ZEISS, a world leader in optics, has released two very impressive new 15-power binoculars: the Conquest HDX and Conquest HDX LRP. These can be used with tripod supports for spotting duties, and with 56mm lenses they offer exceptional low-light performance. The all-new ZEISS Conquest HDX LRP 15×56 (LRP stands for “Long-Range Precision”) is an advanced optic developed specifically for use in Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and National Rifle League (NRL, NRL22, NRL Hunter) competition.
Developed with input from top competitors, the Conquest HDX LRP 15×56 incorporates an advanced milliradian reticle etched onto the internal lens. This reticle helps the spotter determine accurate leads for moving targets and evaluate down-range bullet impacts. This reticle also allows the spotter to make better wind calls and assess needed corrections more quickly and accurately if there is a miss. That all works to help secure maximum points in every stage.
CLICK HERE for full details on the impressive new Conquest HDX LRP and its MRAD reticle.
The Conquest HDX LRP 15×56 reticle — a combination of T-style and tree-style designs with a floating center dot — should be familiar to competition PRS/NRL shooters. It matches the reticle pattern commonly used in FFP MilRad riflescopes — especially so with ZEISS LRP riflescopes. That assists with ease of use and making quick calls. The ZEISS HDX LRP reticle design offers a good balance of reference marks and line thickness. The precise, low-center placement of the LRP reticle was selected after extensive testing. It helps reduce eyestrain and curvature distortion.
In this video top PRS competition shooters work with the new Conquest HDX LRP long-range binoculars with MRAD reticle. They show how the reticle can be used to range targets and evaluate shot accuracy to maximize scores during a match.
Also unique to the HDX LRP version are two locking diopter adjustments. One allows for razor-sharp focusing of the reticle. The second allows for an overall sharply focused image of the entire field of view. These adjustments are specific to the individual user’s eyes but are easily changed when necessary.
You’ll want a high-quality tripod for effective use of high-magnification binoculars in PRS/NRL competition. The ZEISS Conquest HDX LRP 15×56 incorporates a 1/4-20 tripod adapter port that allows easy installation of the standard ARCA-Swiss tripod adapter — also included with the HDX LRP model.
The basic 15X Conquest HDX has a retail price of $1,899.99 and is available now. The HDX LRP version with MRAD reticle will be available in mid-February with a retail price of $1,999.99. For more information on all ZEISS Conquest HDX binoculars, visit the ZEISS Conquest HDX INFO Page.
“Descended from the M1 Garand, the M14 utilized multiple improvements that made it a far superior firearm for combat and a much better rifle for competition.” — Dick Jones, Shooting Sports USA.
In the April 2018 issue of Shooting Sports USA, you’ll find a good article on the civilian version of the M14, now sold commercially as the Springfield M1A. An evolution of the battle-proven M1 Garand, the M14 was designed to shoot the 7.62×51 (.308 Win) round instead of the larger .30-06 Springfield cartridge used in WWI, WWII and Korea. While the vast majority of today’s M1As are chambered for .308 Win/7.62×51, Springfield Armory also produces a 6.5 Creedmoor version.
The CMP’s M14 Heritage Match will be held Sunday, August 3, 2025 at the Viale Range at Camp Perry.
Dick Jones reports that accurized M14/M1As could post remarkable scores: “The accuracy potential of the M14/M1A is unquestionable. During their reign as service rifles, they produced multiple perfect 200 scores at 600 and 1000 yards in the hands of top shooters. This is a difficult feat with a modern, scoped, magnum-caliber rifle and remarkable with an iron-sighted battle rifle. Good competition rifles can group 10 shots under one MOA, and the meticulously-massaged rifles used by the top shooters during my career would consistently put up 10 shots under an inch at 200 yards off a test cradle.”
Springfield M1A at Past Camp Perry National Matches
In years past, the CMP hosted a major M1A Match every summer at Camp Perry, sponsored by Springfield Armory. Significant prizes were awarded. In past years M1A Match competitors took home over $25,000 worth of cash and merchandise. This year M1As can compete in the general Garand, Springfield, Vintage and Modern Military match slated at Camp Perry for July 31 through August 2, 2025. There will also be a M14 Heritage Match on August 3, 2025.
For many years, the semi-auto version of the M14 was “top dog” in iron sights Service Rifle competition. Now that discipline is dominated by .223 Rem (5.56×45) AR-type rifles, but the bigger .308-caliber rifle, now sold as the Springfield M1A, remains popular.
