score, which was only broken last year. Terry was shooting a straight 6mmBR rifle, purpose-built for Groundhog shoots, which have no weight limit in Custom Class. Terry’s rifle, built by smith Mike Davis, featured an experimental 1:8.7″-1:8.3″ gain-twist Krieger barrel. The fiberglass Shehane Tracker stock was stuffed with lead shot from stem to stern, so that the gun weighs nearly 42 pounds with optics.
 Relays Run Like Clock-Work
The shoot is run very smoothly, with one relay shooting while the next relay waits outside the shooting area, ready to go. Once a relay is done, shooters grab their items and exit on one end of the shooting platform while the next relay comes in from the other end. The relays move through in rapid succession.
You must quickly set up and get ready because as soon as the target pullers get back they are ready to shoot. When the fire command is given you have two minutes to get your three shots off at that distance. When the cease fire is called you quickly grab your gear and get off the shooting platform because the next relay is coming in.
How to Get to the Hickory Shoot
March 2nd, 2020
Registration for the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) 2020 National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches opened March 1, 2020. The annual event, held at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Base since 1907, features traditional pistol and rifle marksmanship events and a lineup of CMP’s own competitions. Activities this year run from 7/6/2020 to 8/8/2020. Adult and junior competitors of all skill levels are invited to participate during this year’s National events. All events are open to the public.
For registration and more information on the National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches, including a complete schedule of events, visit the CMP National Matches Web page. NOTE: You must create a CMP Log-In account to register for 2020 National CMP Pistol Matches & Pistol Games Matches.
CMP 2020 National Matches at Camp Perry Dates:
CMP National Matches First Shot Ceremony — July 7, 2020
CMP National Matches Pistol Championships — July 7-12, 2020
CMP Smallbore Championships — July 14-22, 2020
CMP High Power Rifle Championships — July 21-31, 2020
CMP National Games Events — July 30 – August 3, 2020
CMP Long Range Matches Camp Perry — August 4-8, 2020
CMP National Matches Program 2020 at Camp Perry
The CMP will open the National Matches at Camp Perry with its First Shot Ceremony and pistol matches on Tuesday, July 7. CMP pistol events will run through Sunday, July 12. CMP Smallbore rifle check-in and practice will commence on Tuesday, July 14 and matches will run for a week with championships and prone awards on Wednesday, July 22. CMP’s Rimfire Sporter Match and CMP Junior Smallbore camp will also be completed during that period.
CMP Cup High Power Rifle matches begin Tuesday, July 21 and will conclude with a CMP Cup awards ceremony on July 23. CMP Rifle Clinics will begin July 24 and conclude July 26. CMP’s National Trophy Rifle Matches will begin July 27 – July 31, with CMP National Games Events July 30 – August 3. CMP Long Range matches open on Tuesday, August 4 and conclude with the CMP Palma Rifle match and Long Range awards on Saturday, August 8.
New in 2020 — High-Tech Smallbore Scoring, New Long-Range and Pistol Events
During the smallbore events, scoring will utilize Shooters Technology, a mobile application that transmits target images via cell phone to the Orion scoring system and allows scores to be compiled before competitors even return from hanging targets down range.
Returning to the CMP schedule is a series of Long Range events for teams and individuals. Long range matches will be fired at 1,000 yards and are open to match rifles, service rifles or Palma rifles.
The pistol program has been expanded greatly. A CMP Revolver Match has been added. And for .22 Pistol, Centerfire Pistol, and .45 Pistol divisions, the CMP has added 900 Aggregate and Pistol Team events to the National Matches Pistol schedule.
CMP National Matches at Camp Perry | NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury
Camp Perry is located six miles west of Port Clinton. Housing is available on base on a first-come, first-serve basis, and a campground is also located onsite. Other area accommodations are only a short drive away and only minutes to Lake Erie.
February 29th, 2020
New to the PRS/NRL tactical game? Wouldn’t it be great to get hands-on training with Top 10 PRS master competitors. Well now that is possible with the Masterpiece Arms MPA BA Academy program at the Rockland Precision Range in Pennsylvania. These are intense 1- or 2-day training sessions taught by some of the best PRS shooters on the planet. Instructors will be David Preston and Ken Sanoski. Both men have won multiple PRS matches and qualified for the AG Cup, which is limited to the TOP 20 PRS/NRL shooters in the USA. Rockland Precision is a new 1,000+ yard rifle range and training facility in Kennerdell, Pennsylvania.
