In the wake of the recent school shooting in Florida, more than a dozen major American companies have cut ties with the NRA. These companies have stopped offering special discounts for NRA members, halted affiliate programs, or otherwise stopped providing services for the NRA and its members.
Big companies such as Delta Airlines and Hertz have responded to calls for a boycott against the NRA by eliminating discount programs for NRA members. And the First National Bank of Omaha announced it “will not renew its contract with the National Rifle Association to issue the NRA Visa Card.” Notably, the Chubb insurance group stated it would stop backing the NRA Carry Guard program.
USA Today reported: “Major companies with ties to the National Rifle Association suddenly shed ties to the pro-gun-rights interest group amid intense scrutiny over the Parkland, Florida school shooting. The breakups were swift amid a billowing cloud of scrutiny on social media[.]”
The NRA criticized these actions as “a shameful display of political and civic cowardice” by large corporations. The NRA added: “In time, these brands will be replaced by others who recognize that patriotism and determined commitment to Constitutional freedoms are characteristics of a marketplace they very much want to serve.”
Major Companies Breaking Ties with NRA
Automotive Rental Services
Avis/Budget Car Rental
Hertz Car Rental
Enterprise Holdings (Enterprise, Alamo and National)
These rental car companies all announced they would be eliminating discounts for NRA Members.
Major Airlines
Delta AirLines
United Airlines
United Airlines has ended discounted travel to NRA Annual Meeting while Delta has ended NRA group travel rate discounts: “We will be ending [the NRA’s] contract for discounted rates through our group travel program”.
Moving Vans and Vehicle Purchasing
Sirva (Parent of North American and Allied Van Lines)
TrueCar Buying Service
Sirva stated that North American and Allied moving companies have ended “their affiliate relationship with the NRA” and TrueCar will end its relationship with the NRA on February 28, 2018.
Finance and Insurance
Chubb Ltd.
First National Bank of Omaha
MetLife
MetLife has ended its NRA discount program. First National will no longer provide NRA-branded VISA cards, and Chubb will stop underwriting the NRA’s Carry Guard Program: “Three months ago, Chubb provided notice of our intent to discontinue participation in the NRA Carry Guard insurance program”.
Software and Security
Symantec Corp — Norton AntiVirus Software
SimpliSafe — Boston-based home security company
Symantec has ended its software discounts for NRA members and SimpliSafe has “discontinued [its] existing relationship with the NRA”.
Pick your passion — High Power, F-Class, Silhouette, Smallbore, Air Rifle, Pistol, Black Powder. The NRA runs National Championships for all these disciplines and more. Attending a National Championship event is a big commitment, but it’s worth it. You can meet new friends, test your mettle against the nation’s best, and record memories that can last a lifetime.
Mark your calendars boys and girls — here is the complete 2018 NRA National Match schedule. This includes the National High Power Championship, National F-Class Championship, Fullbore (Palma) Championship, and a 15 more major national events. The date and location are included for each listing. Click the link for each championship to go directly to the official NRA championship page for that particular discipline to get more information or to register. To get more information, visit compete.nra.org or send email to: comphelp@nrahq.org.
Lyman Products is voluntarily recalling Lyman black powder rifles and pistols made in 2017. If you purchased one of these items, stop using it, check the serial number, and follow Lyman’s Recall Directions.
This recall includes black powder rifles and pistols regardless of caliber (including Deerstalker, Great Plains, Great Plains Hunter, Trade Rifle, Plains Pistol, Black Powder Kits, and replacement barrels; excluding Percussion Left Hand Great Plains and Left Hand Great Plains Hunter models) manufactured from March 1, 2017 to December 22, 2017. Barrels with the serial number in the range of A595960–A599026 are subject to this recall. If you bought one of the affected arms last year (2017), do not load and/or shoot it — you need to contact Lyman Products.
Check Your Serial Number
Owners of Lyman black powder rifles and/or pistols acquired at any time in 2017 or 2018 should immediately check the serial number:
What To Do Next — Instructions from Lyman
If you have a muzzle-loader that is involved in this recall, as confirmed by the serial number, do NOT use the gun. Instead, contact the Lyman Customer Service Department by emailing customerservice@lymanproducts.com or by calling 800-225-9626 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. EST. You will be asked to provide your contact information, serial number, and either the part number or model to process the return. CLICK HERE for Lyman Recall INFO Page.
Upon receipt of the information provided to customer service, Lyman will send instructions and packaging to ship the product to Lyman for replacement at no cost to the customer. Lyman will provide a replacement barrel and tang with instructions or will replace the barrel and tang at Lyman and return the firearm. Please only return your rifle, pistol, or barrel and tang with the provided shipping tags and boxes. NOTE: Anyone outside the U.S.A. who is in possession of a black powder rifle or pistol within the recall range should contact your local distributor immediately.
