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January 8th, 2014
 New York SAFE Act Blocks Mail-Order
and Online Ammo Sales Next Week
If you live in New York state, in one week you will no longer be able to purchase ammunition from an online vendor and have that shipped directly to your home or business. Effective January 15, 2014, New York’s SAFE Act mandates that all ammo sales be conducted through a face-to-face transaction with a registered New York “brick and mortar” ammunition dealer. Retailers are alerting New York-based customers that the final day to order ammo online will be January 14, 2014.
The SAFE Act requires that, starting January 15th, all New York ammunition purchases be made face-to-face, with buyers subject to background checks. At this point, no online retailer has announced a procedure that will allow online ammo sales to continue for New Yorkers. Online sales are not outlawed per se, but the ammo would somehow have to be shipped to a New York-based ammunition dealer who would then conduct the requisite background checks.
In a communication with WGRZ-TV, NY State Police spokesperson Darcy Wells declared that two requirements will go into effect on January 15, 2014.
“The first is the law that requires all sellers of ammunition to register with state police and the second law that requires all ammunition transfers to take place face-to-face and be facilitated by a New York State ammunition dealer. These provisions will go into effect on [January 15, 2014],” Wells explained.
In addition, the SAFE Act requires background checks on purchasers of ammunition. However, at present, there is no system in place to do this:
“The SAFE Act law also provides that background check and record keeping requirements imposed on all retail sellers of ammunition are scheduled to take effect 30 days after the Superintendent of the New York State Police certifies that a statewide license and record database is created for such a process. That certification has not yet been made and the system is still being developed.” Read Related Story.
“Just like the rest of the SAFE Act, there are a lot of questions with no answers,” said Jack Taylor, who sells guns and ammunition in Batavia, NY. “We don’t really know how we’re gonna do it, because I don’t think they (State Police) know how their gonna do it… it may happen sometime later in the year, but nobody seems to know,” Taylor told WGRZ-TV
While several groups have filed lawsuits challenging various provisions of the SAFE Act, as of this writing, no legal ruling will forestall or block the ammunition sales restrictions from taking effect on January 15th. The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA) is trying to restore New Yorkers’ rights to purchase ammunition from online vendors. To support that effort, AmmoMan.com is donating 2% of all New York orders to the NYSRPA to help fund legal expenses.
January 7th, 2014
What covers an area greater than the Great Pyramid at Giza, attracts visitors from 100 countries, and has over 1600 exhibitor booths distributed along 12.5 MILES of Aisles? The SHOT Show in Vegas is the correct answer. The annual trade show for the $6 billion per year fireams/hunting industry, SHOT Show is the ultimate gathering for all things gun-related. Just how big is SHOT Show? This NSSF Infographic reveals some amazing facts:
January 7th, 2014
 There’s a first time for everything. Next week (January 14-17), Sinclair International will make its first-ever SHOT Show appearance. Sinclair will showcase its products at booth #805 in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas. The big news for Sinclair is the introduction of a dealer pricing program that will allow other retailers to sell select items from Sinclair’s product line.
“2014 marks the first time Sinclair will have exhibited at SHOT Show,” said Geoff Esterline, Sinclair International Category Manager. “I think dealers and retailers will be as happy about our new dealer program as we are. It’s aimed at providing great access and pricing on some of the finest reloading and precision shooting supplies on the market.”
This year, Sinclair International celebrates 30 years in business. A member of the Brownells Group since 2007, Sinclair is one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-quality reloading tools, components, ammunition, and accessories. Sinclair International stocks more than 15,000 items and supplies for handloaders, shooters, and hunters worldwide. To place an order, or to request additional information, call 800-717-8211 or visit www.sinclairintl.com.