NOTE: Participants must provide Rifle and Ammo. For all classes, students must bring a complete, scope-equipped rifle that will hold 1 MOA or better accuracy, together with front bipod and rear sandbag. For all the classes, trainees must also supply their own ammo — 100 rounds for the 1-day classes, or 200 rounds for the 2-day sessions.
One-Day PRS Clinic
The 1-Day PRS Clinic suits shooters of all levels of experience and skill. The staff will lead students through a course of fire, evaluate, and make necessary changes to increase the shooter’s performance. This course will be offered on March 20, June 12, and July 17, 2020, and costs $225. For more information and/or to register CLICK HERE
Intro to Long Range 2-Day Course
This 2-day training course starts with shooting fundamentals and then trains students to successfully engage targets at distance in PRS/NRL style competitions. Focus will be on fundamentals of building a strong shooting position, understand and utilization of windage and elevation adjustments on the optic, and reading atmospheric conditions such as mirage and wind. In addition, trouble-shooting equipment and ammo will be covered. This 2-day course will be offered on June 28-29 and August 15-16, 2020. Cost is $575. For more information and/or register, CLICK HERE.
Intermediate/Advanced Precision Rifle Class
This 2-day course is designed for students who are looking for advanced long-range enhancements to their existing skill-set, with the focus of adapting these skills to practical/positional competitions. This 2-day course will be held July 25-26, 2020. Cost is $575. For more info and to register, CLICK HERE
February 28th, 2020
Many of Hodgdon’s most popular powders, such as Varget and H4350, have become very hard to find. Shipments sell out as soon as they reach retailers’ shelves. We know our readers and Forum members are concerned about these supply shortages. Why are these powders in such short supply, and what is the prospect for more Varget, H4350, and other Hodgdon powders in the months ahead?
Hodgdon answered these (and other) questions recently in a Q&A post on the Hodgdon Facebook Page. Here are highlights of those Questions and Answers.
HODGDON POWDER UPDATE Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to your questions straight from Hodgdon, 1/31/2020:
Q: Why can’t I find Hodgdon powders like H4350, Varget, Retumbo, and H1000?
As you have seen, Hodgdon powders, especially rifle powders for long-range and precision shooting, can be difficult to find. Dealer shelves that were formerly filled with cans of powder now have empty spots. [Hodgdon added: “Dealer shelves are empty because powder is purchased as soon as it arrives at the dealers’ stores.”]
Q: Is Hodgdon still making powder?
A: Yes, we continue shipping powder as quickly as possible. In fact, we will ship more powder in 2020 than last year. The real problem behind empty dealer shelves is complicated, but is related to shifting supply and demand challenges. As supply decreased in 2019, demand only increased. No one wants to ship more powder than Hodgdon.
Q: What is causing the supply challenges?
A: Quite simply, our manufacturing facilities have not kept up with our orders. Additionally, military contracts began specifying Hodgdon powders in the last few years for military ammunition, impacting our supply. With expanded government regulation, shipping explosive and energetic materials has become more challenging, which also impacts available supply. Lastly, rapidly changing consumer preferences for different powder types has impacted both demand and supply. We worked with all Hodgdon providers to resolve open issues and expect powder supply to improve in 2020 as a result.
Varget, H4350, H4831SC, and other ‘Extreme Series’ powders are in very high demand.
Q: Is the shortage of reloading powder being caused by Hodgdon shipping their powder to the ammunition manufacturing companies?
A: While Hodgdon does sell powder to ammunition manufacturing companies, more than 80% of our powder is sold to our core market – handloaders just like you. Hodgdon has always been committed to the individual handloader.
Q: When will I start to see more powder on dealer shelves?
A: While Hodgdon will continue to ship powder as rapidly as possible, we have a significant backlog in demand. Some powders will be in stock more quickly, but we believe it will take much of 2020 to improve availability for all powders. [Editor: In a separate post, Hodgdon stated “We will be sending out large amounts of H4350 starting mid-March.”]
February 28th, 2020
In 2020, Lapua will again be the title sponsor for the Lapua Practical Rimfire Challenge (LPRC). Modeled after PRS competition, the LPRC features practical-style matches shot with .22 LR bolt-action and self-loading rimfire rifles with optics. There will be four series matches, leading up to the series Finale in October 2020. Shooters will compete for glory plus an impressive table of prizes.
The Lapua Practical Rimfire Challenge Series (LPRC) will be held at the Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, WV. The LPRC is designed to test the .22 LR rifle shooter, ammunition, and optics out to 300 yards. While most stages involve long-range positional shooting, shooters will encounter stages set in natural terrain, stages with movement, Olympic stages of fire, and/or smallbore-style stages. Shooters can select from the semi-auto or bolt action division.
