In 2020, Camp Atterbury will host Smallbore, High Power, and Pistol National Matches.
Big changes are coming to Indiana. First, all the major NRA National Match Championships — Smallbore (.22 LR) Rifle, High Power Rifle, and Precision Pistol — will be consolidated at Camp Atterbury, IN, starting in 2020. In addition, the NRA plans to create a major competition center at this National Guard facility, a “brand new, competitive shooting Mecca in Indiana.” This was revealed in an NRA-TV interview with Cole McCulloch, NRA Director of Competitive Shooting.
McCullough declared: “This is a great opportunity to establish a state-of-the-art facility at Camp Atterbury in cooperation with the Indiana National Guard[.]” As reported by John Parker, Editor of Shooting Sports USA, major upgrades are coming to Camp Atterbury in the upcoming months:
“State-of-the-art facility is an understatement…. For example, the pistol range will feature a mind-boggling, 300 individual points of fire, all of them covered. There will be two, 1000-yard High Power rifle ranges, which will include the proper pit/target systems and parking that will operate on one area of the base. Pistol and smallbore will be located on a totally separate part of the base, meaning they won’t have to split range time. This provides more flexibility for scheduling matches.”
The NRA has big plans for Camp Atterbury, envisioning that it will host other popular shooting disciplines, beyond the traditional NRA Smallbore and High Power events. According to Shooting Sports USA, in the future Camp Atterbury may host Precision Rifle Series (PRS) competitions, 3-Gun Events, America’s Rifle Challenge matches and more. “The possibilities are limitless.”
As part of the development of Camp Atterbury as a central hub for firearms competition, the current Camp Atterbury welcome center will be converted to a training center with “multiple training simulators” open to the public. At this training facility, jointly leased by the NRA and the Indiana National guard, visitors will be able to learn about a variety of shooting disciplines.
All Major Disciplines at Camp Atterbury in 2020
Starting in the summer of 2020, Camp Atterbury will host the NRA National Matches for Smallbore Rifle, High Power Rifle, and Precision Pistol. It will also continue to host the NRA Long Range Championship. This will consolidate multiple major National Championships all in one location.
How is Camp Atterbury as a match venue? Very good. Here is a report from a 2017 Nat’l Match competitor, as posted on Facebook:
Just got back from U.S. Nationals at Camp Atterbury … Here are my observations:
1. The range was outstanding. Facing the south wasn’t a problem.
2. On-base accommodations were great and inexpensive.
3. The base is only 45 minutes from Indianapolis International Airport.
4. The base is close to towns with restaurants and shopping.
5. The transportation to and from the pits [was in] air conditioned vans.
6. By all accounts the event ran smoothly.
SHOT Show Special Episode on May 8, 2019
If you watch just one episode of Shooting USA TV this year, it should be this week’s SHOT Show Special. Tonight, May 8, 2019, enjoy a full hour of SHOT Show coverage at 9:00 pm Eastern and Pacific, 8:00 PM Central. Jim Scoutten’s team works hard every January, bringing you highlights from the gun industry’s largest trade show. Jim, son John Scoutten, and other staffers prowled the 12 miles of aisles in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, visiting many of the 1,600+ exhibitors. This episode provides a “first look” at the new guns, optics, and gear introduced for 2019. Click HERE to learn more about this week’s 2019 SHOT Show episode.
2019 SHOT Show Highlights: Ruger Precision Rimfire, Hornady 300 PRC, JP MR-19, Kestrel HUD, Manners Stocks, Savage MSR-10, Volquartsen Ultralite, Walter Q5 Match, and much more.
Shooting USA Hour AIR TIMES
Shooting USA’s SHOT Show Special will air for a full hour on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 on the Outdoor Channel. Here are the air times, but you should check your local schedule. Look for Shooting USA TV on the Outdoor Channel.
Wednesday Night Schedule:
Eastern Time – 9:00 PM
Central Time – 8:00 PM
Mountain Time – Check Listings
Pacific Time – 9:00 PM
Here are some of the 50+ new products featured on the SHOT Show Special:
U.S. Army SGT Benjamin Cleland recently won the 2019 CMP Cup at the CMP Eastern Games in Camp Butner, North Carolina. And in taking that impressive victory, the USAMU’s Cleland set a new CMP Cup Record of 2389-133X.
