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February 28th, 2011
 Frank Buckles, the last living American WWI veteran, passed away Sunday at his home in Charles Town, West Virginia. He was 110 years old, having marked his 110th birthday on February 1, 2011. In recent years, Buckles worked with groups seeking to establish a Memorial in Washington, DC for all WWI veterans. READ Related Story.
Rest in peace Mr. Buckles — we salute you for your service, as we salute your fellow soldiers who passed before you. 4,734,991 Americans served in uniform during World War I. They fought on land and sea, in the first true global conflict. By the end of WWI over 15,000,000 soldiers and civilians worldwide had died in that conflict, including 120,000 Americans (as many from disease as from wounds). A thousand U.S. soldiers died every DAY in the 3-week Meuse-Argonne offensive.
The Last Doughboy
Army veteran Frank Buckles was the last surviving American “Doughboy” who fought in Europe in “The Great War”. His story is a profile in patriotism (and youthful exuberance). When only 16 years old, he tried to enlist in the U.S. Marines. They turned him down, so he joined the Army, lying about his age. He served in Britain and France as an ambulance driver, then helped escort German prisoners home to Germany after the surrender.
In an interview a few years ago, Buckles recalled his service in the Great War, explaining why he joined the Army at age 16: “When your nation calls,” Buckles said, “you have to go”. (Read recent interview.)
 
Following WWI, Buckles wanted to see the world, so he took work with a steamship company. That job placed him in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded. He was captured and interred in a prison camp for three years before being liberated. To learn more about Frank Buckles and his experiences in WWI and WWII, CLICK HERE for USAToday Feature Story. (Highly recommended–worth reading.)
February 28th, 2011
 The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is seeking college-age counselors for its highly popular Three-Position Air Rifle Summer Camps for high school athletes. Camp Counselor positions are open to collegians who have completed at least one year of college and are members of an NCAA or college club rifle team.
Applicants must be available to work and travel from 24 May through 29 July 2011. Selection will be based on academic performance, shooting experience, coaching and youth leadership experience, and references.
CMP Summer Camp Counselor Announcement | CMP Summer Camp Counselor Application
DEADLINE: Applications must be received by 18 March 2011.
Counselors are paid $400-$500 per week (depending on seniority) plus $30 daily per diem. All travel and lodging costs are covered by the CMP once the camps begin, though the counselors must provide their own transport to the training location (Anniston, AL) and back home at the end of the summer. Job duties primarily consist of working with groups of five or more high school athletes at five-day summer camps, following a camp curriculum designed by DCM Emeritus Gary Anderson.
Interested candidates may download an Application from the link below and send it to Sommer Wood, CMP Summer Rifle Camps, P. O. Box 576, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452. Forms may be faxed to Sommer Wood at: (419) 635-2573. Email questions to swood@odcmp.com. Applications must be received by 18 March 2011. Applicant notification will be mailed by 4 April 2011.
CLICK HERE for CMP Summer Camp Counselor Application Form.
Employment will begin on 24 May with a training session at CMP South Headquarters in Anniston, AL. The 2011 camp schedule includes five full-length, three-position air rifle camps, one advanced standing position camp, providing support staff at the Three-Position National Junior Olympics and a three-day air rifle clinic. The staff will have the week of 9-16 July off to compete in the USA Shooting National Championships. A complete 2011 camp schedule is provided below:
February 24th, 2011
Both the North Carolina 1000-Yard Benchrest Shooters Assn. and the Montana NW 1000-Yard Benchrest Club have released their 2011 match schedules. You can access the schedules via the links below:
| NC 1000-Yard BRSA Schedule
2011 Matches
Match | Date
1 & 2: 4-9-11
3 & 4: 4-30-11
5 & 6: 5-14-11
7 & 8: 6-4-11
Makeup: 7-16-11*
9 & 10: 9-10-11
Makeup: 10-8-11*
*Shot only if regularly scheduled matches are postponed due to inclement weather. |
Montana NW 1000-Yard BR Club Schedule
2011 Match Dates
March 26-27
April 23-24
May 14-15
June 11-12
July 9-10.
August 12-14 Championship Shoot
Extra practice days are: March 13th, April 10th, March 26-27, April 23-24, May 14-15, June 11-12, July 9-10.
The 1000 Yard Range is available for practice on Mondays and Fridays, March 1st to August 31st, from 8:00 AM until Noon. We will have the range all day on Friday before each shoot. |
February 23rd, 2011
 Tonight, Feb. 23, at 8:00 pm on the Outdoor Channel, Shooting USA features End of Trail, the Cowboy Action World Championship. Hosted annually at the SASS Founders Ranch in New Mexico, End of Trail attracts over 1,000 shooters, hailing from 50 states and many foreign countries. SASS, the Single Action Shooting Society, is one of the most popular shooting organizations on the planet, having issued over 90,000 member badges. For SASS members, End of Trail represents the Superbowl and World Series combined.