Safety Recall Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites young men and women shooters to apply for CMP scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year. The CMP offers $1,000 one-year scholarships to current high school seniors. Since 2005, CMP has awarded over $1 million in scholarship grants. Last year, the CMP received a record-setting number of applications and awarded over $150,000 in scholarship money. Winning scholarship recipients came from JROTC programs, 4-H groups and other shooting clubs.
Don’t Delay — Scholarship Application Deadline is March 20, 2018
CMP Scholarships are based on merit. Selected individuals arehigh school seniors who are currently enrolled in a team or club that is participating in rifle or pistol marksmanship competitions. Applicants must provide rifle or pistol competition history, list of awards, and future goals in the shooting sports. Applicants must also provide academic GPA and an official high school transcript (3.0 Minimum GPA Required).
Applications are Being Accepted Now for 2018-2019
The CMP is now taking scholarship applications for the 2018-2019 freshman college year. Scholarships are one-year awards that may be used to fund any accredited, post-secondary education or vocational program. (Note: Students planning to enroll in a military academy are not eligible).
The deadline for CMP Scholarship Application is March 20, 2018. Learn more about the program at the CMP Website Scholarship Page. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Williams at 419-635-2141, ext. 709, or email kwilliams [@] thecmp.org.
Bad news folks — SHOT Show will continue at the Sands Expo through the year 2027. That means nine (9) more years at this “dog” of a facility infamous for its inadequate parking, confusing floor plans, and nightmarish ingress/egress through the Venetian hotel. Oh and it’s hard not to think about the thousands of people who get sick every year attending SHOT Show at the Sands. If you have been there, you know what we’re talking about. So SHOT Show fans, steel yourselves for nine more years of the same sad situation.
Previously, NSSF, the show’s organizer, had agreed to keep SHOT Show at the Sands through 2025. Now they’ve contracted for two more years at this disappointing venue. That makes for NINE additional years of headaches, confusion, disorientation, and general discontent. Oh well…
“The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) and Sands Expo have announced a two-year extension of their current agreement, which will keep the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show at the Sands Expo through 2027. With this two-year extension, we look forward to bringing SHOT Show — the city’s fifth largest trade show — back to these venues for years to come…” said Chris Dolnack, Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer of NSSF, owner of the show.
Meanwhile the even bigger SEMA car show continues at the completely renovated, much easier-to-navigate Las Vegas Convention Center, where SHOT Show should be, in our opinion. There’s a reason SEMA is not at the Sands — those car guys are just not that dumb.
SHOT Show IMPACT $127 Million
SHOT Show is the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas and the largest trade show of its kind in the world. In 2018, over 2000 companies exhibited at SHOT Show attracting over 60,000 attendees. The show is open to trade professionals only and not to the general public. The new agreement caps a big year for SHOT Show, which marked its 40th anniversary overall, 20th year in Las Vegas and ninth straight year at the Sands Expo.
According to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the overall economic impact of the 2018 SHOT Show to Las Vegas was $127.2 million, bringing the cumulative economic impact of the show to the city to $1.1 billion.
Earlier this month the Ben Avery Range in Phoenix hosted America’s top long-range shooters at the Berger SW Nationals. This upcoming week, 1000 cowboys and cowgirls take over Ben Avery during Winter Range, the SASS National Championship for Cowboy Action Shooting. Winter Range, which runs February 19-25, 2018, is the second largest Cowboy Action event of the year, after End of Trail, the annual Single Action Shooting Society World Championship held each year in Edgewood, New Mexico.
This video, produced a few seasons back by the Arizona Fish and Game Commission, covers the full Winter Range experience, including the main shooting competitions, the side matches, the Western costumes, the socializing, and more. Worth watching if you like action shooting or are just a fan of the Wild West.
Hundreds of cowboy action shooters, ages 12-80, will compete in multiple classifications based on age, and type/caliber of firearms. In addition, this year the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association and the SASS Mounted Shooters held the exciting Winter Championship in nearby Queen Creek, Arizona. The 3-day event, held February 14-17, drew more than 100 competitors mounted on horses. You’ll see this kind of action:
Cowboy Action Shooting requires that contestants compete with firearms typical of those used in the taming of the Old West: single-action revolvers, lever-action rifles, and period shotguns. Participants each have a registered cowboy shooting alias (such as “Deadeye Dave”), used in SASS events. Competitors, organized in “Posses”, shoot a series of multi-gun stages. This is a fun shooting sport that draws multiple generations of the same family. In addition to the primary competitions, Winter Range 2018 will feature displays of period militaria, exhibitions of western skills and crafts, a fast-draw contest, and nearly 100 vendors selling vintage-style clothing and “sundries”.