In this video, YouTube Reviewer Hickok 45 compares the M1 Garand and the M14/M1A:
See how the modern M1A is built in this Springfield Armory Video:
As racing improves automobiles, competition improves firearms, and the current crop of Springfield M1As, from the Basic to the top-of-the-line Super Match and Loaded models, reflects the years of development. The M14 and its variants are still in service today and it’s still considered by many to be the best battle rifle in the history of the U.S. Military. — Dick Jones, Shooting Sports USA
2024 is now behind us. We wondered: “What new firearms did Americans purchase the most last year?” Well Gunbroker, via the GunGenius.com site, answered that question based on Gunbroker’s 2024 sales data.
GunGenius.com publishes a monthly Top Sales Report featuring the Best Sellers for each major category of firearms on GunBroker.com. This culminates in a year-end report listing the Top Selling Firearms of the Year. Just recently, GunGenius.com released its year-end gun sales report for 2024. This reveals the Best Sellers for each category of firearms sold on GunBroker.com. Illustrated below are the 25 top-selling new firearms (rifles, pistols, shotguns) of all types. In addition, GunGenius has separate Top 10 lists for specific types of firearms — rifles, handguns, and shotguns:
Here Are the Top 10 in Each Major Category:
Top 10 Rifles (Semi-Auto, Bolt Action, Lever, Single Shot)
Here Are the 25 Top-Selling Firearms (All Categories) in 2024:
1. SIG Sauer P365
2. Ruger 10/22
3. Sig Sauer P320
4. Glock G19
5. Ruger American Pistols
6. Ruger American Rifle
7. Glock G43
8. CZ-USA CZ 75
9. Marlin Model 1895 Rifle
10. Browning X-Bolt Rifle
11. Ruger Mark IV
12. Mossberg Model 590
13. Springfield Hellcat
14. Smith & Wesson M&P9
15. Armscor/RIA Rock
16. Colt Python
17. Beretta Model 90
18. Henry Side Gate Lever Actions
19. Remington Model 700
20. Henry Big Boy Rifles
21. CZ-USA Model 457
22. Glock G17
23. Heritage Rough Rider
24. Colt Government
25. Savage 10/110 Rifles
Top 10 Best-Selling Bolt-Action Rifles of 2024
We know most of our readers favor very accurate bolt-action rifles. In 2024, on Gunbroker.com, the Top 10 best-selling new bolt-action rifles were, in order:
1. Ruger American Rifle
2. Browning X-Bolt
3. Remington Model 700
4. CZ-USA Model 457
5. Savage Model 10/110
6. Savage Axis
7. Tikka T3
8. Ruger Hawkeye
9. Howa M1500
10. Weatherby Vanguard
This video compares the top-selling Ruger American Rifle with seventh-ranked Tikka T3x:
The popular CZ 457, ranked #4 overall, is offered in various different configurations, including metal chassis and carbon-stocked versions. Here’s a field test.
CZ-USA 457 Varmint Precision Trainer and Chassis Models
See More Popular Guns in Firearms Sub-Categories
Along with the Top 25 Guns and Top 10 Bolt-Action Rifles listed above, there are additional GunGenius.com categories for: semi-auto rifles, lever-action rifles, single-shot rifles, pump rifles, semi-auto shotguns, pump shotguns, over-and-under shotguns and more. You can also filter for sales trends (upwards and downwards). Drill down to see detailed product specifications and current prices. You can also select the top-selling USED firearms in each category. CLICK HERE to access all gun sales categories.
Want to see some handgun shooting fun on TV tonight? Today Shooting USA television will feature the 2024 IDPA National Championship on the Outdoor Channel.
The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) sponsors practical competitions that focus on skills used for concealed pistol training. More than 370 competitors gathered at the 2024 IDPA Nationals in Alabama. The event ran August 15-17, 2024 at the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park in Talladega, Alabama.
The IDPA event airs Wednesday 1/8/25 at 9:00 PM Eastern/Pacific, 8:00 PM Central on the Outdoor Channel. If you miss the broadcast you can view the episode at any time for $0.99 on Vimeo. Or, subscribe to see all Shooting USA shows on Vimeo as often as you wish for just $1.99 per month.
