Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 27th this year. Looking for culinary inspiration for your holiday gatherings? The NRA Blog offers three special (and delicious) Wild Game Recipes for your family feasts:
Honey Mustard Planked Wild Turkey Breast
Mushroom-Stuffed Wild Boar Roast with Black Truffle Sauce
BBQ Brined Pigeon
These recipes come from some of the country’s best chefs, and they all seem mouth-watering. You’ll find a full list of ingredients plus step-by-step cooking tips.
One of the many advantages to hunting is the assortment of game you can gather that lasts for an extended period of time. Just because it’s Thanksgiving doesn’t mean you have to stick with a whole turkey from the store and a ham hock.
We have three unique spins on wild game recipes that will suit your dining table perfectly. Even if you’re one of those hunters who enjoys a quick hunt the morning of Thanksgiving, these recipes will make your holiday more delicious than ever. — NRABlog.com
And for those folks who hope to harvest their own gobbler for the Thanksgiving holiday, here is a special NRA Turkey target that can help you hone your turkey-hunting skills.
GetZone.com offers a turkey hunting video with expert guidance on Turkey hunting, specifically stalking and shot placement: “When it comes to shotgun hunting, you don’t want to get BBs in the meat, so the most common (and lethal) shot with a shotgun is a headshot.”
This photo is from GetZone.com, a website that provides information on shooting and hunting. CLICK HERE to watch a GetZone video on turkey hunting. Work Warning: When you click photo, a loud audio track may start immediately, so turn down the audio volume.
The NRA Foundation is providing new grant awards supporting school security initiatives through the NRA School Shield program. These grants were made possible in part by a generous estate gift. This gift enabled the Foundation to expand its commitment to helping schools strengthen their security infrastructure and create safer learning environments for students nationwide.
$304,447 in School Security Grants
This year the NRA Foundation awarded 30 School Shield grants totaling $304,447 to schools seeking to enhance their security through equipment upgrades, facility improvements, and training resources. In determining the grants, the NRA Foundation partnered with the NRA Law Enforcement Division. Staffers with extensive law enforcement experience and school safety knowledge reviewed each request to ensure grants can produce optimal security enhancement.
“The NRA Foundation is proud to help schools across the country strengthen their safety posture”, said Peter Churchbourne, Exec. Director of The NRA Foundation. “This year’s grant cycle demonstrates how philanthropy, in particular planned giving, can have a lasting impact on the well-being of communities. The estate gift dedicated to School Shield allowed us to expand our reach and help even more schools[.]”
The Foundation will again process School Shield grant applications in 2026, continuing to support schools seeking to implement comprehensive, security-focused solutions.
The NRA School Shield program provides schools with tools, assessments, and training to enhance campus safety, offering a multifaceted approach to help keep children safe where they learn. To learn more, visit NRASchoolShield.org.
“On that day, let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting and enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.”
– 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Veterans Day proclamation.
107 Years Later…
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918, bugle calls signaled the ‘cease fire’ ending the First World War. (The official Armistice was signed earlier that morning.) To those who endured it, WWI was the “Great War”, “the War to End All Wars.” Tragically, an even greater conflict consumed the world just two decades later.
Today, 107 years after the end of WWI, Americans mark the anniversary of the WWI Armistice as “Veterans Day”. In Canada it is known as Remembrance Day. On this solemn occasion we honor all those who have served in the military in times of war and peace.
While more veterans pass away each year, there are still about 16.5 million veterans in the United States. Take time today to honor those soldiers, sailors, and airmen who have served their nation with pride. Today we remember that… “All gave some, and some gave all.” History of Veterans Day.
Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James Peake asked Americans to recognize the nation’s 16.5 million living veterans and the generations before them who fought to protect freedom and democracy: “While our foremost thoughts are with those in distant war zones today, Veterans Day is an opportunity for Americans to pay their respects to all who answered the nation’s call to military service.”
On Veterans Day we especially need to remember the seriously wounded combat veterans. These men and women summon great courage every day to overcome the lasting injuries they suffered in battle. Some of these soldiers have lost limbs, yet volunteered to return to combat duty. That is dedication beyond measure — true patriotism.
National Veterans Day Ceremony
The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Major regional ceremonies and events are also held throughout the country.
On this 11th day of the 11th month, MidwayUSA is running a major Veterans Day Sale. Hundreds of high-quality products are on sale, with discounts up to 60%. Here are ten notable deals — good products at great prices. Mind you, this is just a small sample of the huge collection of Veterans Day discounts. Visit the MidwayUSA Sale Page to see dozens of other great deals. As an added incentive, MidwayUSA is offering FREE Shipping with purchases over $100.00.