If you like multi-gun competition, you’ll enjoy watching Cowboy Action Matches. The top male and female shooters are experts with three kinds of firearms: Lever Rifle, Single-Action Revolver, and Shotgun (which can be a double-barrel side-by-side, or a pump, or even an 1887 lever-action). The guns must be originals or reproductions made prior to 1898 to be used in competition. A typical stage will require 5 shots from each of two six guns, ten rounds from the rifle, chambered in a pistol caliber, and 6 to 8 shotgun rounds.
24 Rounds from Four Guns in under 13 Seconds
To give you an idea of the action you can see tonight on Shooting USA, here is a video of past world Champion Spencer Hogland, aka “Lead Dispencer”. In this video, Spencer fires 24 rounds, with four guns, in just 12.81 seconds (look at the timer in lower right corner). Spencer shows blazing speed with his lever gun and note how quickly he loads his shotgun. Fast loading is key to a successful stage run. Unlike modern multi-gun comps, normally Cowboy Action Shooters must start with empty shotguns.
February 23rd, 2011
The International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) is always looking for qualified volunteer instructors to assist with Hunter instruction and safety programs in North America. Since its inception, the IHEA has served as the primary resource for information on hunter education; has promoted programs which prevent hunting accidents; and has worked to cultivate honesty, self-discipline, self-reliance, responsible behavior, and good citizenship among hunters.
Significant Discounts for Certified IHEA Instructors
To encourage qualified individuals to serve as IHEA Hunter-Safety instructors, numerous “big name” manufacturers offer significant discounts on firearms and/or shooting products to certified IHEA instructors. You can save up to 55% on optics, and up to 40% on the purchase price of firearms. Below are some of the current discounts offered by IHEA partners to certified instructors. This is only a partial list. CLICK HERE for a complete list of special offers for IHEA instructors. NOTE: For some product lines, certified instructors must log in with their passwords to see the current discounted pricing offers.
Beretta USA: Certified IHEA instructors receive wholesale pricing on select Beretta long guns.
Burris Optics: IHEA instructors and law enforcement officers receive a 50% discount on their optics and other items.
CVA: Hunter Education Instructors receive a 40% discount on CVA Muzzleloading Rifles and Supplies.
CZ-USA: Significant Discount on CZ-USA centerfire, rimfire and shotguns.
Henry Repeating Arms Co.: IHEA instructors can purchase basic model lever guns and bolt-action guns for approximately 33% off normal retail. Instructor Price List.
Leupold: IHEA Instructors may purchase Leupold products for their instructional use at special pricing plus one optic a year for their own personal use at special pricing.
Ruger: Ruger offers certified Hunter Education Instructors specific product discounts on purchasing Ruger firearms.
Savage Arms: Special discounted pricing to enable certified Instructors to purchase a rifle.
Smith & Wesson: S&W offers a limited number of guns to instructors certified by the IHEA program. Guns are to be used for training activities only and are not intended for resale.
February 22nd, 2011
According to the latest Firearm Manufacturing and Export Report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. firearm manufacturers produced more than 5.4 million firearms in 2009. That’s a big increase compared to the start of the decade in 2001, when less than 3,000,000 firearms were manufactured by U.S. companies. In recent years, production of both handguns and long guns has grown significantly, as show in the graph below, prepared by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) based on ATF records from 1984-2009.
The ATF data (from 1984-2009) reveals some interesting trends:
- Total firearms produced in 2009 topped 5.4 million, exceeding the previous high total in 1994.
- Over 3,000,000 long guns were produced in 2009, the highest quantity in the past 25 years.
- The total number of firearms sold in 2009 works out to one gun for every 57 citizens, based on the 2009 U.S. population of 305,529,237.
- After a decade-long decline, handgun production rose dramatically from 2004-2009. If trends continue, in a few more years, pistol sales could out-number long gun sales.
NSSF research has updated its 14-page Industry Intelligence Report, titled Firearms Production in the United States, with the most recent data on U.S. production of pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns. Additional updated data found in this report include: Annual Survey of Manufacturers figures and U.S. International Trade Commission firearm import and export figures. The report is available for free to NSSF members by logging into the members section of the NSSF website, clicking “NSSF Industry Research” and then clicking “Industry Intelligence Reports.” For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.
February 19th, 2011
Here’s an important item for shooting range owners and directors of shooting clubs. The NRA’s Field Operations group offers a series of Range Development & Operations Conferences for shooting range operators. In 2011, these are scheduled for: Nashville, TN (March 26-30), Buffalo, NY (June 4-8), and Reno, NV (October 15-19).
Each NRA Range Development & Operations Conference is a five-day course that covers the fundamentals of building, owning, and maintaining a shooting facility. The $450.00 conference fee gives range operators five days with America’s top range development experts who will share their knowledge and experience. Topics covered will include:
- Creating a business plan
- Dealing with zoning boards
- Environmental sound
- Insurance issues
- Meeting OSHA standards
- Range maintenance
- Range safety
“There are a number of unforeseen issues that arise when people begin the process of building a range,” said Senior Range Services Coordinator Kara Schlifke. “We can help you successfully navigate those minefields. And for those with an operation already up a running, there are always new issues and regulations to address.”