January 5th, 2014
Free is good — especially when it’s a free digital magazine about precision shooting. The latest digital edition of the ISSF News Magazine is now offered for both iOS (Apple) and Android OS devices. The downloadable ISSF Magazine is packed with content about competition shooting worldwide. The most recent December 2013 edition includes 34 articles, over 500 photos, and several videos, plus exclusive reports from the ISSF World Cup Finals. Each ISSF eZine is “self-contained”. That means, once you download an issue, you read it start to finish, even without a live web connection.
The ISSF News Tablet Magazine can be downloaded for free, in English and German. Pick the version that suits your hardware — Apps are offered for both Android tablets and for iPads. Bimonthly issues are published in February, April, June, August, October and December.
DOWNLOAD Free ISSF News Magazine for Tablets:
Download Android App (Google Play) | Download Apple App (iTunes)
The ISSF News Tablet Magazine covers precision shooting around the globe. Each issue spotlights top shooters and the latest hardware — rifles, sights, accessories, ammo. You’ll find up-to-date coverage of top-level competitions, and these match reports feature videos, slide shows, and other interactive features made possible by modern, touch-screen tablet technology.
Preview iPad Version of ISSF Digital Magazine
January 4th, 2014
 Are you interested in long range shooting … really long-range shooting, i.e. well beyond a mile? Will you be at SHOT Show in ten days? Then consider attending the start-up meeting of the Unlimited Range Shooters Association (URSA), a new organization dedicated to the ultra-long-range game. URSA’s initial, organizational meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 14 during the 2014 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV. Visit Unlimitedrange.org to learn more about this new organization.
The goal of the meeting will be to lay the groundwork for an organization that will serve the needs of shooters interested in “unlimited range” shooting (i.e. 2000 yards and beyond). The meeting is open to all interested parties, SHOT Show attendees and non-attendees alike. Especially encouraged to attend are those interested in helping to form the Association and further its objectives. The meeting will be in the Marcello Room (#4402), 4th level of the Venetian/Palazzo Congress Center. Doors open at 2:30 pm and the meeting begins at 3:00 pm (room reserved by URSA through 6:00 pm).
Anyone wishing to provide assistance, or to provide constructive suggestions, is requested to e-mail webmaster [at] unlimitedrange.org. Corporate supporters are encouraged to provide their logo(s) for inclusion on the Association’s Supporters page. Visit Unlimitedrange.org for the URSA start-up meeting agenda and more information about the proposed association. (Click the “About” link for details).
Oscar Leckliter
URSA Facilitator and Interim Webmaster
webmaster [at] unlimitedrange.org
URSA thanks Desert Tech (formerly Desert Tactical Arms) for its support and generosity. The meeting will be held in Desert Tech’s meeting space.
January 3rd, 2014
Shiraz Balolia has announced that Rick Jensen will take over the reins as Captain of the U.S. F-Class Open Team. Departing Captain Balolia deserves a great deal of praise for his hard work, dedication, and leadership of the team over recent seasons. Shiraz gave generously to the squad, in terms of both time and resources. Under his tutelage, the Open Team raised its standards of training and team-work. Shiraz will be a tough act to follow.
 About Rick Jensen, New Team Captain
Rick Jensen lives in Claremore, Oklahoma with his wife Crystal and his daughters Riley and Zoey. He started shooting local F-Class matches at Tulsa Red Castle Gun Club in 2005. Since then he has competed at the National and International levels. Rick’s first Nationals were in Lodi, Wisconsin in 2008. In 2010, Rick was a member of the winning North America Shooters team at the 4-man National Championship Team matches in Sacramento. Rick has shot at two World Championshipse — the 2009 F-Class World Championships at Bisley, England, and the 2013 FCWC at Raton, NM.
Rick considers one of the most memorable highlights of his career to be in the summer of 2011 when, along with Team USA, Rick won a gold medal in a combined F-Open/F-TR match against Ireland for the Creedmoor Cup. He felt that this was truly a special trip that will never be forgotten, in part due to the cup’s special ceremonies. Rick is honored to be representing the United States as the new Captain of the U.S. F-Class Open Team.