This month the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will offer multiple events at the Camp Perry Facility in Ohio, including a Veterans’ Day Program (free for Veterans) at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. The Competition Center, on the grounds of the Camp Perry National Guard Training Site in Port Clinton, Ohio, is open to the public. The facility houses a retail store, classroom, common area, Laser Shot simulators, and an 80-point indoor electronic target range for air rifle and air pistol.
Later in November there will be a Turkey Shoot Air Rifle Benchrest Match on November 18th. This will be open to the general public and the top shooters can receive a turkey as a prize.
Upcoming events include:
November 11, 12-8 p.m. – Veterans Day – Veterans receive free admission for the air range and Laser Shot simulators.
November 18, 6 p.m. – Turkey Shoot Bench Match – Participants fire air rifles from a support block, equipment provided! Prizes will be awarded to the top three places.
December 16, 5-8 p.m. – Holiday Party – Festive music, refreshments and more!
Bring your own equipment or you can shoot air rifles provided by the facility. Trained staff members will supervise activities and provide safe oversight during training and matches. All ages are welcome. However, juniors must be at least 10 years old to handle air rifles or air pistols.
Smith & Wesson has announced a new Long Gun Holiday Rebate for 2025. Now through the end of December 2025, you can save $50 to $100 on popular rimfire and centerfire rifles including AR-type long guns, compact tactical rigs, and even a folding 9mm rifle.
From November 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, customers who purchase a new eligible Smith & Wesson long gun will have the chance to receive a prepaid card valued at $50 for select M&P 15-22 rifles, $75 for select M&P FPC and S&W Response carbines, or $100 for select M&P15 and M&P10 models. Whether you’re looking for a reliable MSR platform, a pistol-caliber carbine to complement your 9mm sidearm, or even a new .22LR rifle for training, you can get a significant price reduction via this Holiday Prepaid Card offer.
This limited time offer allows purchasers to claim one prepaid card per each new qualifying Smith & Wesson firearm bought during the promotional period. To qualify, the firearm must be purchased and transferred through a FFL within the specified dates. This offer must be redeemed online. For more details on eligible firearms and the rebate process, Smith-Wesson.com/rebates.
Thanksgiving is just three weeks away. We know many of our readers will be traveling by air during Thanksgiving week, and during the Christmas holidays. This article reminds folks who travel to always comply 100% with rules. Don’t make an oversight that can land you in jail.
Handgun Transport During Flights — How to Do It Properly
It IS legal to take a handgun on an airline flight in checked baggage (if you follow the rules). But for goodness sake — declare the weapon as required by law and comply with all TSA and Federal regulations. Do NOT just toss your pistol in your carry-on and expect to board the plane. About 4,000 pistols were discovered in carry-on luggage in 2017. That can result in seizure and confiscation of the weapon, and just might land you in jail!
Gun writer Dean Weingarten has written an excellent article about handgun seizures at airports. Remarkably, in a single week a few years ago, 97 handguns were found in carry-on bags at U.S. airports.
TSA gives a list of the pistols found. The list shows the make, model and caliber of most of the pistols. There were 93 pistols where the caliber was identified.
9mm pistols were still the most common, with 36 represented. .380 pistols, known in Europe as 9X17, 9mm Kurtz, or 9mm Corto, were the next represented, with 24 present. That is 70 pistols, or 75% of the pistols found. There were a smattering of other calibers. There were eight .40 caliber pistols, seven .22 LR rimfire, six .45 caliber, five .32 caliber, four .38 caliber, one .410, and one .22 magnum.
Most of the pistols were semi-autos, there were a few revolvers, and three derringers.
How does this happen? It is the principle of rare occurrences. While an event may be extremely rare for each individual, if enough individuals are involved, the occurrence of rare events becomes a statistical certainty. About 4,000 pistols were discovered in carry-on luggage in 2017. There were about 770 million travelers passing through TSA checkpoints in that year. That is one pistol found for about 194,000 passengers. Each passenger presumably went through TSA checkpoints at least twice, once going, once returning. Some passengers go through multiple checkpoints, depending on the route taken.
I believe it happens in ways most people do not consider, because they are RARE. One way is to be distracted at a critical moment. Perhaps a business owner has made the decision to move a pistol from his briefcase to his locked desk [but then is distracted] and he has to rush to make his flight. The pistol remains in the briefcase and is discovered by the TSA.
The quality of the pistols found suggest most were taken from people who can legally carry them in most places. There are over 17 million people with carry permits in the United States. There are 13 states where no carry permit is required.
No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. It is part of the human condition.
