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September 23rd, 2009
 This Saturday, Sept. 26th, is National Hunting & Fishing Day (NHF Day). In connection with NHF Day, Ranges in Connecticut, Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire and Ohio will be hosting First Shots seminars on Saturday. There is also a program in Phoenix, AZ on the 24th. If you know someone who wants to get started in recreational shooting, attending a First Shots seminar can be a great way to go. Organizers provide everything one needs — guns, ammo, targets, safety gear, and instruction. Here’s a list of Ranges that will be holding First Shots Seminars in connection with NHF Day:
September 24
Shooters World: Phoenix, AZ
September 26
Seymour Fish & Game Club: Oxford, CT (Shotgun)
US Shooting Academy: Tulsa, OK 74117
Gainesville Target Range: Gainesville, FL
Fusilier Complex: Arnaudville, LA (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun)
Elkin Fish and Game Club: Elkins, NH
Miami Valley Shooting Grounds: Vandalia, OH
September 22nd, 2009
Kelbly’s Inc., just annouced that it will produce a new, stainless Rem-clone “Atlas” action that will sell for $700.00 (before options). Notably, it is available with a cone bolt and a trigger hanger. The latter feature means that glue-in installation is feasible. Additionally, a headspace adapter will be offered so you can use chambered barrels that have been headspaced for Kelbly Panda actions. Currently, only two configurations will be offered: right bolt, right port (RBRP), or left bolt, left port (LBLP). The first run of Atlas actions are slated for release at end of October 2009. The new action is named after the Atlas Bear, once found in Morocco’s Atlas mountains. To learn more about the new Atlas action, call Kelbly’s at (330) 683-4674.
 Kelbly’s reports: “The new Atlas action is a Remington 700 clone made to benchrest standards. The action body is made of 416RS stainless steel. Bolts are made of 4140 alloy steel on the body and stainless steel on bolt handle. The Atlas action will come standard as a single-shot with trigger bracket for Rem-style triggers, aluminum bolt shroud, cone bolt on 222, PPC, and 308, flat bolt on .532 bolt face, and top safety cutout. The headspace is .692 without recoil lug. The thread will be 1 1/16 x 18 tpi.”
Options available
Fluted bolt – $60.00
Magazine (extended, requires flat bolt) – $60.00
Ejector – $75.00
Recoil Lug .250 – $35.00
Cera-Kote action body and bolt handle – $100.00
Polish action and bolt handle – $120.00
Stolle 1.115 Headspace washer – $30.00 (Allows installation of Panda-spec barrels on the Atlas action without rechambering.)
Forum Member Al Nyhus observes: “This new action is going to be a winner. One of the big things it has going for it is the use of a hanger for the trigger mounting. Add to that an innovative way to use barrels already chambered for the ‘standard’ headspace Kelbly actions and you’ve pretty much covered all the bases. — Well done.”
September 22nd, 2009
 If you’re looking for the latest info on the upcoming SHOT Show, the NSSF now has a SHOT Show Blog with regular updates. The SHOT Show Blog currently explains how you can sign up for SHOT Show Webinars and SHOT Show University. In addition, you can learn about Media Day at the Range, which will be held Jan. 18, 2010 at the Boulder City Pistol & Rifle Range, outside Las Vegas.
If you are planning to attend the 2010 SHOT Show, note that this year, SHOT Show will be held in the Sands Expo Center, located next to the Venetian Casino Resort in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Discounted lodging at a variety of nearby hotels and casinos is available through the SHOT Show Travel Desk.
September 19th, 2009
 An updated (V2) version of the National Standard Three-Position Air Rifle Rules is now posted on the CMP website. (CLICK HERE to download.) You can also order printed copies of the rulebook from the CMP for $2.00 each. The updated rules incorporate changes adopted by the National Three-Position Air Rifle Council at its annual meeting at Fort Benning, GA in June. The revisions were made necessary by the adoption of a new Sporter Class air rifle and the increased use of the Orion Scoring System that uses computer-imaging technology to score scanned paper targets.