 Shiraz tells us: “Yesterday marked my last day as Captain of The United States F-Class Open Rifle Team. I had indicated to the team several months back that I would not be able to continue serving as the Captain of the team due to time constraints.
I am pleased to state that the NRA has picked a very good replacement for our team. Starting today, Rick Jensen is the new F-Class Open Rifle Team Captain for the United States. Rick has been a member of the U.S. F-Open Team for over six years and knows many of the various functions associated with it. He will make a fine Captain. Please join me in congratulating Rick as the new Captain of our United States F-Open Team. Congratulations, Rick!
Personally, I will continue as a team member — doing whatever the Captain asks of me. I am actually looking forward to simply showing up and shooting or coaching at matches and various events.”
January 3rd, 2014
Texas is a haven for hunters and shooting enthusiasts, so we’re not surprised that the Lone Star State leads the nation in online ammo sales. However, you might be surprised that California, with its liberal, anti-gun politicians, is a close second. Yes, California was the second-most active source of online ammo purchases in 2013, according to statistics from LuckyGunner.com, one of the nation’s leading online ammo vendors. In fact, California was number one in 2012. For 2013, Texas edged California for the top spot, followed by Florida, Michigan, and (surprise) New York.
More Online Ammo Buyers are Using Mobile Devices (Tablets and Smart Phones)
More and more people are connecting to the internet via mobile devices. And, apparently, they are using those devices to shop for ammo. Luckygunner.com saw a significant increase in orders from mobile devices in 2013. Fully 22.7% of Luckygunner’s visits were made via mobile devices in 2013, compared to 18.8% in the preceding year. AccurateShooter.com has seen a similar rise in the number of visitors connecting to our site via mobile devices (particularly smartphones).
January 1st, 2014
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Happy New Year to all our readers worldwide, and especially the 23,500+ members of the AccurateShooter Forum. We hope 2014 brings you happiness in your lives and success in your endeavors. And we wish for small groups, good scores, and successful hunts in the New Year.
We hope that, in 2014, you’ll enjoy your precision rifles, spending “quality time” at the range with good friends. We upgraded our site this year, acquiring new high-speed dedicated servers. We hope you’ll continue to enjoy our feature articles, our Daily Bulletin, our match reports, and our Free Forum Classifieds. The formula seems to be working — our audience is bigger than ever and it just keeps growing, with over 130,000+ unique users visiting the site every week.
Forum Membership Grows 18% in 2013
We experienced big growth in our Shooters’ Forum in 2013. Membership grew by 18% as ranks swelled to over 23,500 members! More people are successfully buying and selling in our FREE Forum Classifieds section than ever before.
Daily Bulletin Is a Big Hit
The AccurateShooter Daily Bulletin has become a “must read” for anyone interested in serious rifle accuracy. In the Bulletin you’ll find money-saving sale notices, timely match reports, and a host of reloading and accurizing tips. The Bulletin has become THE source for exclusive “scoops” on new products and new shooting technologies. Eric Stecker of Berger Bullets says: “You guys have become the ‘USA Today’ of the precision shooting market.” 365 days a year we offer a unique combination of shooting tips, gear reviews, industry news, and highlighted bargains and special sales.
Big Plans for 2014 — With Your Help…
In the months ahead we plan to do a complete overhaul and upgrade of the Daily Bulletin. This will make the stories easier to read on mobile devices, and home computer users will benefit from a more spacious layout, easier navigation, and faster searches. We’ll continue to offer serious field tests, photos and videos of important shooting matches, and inside “scoops” on the latest precision shooting products.
We need your support. For over nine years the site has relied largely on volunteer efforts by dedicated shooters. But as the site grows, adding new types of content and more sophisticated features, we need the assistance of professional gunsmiths, writers, and movie editors. Those guys don’t work for glory alone.