Another rare scenario is for a third party to put the pistol in the carry-on without the carrier knowing about it. In at least one case, this was done to a school student, maliciously. In that case, it was put in a teens’ backpack[.]
Some [handgun violations] occur because the traveler borrowed a piece of carry-on luggage, and missed a small pistol tucked into a dark recess of the luggage, where another family member kept it. I suspect that most pistols are discovered precisely because the carriers are NOT attempting to smuggle them.
Most of these errors are recognized as honest mistakes by the TSA. The TSA is not the end of the legal problems for a person who finds themselves in this situation. The biggest players are the states. How the situation is handled depends on where the situation occurs.
When traveling, check your carry-on twice. If you discover you have made a mistake, correct it.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.
⏺️ » Build a good PRS/NRL rig (that can also hunt) for under $1000
Want to get started in PRS/NRL competition? Here’s an option that can get you a competitive tactical rifle for under $1050 out the door. Choose a Howa M1500 barreled action and a MDT XRS Chassis, both available from Brownells. These Howa 1500 actions have a smooth-running bolt and excellent 2-stage HACT trigger. Choose from a variety of PRS-suitable chamberings including 6mm ARC, .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor (and more). The 6.5 Creedmoor barreled action is $493.00 while the MDT chassis is $549.95 so your complete rifle price is just $1042.95. Brownells also has complete Howa-action hunting rifles chambered in .243 Win, .270 Win, 7mm-08, 7mm PRC, .308 Win, and .300 Win Mag. Get a complete hunting rifle for $499.99 to $599.99 — quite a bargain.
2. Midsouth — RCBS Explorer Reloading Kit 2, $329.99
⏺️ » Great price for everything you need — press, powder measure, scale etc.
For folks getting started with hand-loading, a great basic package is the RCBS Explorer Reloading Kit 2. On sale for $329.99 at Midsouth, this RCBS Package features pretty much all you need to load rifle and pistol ammo: Reloader Special 5 single-stage press, Uniflow-III Powder Measure, 1500gr digital scale, hand priming tool, powder funnel, powder trickler, hex key set, deburring tool, loading block, and Case Slick spray lube. You even get a Speer Reloading Manual.
3. Midsouth — Timney Trigger Sale for 30+ Action Types
⏺️ » Great deals on quality Timney triggers, save 10+%
Looking to upgrade the trigger on your competition, hunting, tactical, or varmint rifle? Right now you can get significant savings on Timney triggers for a huge variety of action types, both centerfire and rimfire. There are Timneys for Rem 700s (and clones), Win M70s, ARs, Tikkas, Rugers, Savages, Mausers and more. Save up to $32, with typical 10% discounts. There are many great choices for Rem 700/Rem Clone triggers and AR triggers. CLICK HERE to view all Timney triggers on sale.
4. MidwayUSA — Vortex Diamondback Spotting Scopes, 45% Off
⏺️ » Save 45% on good Vortex spotters, 20-60x60mm or 20-60x80mm
Vortex makes quality spotting scopes that offer fine optical performance for the price, with good sharpness and light transmission. Right now Vortex 20-60x60mm and 20-60x80mm Vortex spotting scopes are currently 45% OFF at MidwayUSA. Chose the 60mm version for mobile field use and the 80mm version if you need enhanced low-life performance. Both offer 60-power max magnification — good enough to see bullet holes at 500 yards (or beyond). The 60mm spotter is in stock now, with the 80mm arriving shortly.
5. Primary Arms — Howa TRAKR Rimfire Rifle, $169.99
⏺️ » Amazing low price on a versatile .22 LR rimfire rifle
Here’s a good .22 LR bolt-action rimfire rifle at an amazingly low price. The lightweight yet rugged Howa TRAKR .22 LR Bolt Action Rifle works for NRL22, target shooting, plinking, and small varmint shooting. The barrel is fitted with iron sights, and the action has scope ring mounts on top. The 1:16″-twist barrel measures 18″ long. The rugged synthetic stock has a Flat Dark Earth (FDE) weather-resistant exterior.
6. MidwayUSA — ZEISS Conquest V4 Scopes, 27-40% Off
⏺️ » Save $300+ on ZEISS V4 scopes, plus $150 Gift Certificate
ZEISS makes outstanding optics with great sharp glass and precise controls. Right now MidwayUSA has knocked over $300 off the price of each of two impressive ZEISS SFP scopes. For general hunting use, consider the ZEISS Conquest V4 3-12x44mm. For target work, competition, and long range varminting, we can recommend the ZEISS Conquest V4 6-24x50mm. The current prices are 40% off the 3-12x44mm scope and 27% off the 6-24x50mm model. In addition, there is a special promo with a $150 MidwayUSA Gift Certificate with purchase of other ZEISS Conquest V4 scopes. Use CODE ZEISS1125.