New Sporter Air Rifle Approved
The new Sporter Class air rifle is the Crosman Challenger 2009. The CH2009 uses a fixed cylinder charged with either compressed air or CO2. It is equipped with a pressure gauge, a Lothar Walther barrel, adjustable cheek-piece and adjustable butt-plate. The Crosman CH2009 is available to “qualified instructional groups” at $410.00 with sights, or $345.00 without sights through Crosman’s EASY program.
There are currently three (3) approved Sporter Class air rifles that have adjustable butt-plates and cheek-pieces. In approving the Crosman sporter, the Council continued its practice of only approving specific Sporter Class air rifles by manufacturer and model. The Council has also adopted a price ceiling, for all Sport Class air rifles, of $525.00 with sights.
Computer-based Scoring Inspires Rule Update
The Orion scoring system uses computer software to plot bullet locations on targets scanned using off-the-shelf, flat-bed scanners. Though sometimes called “electronic scoring”, the Orion system is really quite different than true electronic targets which use microphones or digital sensors to plot shot impacts. It may be better to think of the Orion system as “computer-aided optical scoring”.
 The increased use of electronic targets for major three-position air rifle competitions and the popularity of the Orion Scoring System for paper targets has made it necessary to update the rules for scoring and score protests. The revised rules explicitly recognize three scoring methods, 1) manual scoring of paper targets with scoring gauges and human judgment, 2) electronic scoring targets and 3) electronic scoring of paper targets.
The new rules recognize that electronic scoring (with computer technology) and manual scoring are two completely different methods of scoring, and one method shall not be used to challenge the other. Manual scoring compares the outside edge of a scoring gauge with the outside edge of a scoring ring to determine whether a close shot receives a higher or lower value. Electronic targets and electronic scoring, on the other hand, measure the radial distance from the exact center of a shot hole to the exact center of the target. It is neither fair nor accurate to use one scoring method to check the accuracy of another.
September 17th, 2009
National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day) takes place next week, on Saturday, Sept. 26th. The annual celebration serves as a reminder that conservation succeeds because of leadership and funding from hunters, shooters and anglers. National, regional, state and local organizations will run thousands of “open house” hunting- and fishing-related events around the country. Events will include Fishing Derbys, Hunting Expos, Wing-shooting tournaments, and much more. An estimated four million Americans will participate. For information on NHF Day, visit www.nhfday.org. To find an NHF Day event near you, click the link below.
CLICK HERE for a State-by-State list of Hunting & Fishing Day Events
Outdoor Sportsmen Support Conservation
Hunting and angling together are an economic force worth $76 billion a year, and it is estimated that 1.6 million jobs depend on hunters and anglers. Moreover, conservation programs depend on hunters and fishermen for funding. Through licence fees and excise taxes, hunters and anglers contribute $1.75 billion per year, for wildlife, fisheries and habitat programs.
History of National Hunting and Fishing Day
In 1972, Congress unanimously passed legislation authorizing National Hunting and Fishing Day on the fourth Saturday of every September. President Nixon signed the first proclamation of National Hunting and Fishing Day, writing, “I urge all citizens to join with outdoor sportsmen in the wise use of our natural resources and in insuring their proper management for the benefit of future generations.” Currently, the national celebration is coordinated by the official home of National Hunting and Fishing Day, Wonders of Wildlife museum in Springfield, Missouri. Sponsors for 2008 include NSSF, Bass Pro Shops, The Sportsman Channel, National Wild Turkey Federation, Realtree, Cabela’s, Woolrich, GunBroker.com, Outdoor Channel, Safari Club International, Hunting Heritage Trust, Smith & Wesson, Field & Stream and Outdoor Life.
September 15th, 2009
 AB 962, a new law restricting ammo sales, was passed by the California Legislature last Friday and sent to Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk. If not vetoed by the Governor, this bill could have a major negative effect on the shooting sports in the Golden State. AB 962, authored by Assemblyman De León (Dem. Los Angeles) was narrowly passed on a strict party line vote, on the last day of the Legislative session.