The CMP Cup, a 3-day course of fire, includes four stages: 20 standing shots at 200 yards in 22 minutes; two series of sitting/kneeling 10 shots at 200 yards in 60 seconds; two series of 10 prone shots at 300 yards in 70 seconds; and then 20 prone shots at 600 yards in 22 minutes.
Cleland’s new Aggregate Record of 2389-133X beat out his own 2018 CMP Cup record of 2368-111X. What’s even more impressive, Cleland’s score tops the NRA Service Rifle Championship Record of 2386-128X, which the talented SGT Cleland himself set in 2018*.
More Great Performances by USAMU Shooters
SGT Cleland wasn’t the only USAMU hotshot at the Eastern CMP Games. Sgt. Jarrod McGaffic won the CMP Eastern Games’ EIC Match with a 491-21X. SFC Brandon Green won Silver at CMP Cup with a 3-day aggregate of 2385-118X. And SSG Amanda Elsenboss (below) finished as High Woman and 4th Overall in the CMP Eastern Games with a 2378-114X.
The CMP Cup and Eastern Games are shot on Electronic Targets with portable wireless monitors.
* The NRA lists a “Service” record of 2396-181 set in 2009 by SFC Sherri Gallagher. But that was with a Match Rifle. SGT Cleland now holds both the CMP Record and the NRA Record for this Course of Fire with an actual Service Rifle. The USAMU explains: “SFC Gallagher’s record was in a different class, or category: Match Rifle. But since she is military, it may have been labeled as a ‘service record’ and caused confusion. SGT Cleland’s records mentioned above were all in the Service Rifle class, or category. The 2389-133X is the new, 2019 CMP record for this course of fire. In 2018, at the same CMP course of fire, he set a record with his 2368-111X. So he broke his own CMP record this year. However, also in 2018, he set the NRA Rifle Championship record by shooting a 2386-128X. It’s the same course of fire but in an NRA match, so technically, a different “record” since CMP and NRA keep separate records.”
Didn’t make it to the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Indianapolis last week? Not to worry. Here are four videos created at the NRA convention. There was so much to see, with 800+ exhibitors, and 15 acres of guns and gear. Most of these video creators have additional NRA Meetings & Exhibits segments on their respective YouTube Channels.
Address by President Donald Trump at NRA-ILA Leadership Forum
This hour-long video includes the full speech by the President. Definitely worth watching. We are lucky to have a Chief Executive who respects the Second Amendment and gun rights.
Featured Rifles at NRA Convention — GunBlast.com
Jeff Quinn of GunBlast.com visits multiple booths in this video, the first of four 2019 NRA Show videos produced by Gunblast. Quinn visits Colt (0:26), Ruger (1:00), Savage (3:16), Springfield Armory (3:46), CZ-USA/Dan Wesson (4:30), Henry Rifles (4:20), Auto-Ordnance (7:05), Smith-Wesson & T/C (9:35) Alexander Arms (10:47) among others. The “Trump AR” from Auto-Ordnance (shown above) is featured at the 12-minute mark. CLICK HERE to see three other GunBlast videos from the 2019 NRA Show. This page has links to ALL the 50+ manufacturers showcased in the four GunBlast Show Videos.
Pistols and Rifle at NRA Convention — ClassicFirearms
This lengthy 25-minute video showcases a wide variety of interesting firearms, starting with Remington rifles. Next up are some innovative FosTech AR-platform rifles (6:20), followed by Beretta (11:48), Delton (15:00), and some other smaller vendors. There are two other NRA Show videos (Day 1, Day 2) from Classic Firearms.