Consider this — what do you pay for a movie ticket these days? Probably $8.50 or more for 90 minutes of escapism. For a buck a month ($12 a year) you can help this site provide a YEAR’s worth of info, tests, and shooting news that you won’t find anywhere else.
 In the past quarter about 150 site users have donated to the site. We want to thank all those who have generously contributed (at any time). But that still leaves tens of thousands of users who access the site regularly without contributing.
Here’s our proposal. First, if you have used our FREE Classifieds to successfully sell your rifles or shooting gear, consider sending in a dollar or two from your sale proceeds. Second, for those who use the site regularly, consider donating One Dollar a Month. That’s less than the price of a cup of coffee.
How to Contribute
Making a donation to the site 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. Any sum is welcome — donations need not be large. |
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If you don’t like Paypal, you can send a check. Make the check payable to our “Answerman” Jeff Williams. Please list your Forum Log-In Name (if any), and mail the check to:
Jeff Williams
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Evergreen, CO 80437-2409
December 31st, 2013
 Californians have one more day left before Long Gun Registration takes effect. Starting on January 1, 2014, every long gun sold in California must be registered in a permanent State government database. With the threat of registration looming, Californians are lining up in record numbers to purchase rifles and shotguns. At many gun stores, sales of long guns are up 30-50% compared to last year, as Californians try to “get their guns” before mandatory registration takes effect.
Under current law, a Californian (with no criminal history) may purchase a rifle or shotgun, subject to a 10-day waiting period. At least in theory, once the background check was approved, the gun store owner could destroy the sales record. However, that will change under the terms of AB 809, passed in 2011. AB 809 mandated that, starting in 2014, California shall maintain a permanent record of all new long guns purchased within the state.
Under the new law, each new long gun must be registered. A state firearms registry will track the make, model and serial number of the gun, as well as the person who owns it. In effect, long guns will be treated like handguns, with every gun sold being recorded for all eternity in a state database. According to CBS News: “Previously dealers would destroy personal information on long gun owners after a background check had been completed. Now they’ll register those purchases with the state.”
The new law also imposes new restrictions on the sale of previously-owned long arms (i.e. rifles and shotguns). Now, every time a long gun changes hands, the firearm must be added to the State firearm registry. Previously, nearly all long gun transactions needed to be carried out through an FFL, however, there was no additional registration requirement. After January 1, 2014, when a long gun is transfered via the FFL, it must then be registered. CBS News states: “Guns currently in existence, including heirloom weapons that have been handed down from one generation of family members to the next, will have to be registered for the first time when they next change hands.”
December 31st, 2013
Do you know a high-school senior with a strong interest in shooting, who could use some financial assistance for college? Well, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) may be able to help. Each year, the CMP offers a number of $1000, one-year scholarships to promising students. CMP $1000 scholarships are awarded, on the basis of merit, to selected high school seniors who participate in rifle or pistol marksmanship competitions with a team or club.
Applications are Being Accepted Now for 2014-2015
The CMP is now taking scholarship applications for the 2014-2015 freshman college year. Scholarships are one-year awards that may be used to fund any accredited, post-secondary education or vocational program. The scholarships are paid to the scholarship recipient but must be countersigned by the financial aid offices of the college where the student is enrolled. (Note: Students planing on enrolling in a military academy are not eligible).
The deadline for CMP Scholarship Application is March 20, 2014. Learn more about the program at the CMP Website Scholarship Page. Click the links below to download Scholarship Regulations or a Scholarship Application Form (as PDF files).
CMP Scholarship Regulations | Scholarship Application Form.
Eligibility requirements for CMP scholarships are:
- Be a U.S. Citizen.
- Be of good moral character.
- Be a graduating high school senior.
- Have achieved a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
- Can demonstrate acceptance to a university, college, or trade school leading to a diploma or trade certification.
- Have qualified for CMP JROTC Service Championships, OR have demonstrated rifle or pistol marksmanship competition experience.
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