Basics of IDPA Competition — Equipment and Scoring
Most of our readers are rifle guys, but it’s fun to shoot a pistol match now and then. You don’t need a lot of equipment, and if you shoot IDPA (Int’l Defensive Pistol Assn.) matches, you can really win with a $400 pistol and $25.00 worth of bulk 9mm ammo. That’s a bargain compared to what you’ll spend on a competitive PRS or F-Class rig and custom hand-loads.
If you want to get into the IDPA game, Shooting Sports USA has a good article that explains the basic rules and classifications. IDPA is not your grandad’s bullseye pistol match. There is movement and action. Stages are timed, and competitors engage targets from cover if available. Singled-handed shooting is sometimes required, as is shooting while moving. You can compete with pretty much any handgun suitable for self-defense — but no $4000 Raceguns with fancy optics. The fact that you can be 100% competitive without spending a ton of money is what makes IDPA so popular.
Shooting Sports USA polled IDPA shooters at the 2016 IDPA Nationals to determine their favorite gun brands and models. The #1 choice was the 9mm Glock 34 for the SSP (Standard Service Pistol) and ESP (Enhanced Service Pistol) Classes. Next most popular was the Smith & Wesson M&P Pro. We expect in 2024 many competitors are now using SIGs and Walthers, while Glock usage has declined.
Along with SSP and ESP, there are three other main IDPA classes: Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) for .45 ACPs (mostly 1911 types), Concealed Carry Pistol (CCP), and Revolver (REV). All classes have a minimum power factor. Scores are based on time and shot placement on the IDPA target.
IDPA Scoring System
The official IDPA Target (right) has multiple scoring zones. If you don’t hit the target’s center mass zone or head zone (both appear green in illustration), you drop one or three points. Here’s the formula: Score (in seconds) = Time + Points Down + Penalties. In IDPA, “points down” (and penalties) are added to your time. If you hit the outer edge of the target, you get 3 points down. Nearer center can be 1 point down. Center hit or head shot is 0 points down. See IDPA Scoring for Dummies.
The Taurus 327 T.O.R.O. Defender Revolver has earned an NRA Golden Bullseye Award as the Shooting Illustrated2025 Handgun of the Year. The 327 T.O.R.O. earned this honor for innovative design, dependable performance, and good value. Taurus says this is the first-ever small-frame revolver that’s optics-ready from the factory. This compact carry revolver is chambered for the .327 Federal Magnum cartridge, and is designed principally as a compact defensive pistol, though it can also be used for IDPA competitions.
The NRA Golden Bullseye Awards, now in their 23rd year, honor the shooting industry’s new and innovative products as selected by the editorial teams of Shooting Illustrated, American Rifleman, and American Hunter magazines. “These awards have become the most prestigious in the entire firearm industry,” said Michael J. Sanford, Deputy Executive Director of NRA Publications.
The Taurus 327 T.O.R.O. is part of the Taurus Optics Ready Option (TORO) platform for small-frame revolvers. This optics-ready capability is a notable upgrade for a small revolver — an important evolution for a defensive pistol. Red dot optics allow faster aiming, particularly in low-light situations. There are three main types of red dot sights – reflex, prismatic, and holographic. Although each works differently, they serve the same purpose: making target acquisition quick, easy, and accurate. Engineered for versatility, the Taurus 327 T.O.R.O. is chambered in .327 Federal Magnum, offering flexibility with compatibility for both .32 H&R Magnum and .32 S&W cartridges.
For many Americans, real incomes have stayed flat in recent years, while inflation has increased the cost of living very significantly in the past four years under Biden. Accordingly, it’s important to save money whenever possible. Prices are going up, but wages aren’t following (for most of us). Here are six ways shooters can save money on gear purchases and other shooting-related expenses.
1. Watch for Our Deals of the Week. Every Monday, in our Daily Bulletin, AccurateShooter.com offers some of the best deals to be found. We search the web to find great deals on ammo, reloading components, optics, tools, firearms, gun safes, electronics and more. It’s not unusual to find savings of 20-35% through our Deals of the Week. And many of our vendors are now offering special deals just for AccurateShooter.com readers.
2. Check Out the Forum Classifieds. There are great deals to be found every day in the AccurateShooter Shooters’ Forum. The latest deals are displayed in the right column of every Forum page. To see all the listings, browse through the Forum MarketPlace section which has four main categories:
Guns, Actions, Stocks, & Barrels
Tools, Dies, Rests, Reloading Components & Misc
Scopes, Optics, Sights, Rings, Bases Etc.