There a number of good rebate programs going on right now, but some conclude in just a few weeks. To take advantage of these deals you’ll need to start your shopping soon. Here are some current Rebate Programs for rifles, loading equipment, and shooting accessories. You can save up to $125.00 with these direct Rebate offers, or you can get bullets worth over $175.00 (500 count). The RCBS promo runs through 2/28/2018, while the Browning and Winchester rebates go through 3/31/2018. Hornady’s Get Loaded promotion is good all year
1. Browning Sales Tax Event — 10% Rebate
When you buy a new Browning firearm at retail between February 1 and March 31, 2018, you can receive a rebate of 10% of the purchase price to reimburse you for your state sales tax. This applies to a wide range of Browning firearms including rifles, shotguns, and pistols. All purchasers must be citizens or legal residents of the United States
Start Date: February 1, 2018
End Date: March 31, 2018
Redemption Deadline: April 15, 2018
Get Bucks or Bullets with purchase of Qualifying RCBS Products. This offers buyers a choice of money or bullets. You get a $10 Prepaid Card or 100 Free Bullets with: Qualifying Die Sets, Hand Priming Tool, Universal Hand Priming Tool, Trim Mate Case Prep Center, or a M500 Mechanical Scale. Alternatively, you can get a $50 Prepaid Card or 500 Free Bullets with: Rock Chucker Supreme Kit, Universal Case Prep Center, Explorer or Explorer Plus Kits, Pro Chucker 5 or 7, or an Ultrasonic Case Cleaner 2.
Start Date: February 1, 2018
End Date: February 28, 2018
Redemption Deadline: March 31, 2018
Here’s a great deal if you are looking for a new hunting rifle. Purchase any NEW Winchester XPR rifle and receive $75 via mail-in rebate. With this promotion, you can buy a new XPR for just $264.99 after rebate. You can also save $25, $50, or $100 on qualifying Winchester shotguns.
Start Date: February 1, 2018
End Date: March 31, 2018
Redemption Deadline: April 15, 2019
Receive 100 or 500 Free Bullets when you purchase select Hornady Products. The 500 Free Bullets (worth up to $181.05) are available with purchase of one of these Lock-N-Load® products: Iron Press Kit, Classic Kit, Classic Kit Deluxe, Classic Kit with Auto Charge, Ammo Plant, AP Press, Case Prep Center, Deluxe Control Panel, or Hot Tub® Sonic Cleaner. NOTE: Hornady requires you to pay for return shipping on the bullets. You must submit a check for the shipping with your rebate form. No check, no bullets — got it?
Start Date: January 1, 2018
End Date: December 31, 2018
Redemption Deadline: February 15, 2019
Remington Outdoor Company Inc. (Remington) will file for Bankruptcy in the Delaware Federal Court. The North Carolina-based company is pursuing Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to reduce its $950,000,000 in debt. According to Reuters, Remington hopes to work out an agreement with its creditors to write off about $700 million in debt obligations. That would permit Remington to sustain manufacturing operations and retain most of its work-force. In announcing the Bankruptcy filing, Remington executives stated that the company will continue to operate as usual during the bankruptcy proceedings.
(Reuters) – Remington Outdoor Company Inc., one of the largest U.S. makers of firearms, said on Monday it had reached a deal with its creditors to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to slash its $950 million debtload. Remington said it will receive $145 million in bankruptcy financing to fund the company through the Chapter 11 process.
Cerberus Will Yield Control of Remington to Creditors
If the pending deal with creditors goes through as planned, Cerberus, the private equity group that currently controls Remington, will lose ownership of the company. Through the bankruptcy, according to Reuters: “the company’s creditors, which include Franklin Templeton Investments and J.P. Morgan Asset Management, will exchange their debt holdings for equity in the company.”
Two months ago, AccurateShooter.com noted that Remington was considering Bankruptcy. Our report noted that an earnings decline left Remington few options. In early December, Fox News reported: ““The rifle and shotgun manufacturer’s third-quarter sales plunged 41% as demand for firearms dried up. That led Remington to report adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization that were 78% lower year over year. Over the first nine months of 2017, the company has produced a $60.5 million net loss, compared to a $19.1 million gain in the prior-year period. And with its credit rating in the trash bin, the future is bleak for ‘America’s oldest gunmaker’. Today, debt on the company’s books has ballooned to almost $1 billion[.]”
Remington Has a Storied History
Founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in New York, Remington is the oldest continuously-operating gun manufacturer in the United States. Even with its present difficulties, Remington still sells more sporting rifles and shotguns than any other American company. Remington has developed more cartridges than any other U.S. company. And it is the only American company that sells firearms AND ammunition under its own name.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will now be recognizing National Records attained at CMP Travel Games events. Now, outstanding scores will be recorded in the record book for all CMP Travel Games matches. The current listed National Record scores were established after compiling top scores from the following Games events and years:
Oklahoma: 2012-2017
Eastern Games: 2007-2017
Talladega D-Day: 2015-2017
New England: 2016-2017
Western Games: 2005-2017
Talladega 600: 2015-2017
To view the new Travel Games National Records standards, click this link:
Special Travel Games National Record Certificates will be sent to the competitors that currently hold the Overall Travel Games National Records, with additional certificates awarded to those who break records in the future.