Women Talk Guns at NRA Convention — The Daily Caller
Here ladies from the Daily Caller interviewed attendees at the 2019 NRA Convention. One hot topic was how women can protect themselves with CCW handguns. One video viewer noted: “We need more of these videos promoting positive and healthy firearm ownership. Women, families, mother or daughter etc… enjoying their right to enjoy sport shooting or have self defense confidence.” Another viewer posted: “There’s nothing more attractive than beautiful conservative women who love the 2nd Amendment!”
The shooting sports are not a “man’s game” these days. Far from it. More and more women have taken up target shooting. A recent survey showed an 80% increase in the number of women target shooters from 2001 to 2016. In total, six million American ladies participated in target shooting in 2016. Likewise hunting has become more popular with American women. Female hunters in the USA numbered 1.1 million in 2016. That represents a 104% increase from 2001.
Recognizing that ladies are an ever-increasing part of the shooting sports, Shooting Industry Magazine just released its first-ever Woman’s Issue dedicated to female shooters and huntresses. This May 2019 special issue can be accessed for FREE online. CLICK HERE to READ.
While the issue is focused primarily on SELLING products to women, there is some very useful information that can help match directors and club officials. The magazine interviews many business owners and range directors who have developed female-focused shooting and training programs.
Above and below — the world’s best female Action Pistol shooter, Jessie Harrison.
Female Participation in Shooting Sports and Hunting
The Shooting Industry Woman’s Issue spotlights female participation in target shooting and hunting. One key article summarizes a nationwide survey conducted by Southwick Associates. One interesting finding was that much of the increase in female participation can be tracked to younger ladies: “Female participation in both hunting and shooting may be highest among younger women[.]” Notably, 16% of respondents among target shooters in the 16-24 age category were female. Southwick concludes: “Future generations of hunters and shooters will contain more women than ever before”.
The Shooting Industry Magazine Woman’s Issue has more than a dozen articles focusing on women in the shooting sports. We found some good advice from industry leaders and shop owners on developing products for women shooters, CCW holders, and hunters:
“When the ‘shrink it and pink it’ mentality is applied to hunting and outdoor gear, it can be perceived by some as an insult to a woman’s ability and competence. Women, expecially avid female hunters, want to be taken seriously.” –Brenda Weatherby, Weatherby Inc.
“I’m glad to bring a female perspective to a predominantly male industry. In general, men and women have different concerns/issues specifically when carrying a concealed handgun.” — Melissa Torres, Owner Scoots Place
“Seek a woman’s advice and input on any gear you want to bring to market for a female.” — Jessica Hazelaar, Owner Eclipse Holsters
H.R. 1222 will help States build and maintain shooting ranges with Federal funding assistance.
Great news from Washington for a change…
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1222, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act. This legislation, together with U.S. Senate companion bill S. 94, will help states access Federal funds to build and maintain shooting ranges and marksmanship training facilities.
The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, also known as the “Range Bill”, would allow states to use their allocation of Pittman-Robertson funds to begin construction of new ranges, or improve existing state-run public recreational shooting ranges. Currently, states are required to put up 25 percent of the cost of range construction projects to access the matching 75 percent of funds from Pittman-Robertson allocation. This legislation would allow states to access those funds with a 10 percent match and allow states five fiscal years to acquire land for range construction or expansion projects.
This legislation should definitely help states create new ranges and upgrade existing ranges. By reducing the state share from 25% to 10%, the Range Bill effectively lowers state costs of range projects by 60%. That’s a big deal says Lawrence Keane, NSSF Sr. VP and General Counsel: “This is crucial legislation that will give state fish and game agencies more flexibility to use Pittman-Robertson excise taxes dollars raised from the sale of firearms and ammunition to enhance existing public shooting ranges and to build new ones to meet the growing need for additional places for target shooters to participate in their sport.”
Pittman-Robertson Funds Come from Gun and Ammo Taxes
Pittman-Robertson funds are derived from excise taxes paid through firearms and ammunition sales. Since 1937, the fund has generated more than $12.1 billion that has funded wildlife conservation and safety education programs in all 50 states. NSSF estimates more than 80 percent of Pittman-Robertson excise tax contributions are generated by sales attributed to recreational shooting.