Commercial Sales by Paid Sponsors
3. Share a Ride to Matches. Fuel prices are on the rise — Regular-grade gasoline is over $5.00 per gallon in California now and around $3.10/gallon nationwide. With many shooters living 30-100 miles from the nearest range, fuel remains a big part of a shooter’s hobby budget. We’d say 90% of shooters drive solo to matches, often in large, gas-guzzling trucks. If you drive 200 miles round-trip to attend a match in a 20-mpg vehicle, you’ll burn over $31.00 worth of gasoline on your trip. That adds up. By simply sharing the ride with one fellow shooter you cut your fuel expenditures in half. And, if you alternate vehicles with a buddy from one match to the next, you save on vehicle wear and tear. At $0.65/mile (overall operating costs) consider the savings.
4. Use Discount Codes to Save. It’s always smart to check for discount codes before you buy. In the Daily Bulletin, we feature “Deals of the Week” every Monday morning, and we provide discount Coupon Codes when available. These can reduce the price substantially or lower shipping costs. Search codes for Brownells, Creedmoor Sports, EuroOptic, Graf’s, Midsouth, Powder Valley, Sportsman’s Warehouse, KYGUNCO, MidwayUSA, and Precision Reloading. Check your email also — some discount codes are only announced in email newsletters. If you can’t find a Coupon Code for your preferred vendor, visit Gun.deals and/or RetailMeNot.com. Both those sites list current coupon codes, and RetailMeNot.com covers thousands of vendors.
5. Shop for “Demo” Optics. Modern high-quality optics can easily cost $2000.00 or more, often exceeding the value of the rifle on which they are mounted. However, you can often save 20-30% by purchasing demo optics. These are normally display units used at trade shows. They may have slight ringmarks, but otherwise they are “as new”, having never been carried in the field or used on a rifle that has fired live ammo. When purchasing demo scopes, you should always ask about the warranty before consummating the sale. However, most demo scopes from name-brand manufacturers come with full factory warranties. EuroOptic.com and Natchezss.com are two respected vendors that offer a good selection of demo optics.
6. Train with Rimfire Rifles. Good match-grade centerfire, hand-loaded ammo, counting premium bullets, powder, primers, and brass (figuring 10X loads), can now exceed $1.60 per round. And if your $600 (as chambered and fitted) competition barrel is toast after 1500 rounds, add $0.40 for barrel deprecation per shot. So you’re effectively spending two bucks a round total! By contrast, you can get quite good .22 LR target ammo for under $0.18 per round. Good rimfire barrels last a long, long time, so you don’t have to be concerned about wearing out your barrel quickly. A quality rimfire barrel can retain its accuracy for 7,000 rounds or more. If you run the ballistics, a .22 LR round at 100 yards can emulate the wind drift experienced by a centerfire cartridge at long range. This allows for effective cross-training with much less expensive ammo.
The 2025 SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade show) is just 17 days away. Thousands of new products will be on display at the SHOT Show, hosted at the Venetian Expo/Convention Center and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. Gunmakers from around the world will be introducing hundreds of new (and updated) rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Along with the new guns, SHOT Show will feature many noteworthy new optics, electronics, reloading equipment, and accessories.
Here are six interesting videos that preview new (and updated) firearms expected to be on display at SHOT Show in Las Vegas later this month. There are hunting rifles, tactical rifles, rimfire rifles, plus a wide range of new pistols and some interesting shotguns.
This Survival Gear Video feature six interesting guns, starting with the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15, a bolt-action AR-style rifle (note: this is incorrectly called the BCA-14 in a graphic). There is also an upper-only version that can be used with your existing AR Lower. Next the video reviews the Shadow System CR920X pistol, Wilson Combat Project 1 pistol, Ruger LC 10mm Carbine, CZ Bren 3 (3rd generation), and Atlas Gunworks Apollo V12 pistol. Other new guns are featured in a second Survival Gear Video with four rifles (Beretta 1301 Tactical, Cascade LRH, CMMG BR47, IWI Galil Ace Gen 2), one shotgun (Browning A520) and two pistols (Kimber KDS9C, Ruger RX XM).