7. Amazon — Plano AW2 All Weather Rifle Case Sale, $152.90
⏺️ » Excellent wheeled case big enough for F-Class and Palma rifles
Traveling with a long gun requires a quality case that protects your valuable firearm. If you need a new case for your next hunting or match trip check out the 52″ Plano All Weather Rifle/Shotgun Case (#ad). With a 52″ internal length, this is long enough for most F-Class, PRS, Palma, and Benchrest rifles. You can also fit two hunting rifles inside (see photo). This all-weather case is strong, tough, and seals out moisture. With a Durashell Plus outer shell, this case is relatively lightweight yet durable. If you don’t need a 52″ case, Plano also offers 36″-long and 42″-long cases capable of carrying two rifles or shotguns.
⏺️ » Versatile, well-designed gun vise with storage trays
Here’s an excellent gun vise on sale for just $35.99. The versatile MTM GV-30 CaseGard Gun Vise supports rifles and shotguns for cleaning/maintenance. High and low forks allow level or angled gun placement. The rubber-padded rotating stock clamp provides a firm hold. The base has 14 different compartments for tools/solvents, plus 11 slots for jags, brushes, and screwdrivers. On the side are tabs for two cleaning rods. This GV-20 vise is made from rugged, solvent-resistant polypropylene plastic. If this sells out on GunZoneDeals, Midsouth has the GV-30 Vise for $38.00.
9. Amazon — Car Battery Jump Starter, $99.99
⏺️ » Portable Car Battery Jump Starter with attachments
When you head out to the range or the backcountry stay prepared with the NEBO 1500A Portable Car Battery Jump Starter. With 1500 peak amps, the NEBO 1500A can help jump-start your 12-volt car, truck, or SUV battery. In addition, this unit has USB ports so it can also charge cellphones and tablets. This even boasts a flashlight for night work. This is a good tool — over 82% of buyer reviews are 5-Star. An “Amazon’s Choice”, this NEBO Charger is currently $99.99 on Amazon with FREE delivery.
When traveling by air with a handgun, the pistol must be in a case with a TSA-approved lock. The Snapsafe Treklite XL Lock Box complies with TSA rules. It will hold two compact pistols or one larger pistol with magazine (which must be UNLOADED). Made with a strong polycarbonate case, This lightweight (2.2 lb) lock box is one-third the weight of a steel box. Right now the Treklite XL FDE Lock Box is $32.99 at Midsouth, 17% OFF the regular price.
As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.
Today, October 31st, is Halloween (originally called “All Hallows Eve”). Around the country pumpkins and Halloween decorations are on display in neighborhoods. Why not head to the range and shoot some Halloween-themed targets this weekend amidst the fall foliage. The folks at the NRA Blog have created a series of “spook-tastic” Halloween targets. Writer Kyle Jillson says, “In addition to stocking up on candy and finding great costumes, we thought you might like to have some fun at the range, so we created these spooky targets for you to use.”
Just click an image to launch its full-size version. You can then download the target and print it out on regular 8.5″x11″ paper. Now you have fun Halloween-themed targets to bring to the range this week.
The Lever Action Supreme Rifle (LASR) from Henry Repeating Arms has been named 2025 Rifle of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The selection was based on a rigorous evaluation process, which included extensive field testing, in-store availability checks, and value assessments. With these considerations, Henry’s LASR rose above other new rifles introduced in 2025 to earn Guns & Ammo’s top honor.
Chambered in .223 Wylde or .300 Blackout, the LASR is available at Henry dealers nationwide with an MSRP of $1,299. For more information, visit www.HenryUSA.com.
This new Henry rifle will be featured in the Guns & Ammo November 2025 issue which hits newsstands on November 5th. In the feature story, Guns & Ammo highlighted the Lever Action Supreme Rifle’s ability to reliably feed from commonly available MSR-pattern detachable box magazines, a unique feature for a lever-action rifle. The Guns & Ammo editors also praised the Henry’s quad-bar linkage action that allows reliable, smooth operation without interference from the magazine. Among the key factors that earned Gun of the Year honors, Guns & Ammo noted the LASR rifle’s sub-MOA accuracy potential, suppressor-ready design, good handling, and high-quality materials.
“We set out with this rifle to raise the bar for America’s most iconic rifle platform, and this award suggests that the team was able to accomplish just that,” said Anthony Imperato, Founder and CEO of Henry Repeating Arms. “We’re honored that Guns & Ammo has recognized the fruits of our labor, and I am incredibly proud of the many bright minds that came together to make this rifle a reality.”