National Record scores for each individual match are listed under the match’s results in CMP’s Competitor Tracker – used to display result scores for Travel Games events. A full list of Overall National Records can be found by visiting the CMP Travel Games Homepage.
The 2018 Berger SW Nationals are now history. The fun, action, challenges, and rewards now pass into memories. Once again, the Berger SWN was a great shooting match — a great way to advance your shooting skills, reconnect with old friends, and enjoy warm weather. If you are a serious long-range shooter, this is definitely one of the best-managed, most rewarding matches on the planet. In 2018 the match “sold out” in a matter of hours. If you plan to go next year, watch for the registration notices. You don’t want to be left out.
2018 Berger Southwest Nationals Long Range Results
The SWN has three new individual champions. Congratulations to the three divisional Match Winners: Bob Sebold (F-Open), Phillip Kelley Jr. (F-TR), and Allen Thomas (Sling).
Top Five Overall – F-Open
Bob Sebold, 843-49X
Keith Glasscock, 843-38X
Jay Christopherson, 841-45X
Stephen Potter, 841-37X
James Crofts, 841-34X
Top Five Overall – F-TR
Phillip Kelley Jr., 838-35X
Ellis Berry, 837-42X
Niklas Montin, 836-35X
Peter Johns, 835-36X
Edward Shelley, 832-33X
Top Five Overall – Sling
Allen Thomas, 844-37X
Oliver Milanovic, 843-45X
Trudie Fay, 842-32X
Nancy Tompkins, 840-43X
Angus McLeod, 840-43X
The Berger SW Nationals are made possible through the principal support of Berger Bullets and Lapua, both part of the Capstone Precision Group, which also distributes Vihtavuori powder and SK Ammunition in the USA. Berger and Lapua both generously donated product prizes for 2018 SWN competitors.
Today’s Champions… And Tomorrow’s New Talent
Here is the Sling Winner, Allen Thomas, with Bill Gravatt, President of Capstone Precision Group. (Bill was formerly the President of Sinclair International).
Bob Sebold, of Team Lapua/Brux/Borden also won the individual F-Class SWN Title. He’s definitely one of the nation’s top F-Open pilots.
There were a dozen or so talented juniors competing at the Berger SW Nationals. Some of the youngsters posted scores that would put the “old guys” to shame. We definitely expect to see some of these young shooters standing on the podium at future Berger SWN events. We asked them to strike a “cool pose” and the Harris boys delivered…
Berger SW Nationals Gallery — Parting Shots
Does this competitor know something we don’t know. Perhaps he is testing a new “Stealth” rifle stock from McMillan. Or maybe this is some kind of Zen body/mind melding practice. We do advocate “dry firing”, but that normally involves holding a real rifle…
Look carefully and you’ll see quite a lot reflected in this SWN competitor’s shooting eyewear. Can you identify the type of rifle?
Michelle Gallagher — She’s probably smiling at an ‘X’ — or maybe she just nailed a tough wind call. The SW Nationals is a great event because of the hard work and dedication of talented folks like Michelle.
Can you name all the pieces of hardware in this image? We see at least a dozen. Don’t forget the little items like the bubble level and mirage shield.
How do you anchor a SEB MINI coaxial rest in under ten seconds? With MAXI feet of course! These over-size hooves belong to shooter Mark Fairbairn, a very tall, MAXI-sized Australian. Who needs to pound those F-Class feet into the ground with a mallet when you can simply “stand and deliver”.
We think some competitors came to Ben Avery just for the great Barbecue lunches — well that plus the great weather and the amazing prize table. Everyone goes home a winner in one way or another.
Texas gunsmith Richard King showed us the biggest rifle action we’ve ever seen. This 13-lb monster is the BAT .50 BMG Action. Honestly it was HUGE — with the bolt fully extended it was the size of your forearm (to the finger tips). Richard joked “This weighs almost as much as an F-TR rifle (before optic) all by itself”.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites young men and women shooters to apply for CMP scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year. The CMP offers $1,000 one-year scholarships to current high school seniors. Since 2005, CMP has awarded over $1 million in scholarship grants. Last year, the CMP received a record-setting number of applications and awarded over $150,000 in scholarship money. Winning scholarship recipients came from JROTC programs, 4-H groups and other shooting clubs.
SHOT Show IMPACT $127 Million
Oklahoma: 2012-2017