This Gun Addicts video features a dozen new guns, many of which will be on display at SHOT Show for the first time. The host states: “The SHOT Show 2025 is here, and it’s packed with groundbreaking firearm announcements.” Featured new guns include: Bushmaster V-Radicator AR Rifle; Charter Arms Double Dog Revolver; EAA Girsan Witness Match Pistol; Fightlight Industries Lever-Action Bandito Pistol (AR style); Heritage Mfg. Coachwhip shotgun; Highpoint Firearms Large-Format Pistols; Jacob Grey TWC Black 2011 Pistol; Patriot Ordnance Factory P-15 Rifle; Shadow Systems CR920X/CR920XP Pistols; Taurus 608 Competition .357 Mag Revolver; and TriStar Arms APOC and Protege-X Pistols.
It’s that time of the year again with SHOT Show right around the corner. The PewPew Zone YouTube Channel offers a first look at some interesting new firearms. The PewPew editors were impressed, stating: “Gun makers are starting to roll out their latest and greatest for the upcoming year, pushing the boundaries of innovation and performance.” Over a dozen new rifles and pistols are featured in this 17-minute video.
This Line45 video features a large collection of new or updated guns. Featured firearms include: Shadow System CR920X pistol; Bushmaster V-Radicator AR-15; Hi-Point large format pistols; Patriot Ordnance P-15 Base Rifle; and Jacob Grey TWC Black 2011 Pistol.
Savage New Revel Rimfire Lever-Action Rifles
At SHOT Show 2025, Savage Arms will showcase its new Revel Classic and Revel DLX rimfire lever-action rifles in .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR chamberings. These are take-down rifles with simple disassembly for cleaning and maintenance. The Revels feature a nice, satin-finish walnut wood stock plus a large lever loop for rapid cycling. These new rimfire lever guns start at $439.00 MSRP for the Revel Classic and $539.00 for the Revel DLX. The .22 LR Revel Classic is available now while the .22 WMR and .17 WMR versions will be available in early spring 2025, as will all Revel DLX models.
Here’s another Line45 channel video with five new guns on display at SHOT Show 2025. This 9-minute video is compiled mostly from marketing footage from the manufacturers. The featured new firearms include: EAA Gerson Witness 231 Pistol; Charter Arms Double Dog Revolver; Heritage Manufacturing Coach Whip Shotgun; Taurus 608 Revolver; Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF) P-15 Base Rifle (shown above).
BONUS: SHOT Show Floor Tour — Locations of Gun Companies
Will you be heading to SHOT Show this year? CLICK HERE for the handy official Interactive Floor Map. For each building and floor level this shows the location of exhibitors. This can help you efficiently organize visits to your favorite gun and optics manufacturers.
Most of us have access to a printer at home or at work. That means you can print your own targets. You’ll find hundreds of free target designs online, including dozens of downloadable targets on our AccurateShooter.com Target Page. If you’re feeling creative, you can design your own target with a computer drawing program such as MS Paint.
Paper Stock Is Important
If you want your self-printed targets to show shots cleanly (and not rip when it gets windy), you should use quality paper stock. We recommend card stock — the kind of thick paper used for business cards. Card stock is available in both 65-lb and 110-lb weights in a variety of colors. We generally print black on white. But you might experiment with bright orange or yellow sheets. Forum Member ShootDots report: “They sell cardstock at Fed-Ex Kinko! I use either Orange or Yellow. That makes it easy to see the bullet holes clearly.” On some printers, with the heavier 110-lb card stock, you will need to have the paper exit through the rear for a straighter run.
Here are some Target-Printing Tips from our Forum members:
“Staples sells a 67-lb heavy stock that I have settled on. I use the light grey or light blue, either of these are easy on the eyes on bright days. I have used the 110-lb card stock as well and it works fine. It’s just a little easier to print the lighter stuff.” (JBarnwell)
“Cardstock, as mentioned, works great for showing bullet holes as it doesn’t tear or rip like the thin, lightweight 20-lb paper. I’ve never had a problem with cardstock feeding in the printer, just don’t stick too many sheets in there. If I need three targets, I load only three card stock sheets”. (MEMilanuk)
“I’ve used Staples Sticker paper. This works well and no staples are required (joke intended). It helps if you put slight tension on the lighter weight paper when mounting it on the target frame.” (Mac 86951).