How to Register for Conferences
The next conference is coming up soon — March 26-30 in Nashville. Register online at www.nrahq.org/shootingrange/development.asp. For more information, call 877-NRA-RANGE or email Kara Schlifke at range@nrahq.org.
Story by Lars Dalseide for The NRA Blog.
February 16th, 2011
 Hoppe’s has partnered with America 4R Marines to supply more than 5,000 BoreSnake gun cleaning kits to U.S. Marines currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. America 4R Marines is a nonprofit organization of volunteers that supplies much-needed items for battalions or units in the most remote and hostile areas of operation. The mission of America 4R Marines is to not only support the troops with basic human needs and comfort items, but also to provide tactical products that can help military personnel better maintain their equipment and remain safe in combat zones.
The Hoppe’s BoreSnake Soft-Sided Gun Cleaning Kit allows soldiers to quickly clean the bore of their weapon and get it back in to service. The patented product is also small and lightweight for easy transportation in the field. “We’re honored to partner with America 4R Marines and provide much needed supplies to the troops serving our country,” said Phil Gyori, vice president of marketing for Bushnell Outdoor Products, the parent company of Hoppe’s.
February 15th, 2011
Online registration opens today (Feb. 15) for the Rockcastle Pro Am 3-Gun Championship, the largest 3-Gun match in the country. At the match to be held August 26-28, 2011, the nation’s top 3-Gun pros will compete over two and a half days running eight tough stages designed by former and current 3-Gun champions. Amateurs will compete over two days shooting seven similar stages on a separate course, tailored especially for the amateur and celebrity competitors. Over 500 shooters, across both divisions, are expected to participate.
Be Ready to Register at 9:30 ET Tonight
The online registration process commences at 9:30 PM (evening) Eastern Time. There is a good chance that all available places for this match will be reserved right away. You’ll want to be ready when registration opens at 9:30 pm ET. Similar matches have filled up very quickly and every indication is this match will be no exception. UPDATE: As of 11:59 pm 2/15/2011 (Pacific Time), the online registration system was still accepting signups — so if you want to sign up, give it a try.
To learn how to register, go to the Match Schedule Page and read ALL the instructions. You can download the match application in advance and get that filled out. If you have never done this process before, you can practice at www.lchico5u.com/ar15.html. The practice page will be open until 8 PM Eastern on Tuesday, February 15th.
Online Registration
Match registration will be done online and require submitting registration after 9:30 PM Eastern Time (down to the second). Registration will be taken in order of receipt to the database, registration will require picking a division (Pro or AM) and will allow registration of a friend. A confirmation number will be sent out to those in the match, while late registrants will be placed on a waiting list. Applications and payment will be required to be sent in with confirmation numbers after online registration.
The match has also been named a points match for the 2011 FNH USA 3-Gun Nation Tour. With points on the line, film crews will capture all the action for “3-Gun Nation Television” on Versus. The 2,000-acre Rockcastle resort is the newest addition to the Park Mammoth property located in south central Kentucky. Visit RockCastleShootingCenter.com to view the shooting areas and facilities.
February 14th, 2011
 SGT Sherri Gallagher of the USAMU was selected as the 2010 Military Marksmanship Association (MMA) Soldier of the Year at the MMA Annual Membership Meeting on 2/4/2011. Outgoing MMA president Col. (Ret.) Robert I. Hoidahl, presented the Soldier of the Year Award to Gallagher: a .45-caliber pistol donated by Smith and Wesson.
SGT Gallagher had a remarkable year on and off the range. She was a member of the USAMU’s victorious 10-man team at the Interservice Rifle Championships in July, setting the stage for bigger things to come at the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio a few weeks later. Gallagher became the first service member in 23 years to win the National High-Power Rifle Championship, setting 11 new national records along the way.
“I want to thank the MMA for all that they do,” Gallagher said. “They supported me throughout the year as I went to all of the Soldier of the Year boards. I couldn’t have done it without the help of my teammates and all of the Soldiers in the unit. The USAMU is without a doubt the best unit in the Army.”
Gallagher has served with the USAMU since 2008. She has been awarded and earned the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, four Army Achievement Medals, Distinguished Rifleman Badge, President’s Hundred Tab, Schutzenschnur badge, and the Accession Support Brigade Soldier of the Quarter and Soldier of the Year, Fiscal Year 2010. Besides being named Army Soldier of the Year, she was also named Soldier of the Year in 2010 for Training and Doctrine Command, U.S. Army Accessions Command, and Accessions Support Brigade. She is currently training for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
Along with SGT Gallagher, other MMA 2010 Soldier of the Year nominees were: SSG Travis Tomasie from the Action Shooting team; SSG Robert Park from the Service Pistol team; Shotgun team member SSG Josh Richmond; SGT Joe Hein from the International Rifle team; and from the Custom Firearms Shop, SPC Thomas Marshall.
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