H.R. 1222 Goes to Senate and Then to President Trump
The bipartisan H.R. 1222 was sponsored by U.S. Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Rob Bishop (R-Utah), and Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.). Companion legislation (S. 94) was previously passed by the Senate. H.R. 1222 will return to the U.S. Senate, but is expected to pass by unanimous consent as the bill language is identical. When approved, the bill goes to President Donald Trump for enactment.
Are you feelin’ lucky? Then enter the latest EuroOptic Rifle Give-Away Contest. At the end of May 2019, EuroOptic will give away a New 6.5 Creedmoor Remington 700 SPS Barreled Action in a Magpul Hunter Stock (value $969.00). The Prize Rifle comes complete with a Steiner Optics H4Xi 4-16x56mm Scope (value $1174.99). Total Prize value is $2143.99!
6.5 Creedmoor Barreled Action with Magpul Hunter Stock
The Remington 700 SPS 6.5 Creedmoor Barreled Action with Magpul Hunter ODG Stock Kit is a rugged rifle designed for both hunters and precision shooters alike. The classic Rem 700 action paired with this heavy threaded barrel can deliver impressive accuracy with the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. The Magpul Hunter Stock offers good ergonomics and functionality while keeping the weight down. SEE Rifle Details HERE.
Steiner H4Xi 4-16×56 LRS Scope
The Steiner H4Xi 4-16x56mm riflescope is a good choice for long-range target shooting and challenging hunting scenarios. The illuminated Steiner Plex-S1 reticle features ballistic lines and crosswind markers for long range accuracy under pressure. The H4Xi’s large objective diameter and superb optical glass present a bright and clear sight picture in most lighting conditions.
Hornady has a new line of A-Tip bullets, fitted with precision aluminum tips. These machined, aluminum tips resemble the plastic tips used in many other bullets, but Hornady says its aluminum tips are longer and more uniform than typical plastic tips. Also aluminum tips will not deform during flight:
“We wanted to incorporate aluminum tips in a full line of match bullets for years because we can make longer tips than we can with polymer materials,” said Joe Thielen, Assistant Director of Engineering. “This longer tip is a key component that helps move the center of gravity of the bullet rearward, thus enhancing in-flight stability and reducing dispersion.”
Hornady claims the new A-Tip bullets have more consistent bullet-to-bullet Ballistic Coefficients (BCs) than conventional fully-jacketed bullets or plastic-tipped bullets. Hornady’s new A-Tip bullets are pricey. Expect to pay from $75 to $85 per 100-ct box of 6mm, 6.5mm, and .30-Cal A-Tips. These bullets should be available by late June 2019 from Graf & Sons, Midsouth Shooters Supply, and other vendors.
There are currently five A-Tip bullet types in three calibers: 6mm (.243), 6.5mm (.264), and .308 (7.62mm). These have impressive claimed G1/G7 BCs for their respective sizes and weights. Here are the A-Tip Bullets that can be pre-ordered now for expected delivery in late June:
A special A-Tip bullet seating stem (shown above) is required for optimal bullet seating. A-Tip bullet BC values have been measured at Mach 2.25 and corrected back to ICAO Standard Atmosphere (sea level, 59° F, 29.92 inHg, 0% humidity). For Mach 2.0 and Mach 1.75 BCs, go to hornady.com/BC.
A Different Kind of Packaging
Hornady delivers A-Tip bullets in lot-specific 100-count sequences. Unlike most bullets, these new A-Tips are NOT bulk-washed (presumably so as not to dent/chip the tips. Hornady provides a polishing bag.
Here’s what Hornady explains:
“Right off the press, the projectiles are sequentially packed, for ultimate lot consistent performance, ensuring your projectiles are truly YOURS every step of the way. Think of it like shooting with clones of your load every time (100 in each box)! Minimal handling throughout the process means there’s less of a chance of YOUR bullet being marred, scuffed, or altered, which is why each box is packaged with a Polishing Bag for you to give the final buff to your beautiful new projectiles!”