Here are some tips for using lighter weight paper (if you want to save money or your printer won’t work with heavier stock):
“20-lb bond works pretty well for me if I use a spray adhesive and stick the entire back of the paper’s surface to the backer board.” (Lapua40X)
“I use the regular 20-lb paper but the only time it tears is when there is no backer to support it. This can be an issue when going to a public range and the backer are all shot out. I use a large construction paper backer that I clip onto the stands.” (CPorter)
Here Are Three of Our Favorite Targets. Click to Download PDFs.
Happy New Year to all our readers and site visitors, and especially the 76,550+ members of our AccurateShooter Forum. We hope 2025 brings you good times, fulfilment in your lives, and success in your endeavors. We also wish for high match scores, tight groups on target, and successful hunts in the New Year.
Forum Members — Upgrade Your Membership to Get Unlimited Classifieds for 12 Months.
Looking Forward to 2025 Every year we work to improve AccurateShooter.com. We have continued to upgrade the Forum, adding enhanced security measures, with background checks on all sign-ups and enhanced scammer detection. On the content side we have expanded our popular Deals of the Week and Sunday GunDay features. And we’ve added a Video Showcase every Saturday. We also now offer more product reviews in our Daily Bulletin. We hope you’ll continue to enjoy our feature articles, our Deals of the Week, our match reports, and our Forum Classifieds. The formula seems to be working — our audience is bigger than ever, with Forum membership growing substantially year after year.
Forum Membership Increased 7% in 2024
Our Shooters’ Forum grew significantly over the past 12 months. Total registered membership grew by about 7% as Forum ranks swelled to 76,550+ members! More people are successfully buying and selling through our Forum Classifieds services than ever before. Silver and Gold members get unlimited Classifieds for 12 months. Gold members also get custom Avatars and other privileges.
We need your support. For 20+ years the site has relied largely on volunteer efforts. But as the site grows, we need the assistance of Forum moderators, product testers, web gurus, and computer software experts. Those guys don’t work for glory alone.
Consider this — you could pay $30 for a couple medium pizzas. For the same thirty dollars you can become a Silver Forum member for an entire YEAR and help this site provide info, tests, tech tips, bargains, and shooting news.
And consider the benefits — Silver or Gold Members get unlimited classifieds for 12 months. If you were to sell just ONE $600 item through Gunbroker.com, you would pay $32.00 in fees! That’s more than our 12-month Silver Membership fee — just to sell one single $600.00 rifle or pistol.
In 2024 about 2600 site users have donated or upgraded their Forum membership. That’s less than 3.5% of the current membership. We thank all those who have generously contributed. But that still leaves tens of thousands of users who access the site every week without contributing. With more donations and more Forum upgrades, we can deliver more premium content and offer more services to our members.
How to Contribute
If you ARE a Forum member, you can help the site by UPGRADING your membership. CLICK HERE to UPGRADE.
If you are NOT a Forum member, you can still help by making a donation. Donating is simple and easy. Just click on the orange “Donate” button at right. If you have a credit card, you don’t need a PayPal account to contribute. Just choose the “Donate with Debit or Credit Card” Option.
IMPORTANT: After you click on the orange button a PayPal screen will load. You’ll see a field that says “$0″. Fill in the amount you want to give. For example, to give $30, type 30.00 in the amount field. You choose the amount.
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Make the check payable to: Jeff Williams. Please list your Shooters’ Forum Log-In Name (if any), and mail the check to:
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As we release this story, the New Year — 2025 — is just 18 hours away (East Coast Time). Perhaps you’ve been eagerly awaiting for the big event, getting champagne (and sparklers) to celebrate the New Year. Hopefully 2025 will be much better than 2024, with a new President committed to Second Amendments rights, border security, and reducing inflation. To mark the dawning of 2025, with hope for a much better year, we expect many folks will open a bottle of champagne. You could pop the cork the traditional way, or read on and learn how to release the celebratory champagne with a rifle shot, as demonstrated by the talented Kirsten Joy Weiss. Click on the above video to see Kirsten release champagne with a rimfire rifle.
Recently at Thorton Winery in Temecula, California, a champagne vintner, we were shown the best way to open a champagne bottle. We were told you should hold the bottle nose up at an angle then rotate the BOTTLE slowly while holding the cork. That works great… but it’s not as stunning as the way sharpshooter Kirsten Joy Weiss opens a bottle of bubbly.