LPRC Matches Will Feature Multiple Positions and Movement
LPRC series matches are positional shooting events in field conditions out to 300 yards. You can use either a bolt-action or semi-auto .22 LR rimfire rifle. Much like PRS (Precision Rifle Series), competitors will shoot from a variety of positions: prone, strong/weak shoulders, standing, sitting, and kneeling. There will be shots from barricades, and movement from position to position during stages.
LPRC rules will, to a large degree, mirror PRS rules. However, shooters will see some different type of stages than what is normally seen at a PRS match. For example, there may be unsupported standing or unsupported kneeling shots in some stages. Peacemaker’s goal is not to replicate PRS in Rimfire, but rather to create the ultimate challenge for shooters on the rimfire rifle platform.
Rimfire Tactical Matches Aren’t Really New
We’re pleased to see this LPRC shooting discipline — it sounds like fun. However, the concept of a rimfire tactical/practical match is not new — at least on the West Coast. California shooting clubs have been running “Rimfire Tactical” matches for more than a decade. CLICK HERE to read our comprehensive Rimfire Tactical report from way back in 2008. This article includes free targets, ballistics charts, and a complete run-down on suitable rimfire rifles.
The Concept Behind the Rimfire Tactical Match by Bill Erwin
Many guys who shoot long-range tactical matches practice with .22 LR rifles of similar configuration. Rimfire ammo is way more affordable than centerfire, you do not need a big range facility, and shooting rimfire saves wear and tear on your centerfire rifle. Further, for learning how to read the wind, there really is no better training tool than a 22 LR, even as close as 50 yards. Check out this table showing how a .22 LR ballistics compare to .308 Win:
| 22 LR vs. .308, Distances for Equal 10 MPH Wind Drift |
| This table shows the corresponding distances at which a 10 mph full-value crosswind pushes a .22 LR bullet and .308 projectile the same amount. Values are based on 0.130 BC for a 40gr .22 LR bullet, and 0.496 BC for 175gr .308 bullet. |
22 LR
40gr
1050 fps |
50 yd Wind
1.0″ |
75 yd Wind
2.2″ |
100 yd Wind
3.8″ |
125 yd Wind
5.8″ |
150 yd Wind
8.2″ |
175 yd Wind
11.0″ |
200 yd Wind
14.3″ |
.308 Win
175gr
2650 fps |
130 yd Wind
1.07″ |
180 yd Wind
2.15″ |
230 yd Wind
3.68″ |
280 yd Wind
5.63″ |
330 yd Wind
7.98″ |
380 yd Wind
10.71″ |
440 yd Wind
14.56″ |
This table shows how the .22 LR can be an effective substitute for a .308 Win during training. Because the smaller bullet drifts more in the wind, a 22 rimfire shooter will experience roughly the same crosswind effects as if he was shooting a 175gr .308 twice as far out. So, rimfire work can teach you to dope the wind like a .308, but at less than half the distance. Shooting a .22 LR at 100 yards is like shooting a .308 (with 175 SMK) at 230 yards
| SPECIAL BONUS–Rimfire Tactical Precision Targets
These FREE targets by DesertFrog are offered in Adobe Acrobat format for easy printing.
CLICK HERE to download all six targets as a .ZIP archive.
|
February 27th, 2020
Breaking News: The organizers of the IWA Outdoor Classics Trade Show — the Euro SHOT Show — have postponed the event. The event will NOT be held March 6-9, 2020 in Nuremberg, Germany, as planned, but will be re-scheduled for a later “date in 2020, which has yet to be determined”. NürnbergMesse, operator of the show facility, declared the event is being postponed due to health concerns related to the Coronavirus, COVID-19.
Here is the official announcement on the IWA Outdoor Classics Website:
Petra Wolf, Member of the Management Board of NürnbergMesse stated:
“We hope that the industry will understand the decision to postpone. The aim of every exhibition has to be to create a special experience for exhibitors and visitors likewise and to enable networking and expansion of existing business relations. Unfortunately, this goal cannot be achieved under the current circumstances. We are aware of the great importance of the IWA for our exhibitors and visitors. All the more reason for us to put high pressure on the task to find the best possible alternative date for such an important event for our customers.”
NOTE: The Enforce Tac trade show, which normally runs before the IWA Outdoor Classics event, will also be postponed in 2020.
|