CLICK HERE for Final, Amended Text of AB 962
New Law Targets Pistol Ammo But Would Also Embrace Rifle Ammunition
AB 962 will restrict the sales of pistol ammunition. Unfortunately, the restriction will include common rifle ammo such as .22LR, .22 Magnum, and .223 Rem, because these cartridges are also used in pistols. If codified into law, commencing February 1, 2011, AB 962 would require handgun ammunition vendors to obtain a complete profile on ammo-purchasers including: residential address, phone number, Driver’s License number, birth date, and signature. In addition, ammo buyers must provide a thumbprint when purchasing pistol ammunition. A violation of these provisions would be a misdemeanor.
 In addition, AB 962 could effectively prohibit online or mail-order sales of pistol ammunition to California residents. This is because, according to the Leg. Counsel’s Digest, “delivery or transfer of ownership of handgun ammunition may only occur in a face-to-face transaction, with the deliverer or transferor being provided bona fide evidence of identity of the purchaser or other transferee. A violation of these provisions would be a misdemeanor.”
The good news is that AB 962 was amended to eliminate the provision that would criminalize the “sale or transfer” or more than 50 rounds of pistol ammunition per month. Had that clause survived, it would have a chilling effect on all youth training programs because rangemasters, scout leaders, or shooting coaches could be jailed for handing out more than one box of rimfire ammo.
Nonetheless, AB 962 is a terrible piece of legislation. Unless Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoes AB 962, Californians will no longer be able to mail-order most rimfire ammo, all centerfire pistol ammo, and a potentially large selection of rifle ammunition. We can’t tell you exactly what kinds of rifle ammo would be embraced by AB 962, because the bill relies on the vague definitions of CA Penal Code Section 12323(a): “‘Handgun ammunition’ means ammunition principally for use in pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person… notwithstanding that the ammunition may also be used in some rifles.”
The California Rifle and Pistol Assn. (CRPA) is asking ALL California gun owners to contact Gov. Schwarzenegger immediately and urge him to VETO AB 962. You can send an email via the Governor’s home page at www.gov.ca.gov/interact. (Type your name and email address, select Gun Control under the “Choose Your Subject” menu, hit “Submit” — then write your message.) You can also call or send a fax to the Governor’s office (Phone (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160). Gov. Schwarzenegger has until October 11, 2009 to sign, approve without signing, or veto bills passed by the Legislature.
September 15th, 2009
The 24th annual Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) will be held Sept. 25-27 in St. Louis, Missouri. More than 50 speakers, including such notables as Rep. Ron Paul, John Lott, Wayne LaPierre, Alan Gura, and Michael Reagan, will address those in attendance.
Hot topics this year will include: city gun bans, youth violence, “smart” guns, concealed carry, federal legislation, legal actions, gun show regulation, state and local activity. Conference organizers will also preview important upcoming court cases and revisit the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in DC v. Heller.
To learn more about the event or to register online, CLICK THIS LINK and scroll down to mid-page. You can also return a registration form by mail (form below).
CLICK HERE for 2009 GRPC Conference Flyer and Registration Form (.pdf file).
September 14th, 2009
If you haven’t started using Craigslist.org yet, you should. Craigslist is now the #1 Classified Ad resource in the nation. Like eBay, you can find just about anything on Craigslist — from cameras to classic cars. While you won’t normally find firearms for sale on Craigslist, you will find scopes, rangefinders, reloading equipment, gunsafes, and other shooting-related merchandise. Just use the search function and dig through the “for sale” listings.