A former competitive smallbore rifle shooter, ace trigger-puller Kirsten Joy Weiss tried a special New Year’s trick shot a few seasons back. In keeping with the festive New Year’s spirit, Kirsten attempted to shoot the cork off a champagne bottle. After a few unsuccessful tries, she managed to hit the cork with at least two shots. But alas the cork did not fly. She actually hit the cork, but it did not release. That was surprising…
Undaunted, Kirsten changed her strategy, aiming for the neck of the bottle. This duplicates the process of “sabering” a champagne bottle — a method of liberating the bubbly by slashing off the end of the neck with a blade. Aiming for the neck of the bottle, Kirsten successfully blew off the top of the bottle. (Apparently, when “sabering” it is actually the pressure within the champagne bottle which does most of the work).
Want to see some handgun shooting fun on TV tonight? Today Shooting USA television will feature the 2024 IDPA National Championship on the Outdoor Channel.
Along with SSP and ESP, there are three other main IDPA classes: Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) for .45 ACPs (mostly 1911 types), Concealed Carry Pistol (CCP), and Revolver (REV). All classes have a minimum power factor. Scores are based on time and shot placement on the IDPA target.
2. Check Out the Forum Classifieds. There are great deals to be found every day in the AccurateShooter 
3. Share a Ride to Matches. Fuel prices are on the rise — Regular-grade gasoline is over $5.00 per gallon in California now and around $3.10/gallon nationwide. With many shooters living 30-100 miles from the nearest range, fuel remains a big part of a shooter’s hobby budget. We’d say 90% of shooters drive solo to matches, often in large, gas-guzzling trucks. If you drive 200 miles round-trip to attend a match in a 20-mpg vehicle, you’ll burn over $31.00 worth of gasoline on your trip. That adds up. By simply sharing the ride with one fellow shooter you cut your fuel expenditures in half. And, if you alternate vehicles with a buddy from one match to the next, you save on vehicle wear and tear. At $0.65/mile (overall operating costs) consider the savings.
4. Use Discount Codes to Save. It’s always smart to check for discount codes before you buy. In the Daily Bulletin, we feature “Deals of the Week” every Monday morning, and we provide discount Coupon Codes when available. These can reduce the price substantially or lower shipping costs. Search codes for Brownells, Creedmoor Sports, EuroOptic, Graf’s, Midsouth, Powder Valley, Sportsman’s Warehouse, KYGUNCO, MidwayUSA, and Precision Reloading. Check your email also — some discount codes are only announced in email newsletters. If you can’t find a Coupon Code for your preferred vendor, visit 
5. Shop for “Demo” Optics. Modern high-quality optics can easily cost $2000.00 or more, often exceeding the value of the rifle on which they are mounted. However, you can often save 20-30% by purchasing demo optics. These are normally display units used at trade shows. They may have slight ringmarks, but otherwise they are “as new”, having never been carried in the field or used on a rifle that has fired live ammo. When purchasing demo scopes, you should always ask about the warranty before consummating the sale. However, most demo scopes from name-brand manufacturers come with full factory warranties. 
6. Train with Rimfire Rifles. Good match-grade centerfire, hand-loaded ammo, counting premium bullets, powder, primers, and brass (figuring 10X loads), can now exceed $1.60 per round. And if your $600 (as chambered and fitted) competition barrel is toast after 1500 rounds, add $0.40 for barrel deprecation per shot. So you’re effectively spending two bucks a round total! By contrast, you can get quite good .22 LR target ammo for under $0.18 per round. Good rimfire barrels last a long, long time, so you don’t have to be concerned about wearing out your barrel quickly. A quality rimfire barrel can retain its accuracy for 7,000 rounds or more. If you run the ballistics, a .22 LR round at 100 yards can emulate the wind drift experienced by a centerfire cartridge at long range. This allows for effective cross-training with much less expensive ammo.
Most of us have access to a printer at home or at work. That means you can print your own targets. You’ll find hundreds of free target designs online, including dozens of downloadable targets on our 
A former competitive smallbore rifle shooter, ace trigger-puller Kirsten Joy Weiss tried a special New Year’s trick shot a few seasons back. In keeping with the festive New Year’s spirit, Kirsten attempted to shoot the cork off a champagne bottle. After a few unsuccessful tries, she managed to hit the cork with at least two shots. But alas the cork did not fly. She actually hit the cork, but it did not release. That was surprising…