Today is the final day of the 148th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the last day to attend a seminar, visit manufacturers’ booths, meet a notable celebrity (e.g. Chuck Norris is at the Glock Booth), and check out the Wall of Guns! The Convention Hall opens at 10:00 am today and the Exhibits close at 5:00 pm. Special events start at 7:00 am!
Major Sunday Events
National Prayer Breakfast (ticket required)
J.W. Marriott, White River Ballroom
Event starts at 7:00 am
6th Annual NRA Womens’ Breakfast (ticket required)
ICC, 500 Ballroom
Event starts at 9:30 am
NRA Youth Day
ICC, Wabash Ballrooms 1-3
Event starts at 10:00 am
Seminars and Workshops on Sunday, April 28
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, Room 234 – National Gun Collectors Award Ceremony
11:00 AM, Rooms 237-239 – Concealed Carry: The Science of Draw Time
11:00 AM, Rooms 140-142 – Current and Emerging Threats: How it Affects You!
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Room 232 – Refuse to be a Victim: Crime Prevention Strategies
11:30 AM, Rooms 134-135 – Armed Citizen: How to Interact with Law Enforcement
11:30 AM, Rooms 235-236 – The Aging Defender
11:30 AM, Rooms 130-131 – You’re the First Responder: Whether You Know It or Not!
12:00 PM, Room 231 – Gun Control Lies
12:00 PM, Room 233 – What You Need to Know About NRA’s Collegiate Program
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Rooms 132-133 – NRA School Shield Town Hall
1:00 PM, Rooms 140-142 – Technological Determinism: Guns and History
1:30 PM, Rooms 235-236 – Advanced Long Range Shooting – World Class Techniques and Technology
1:30 PM, Rooms 134-135 – Medical Mindset: Are You Prepared?
CLICK HERE for a complete list of seminars, workshops, and special presentations!
Major Everyday Events
Wall of Guns, Crossroads Hallway at Hoosier Hallway
Pyramid Air® Air Gun Range, Rooms 143-144
NRA Booth, Booth #3639
NRA Store, Rooms 136-139
Eddie Eagle, Crossroads Hallway – Booth #15
NRA Hunter Education – Booth #3838
NRA Country Sound Stage, Wabash West Lobby
Celebrity Appearances
CLICK HERE for a complete list of celebrity appearances! Shown below are the Miculek family, Kristy Titus, Doug Koenig, and Jessie Harrison.
Map for Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN
The Indiana Convention center is in the heart of Indianapolis, so it’s easy to find. However, events are spread out over multiple facilities, so you’ll want to study this map when you get to your hotel.
In connection with the 148th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, FMG Publications is offering FREE downloads of the July issue of GUNS Magazine and July/August issue of American Handgunner.
Looking for some nice gun-centric reading material? Here’s a cool, FREE offer from FMG Publications. Right now you can access free digital editions of the latest issues of GUNS Magazine and Handgunner Magazine. Both these magazines offer interesting stories and great gun photography. But there IS a catch. To access these digital editions, you must enter some name and an email address first. If you respect your email privacy you can be creative and figure out a simple solution for that. Click the links below to download these two issues for free.
Notable features in the GUNS Magazine July 2019 Issue include: 10/22 Collectibles (pp. 32-33), Ross Straight-Pull Rifle (pp. 34-35), T/C LRR 6.5 Creedmoor (pp. 44-48), Brownells BRN-10 Retro AR10 (pp. 50-52), Skinner Sights Bush Pilot .45-70 Survival Rifle (pp. 58-60), Eight Great Knives (pp. 60-62). Honest guys — there’s some good content here, worth reading.
“NRA’s celebration of freedom reminds all of us how important the Second Amendment is. We’re excited to share in the celebration by exercising our First Amendment rights of freedom of the press. In this case, free downloads of gun press to NRA members and non-members alike,” announced FMG VP of Business Development Randy Molde.
Among its feature highlights, American Handgunner’s July/August issue showcases one of Ruger Custom Shop’s debut offerings: The SR1911 Competition Pistol. Working closely with ace shooter Doug Koenig, the result is a beautifully fitted, accurate, easy-shooting American classic — built by a leading USA gun-maker.
Great news from Washington for a change…