Craiglist has one major shortcoming that can make bargain-hunting tedious and time-consuming. Craigslist is organized by community. So, typically, you can only search for stuff in one metropolitan region at a time. That’s fine if you’re looking for a gunsafe, where local pickup is important. But otherwise you may want to scan listings from multiple cities, multiple states, or even the whole country. Until recently, there was no way to do that efficiently. SearchTempest.com has changed all that…
New Service Scans Craigslist Ads Nationwide
Using SearchTempest.com, you can now quickly and easily search Craigslist entries anywhere in the country. Or, if you prefer, you can search for relevant ads within a given distance (say, 500 miles) of your zip code. You can set minimum and maximum prices, or limit results to ads with photos. The results will be organized by region, near to far, top to bottom. Unfortunately that means you’ll still have to do a lot of scrolling, but at least you only have to search once.
Shown below are the results of a search for “Binoculars Zeiss” within 1000 miles of Denver, CO. This shows just the top three, closest regional entries (Denver, Boulder, Ft. Collins) — there are dozens more pages with matching “hits”. The search results start with “nearest first” and will cover the entire region you selected.
SearchTempest finds EBay Items Also
Along with Craigslist entries, SearchTempest lets you search eBay listings at the same time. This can be handy. When searching for gun accesories or reloading gear we recommend you activate SearchTempest’s eBay search.
September 13th, 2009
 On September 19th, the Camp Perry Marksmanship Center hosts its annual Open House and Turkey Shoot from 9:00 am through 3:00pm. Visitors can win turkeys in an air rifle prize shoot, try an Army shooting simulator, and even get free hot dogs and beverages. All events will take place indoors at the Camp Perry Marksmanship Center. Jointly sponsored by the Ohio Army National Guard (OHNG), the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, the event is open to the public. Everyone who lives within day-trip distance of Camp Perry is encouraged to “come on down” and try out the center’s electronic targets and have a chance to win a turkey. At the 2008 Open House, over 400 persons participated in the turkey shoot on the 10-meter range and certificates for over 40 turkeys were presented. One lucky participant in each group of ten who shoots the best center-shot on the 10-meter targets will take home a turkey.
The Marksmanship Center, completed in the summer of 2008, is a state-of-the-art training facility, ranked as the finest facility of its type in the Western Hemisphere. One part of the center houses a National Guard Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), a simulator that allows Soldiers to train in a controlled indoor environment without the expense of live ammunition.
The other part of the Marksmanship Center is an 80-firing point 10-meter air gun range used for Olympic-style shooting events. The 10-meter range features electronic targets that instantly score and plot shot locations on computer monitors next to each shooter. The 10-meter range has already hosted many high profile competitions including the NRA Air Rifle Championship in July. During its first 15 months of operation, the Camp Perry air gun range has hosted 8,000 shooters who have fired 600,000 shots as well as 11,500 visitors.
How to Get There
Camp Perry is located approximately 5 miles west of Port Clinton on Ohio State Highway # 2. The Camp Perry entrance is on the north side of Hwy # 2 and is marked by two lighthouses. Proceed north (straight) on the Camp Perry entrance road (Niagara Road). Follow signs to the open house. For more info, call 419-635-2141, ext. 1101 or email shand [at] odcmp.com. CLICK HERE to read more about the CMP Open House/Turkey Shoot.
September 11th, 2009
 Next month, from October 17-25, the Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Association will host the 6th Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup at the Ben Avery Range in Phoenix, Arizona. Western CMP Games events will be held Oct. 17-20, while the Creedmoor Cup Matches take place Oct. 21-25. All interested shooters, from novices to High Masters, are invited to participate. Registration deadline is October 14, 2009.
| CLICK HERE for Match Program and Schedule |
| CLICK HERE to Register for Match |
The Western CMP Games kick off with a New Shooter Clinic on Saturday, 17 October. This year the clinic will be held in the morning so that a 200-yard Garand-Springfield-Vintage Military Rifle Match can be fired that afternoon.
 Plenty of Garand Action, Plus Rimfire Sporter Match Debuts
On Sunday, 18 October, there will be an As-Issued M1 Garand EIC Match in the morning where shooters lacking EIC points can earn introductory “4-point legs.” That afternoon, there will be a new event on the schedule, a Rimfire Sporter Match. The Rimfire Sporter Match is a low-key event that caters to all ages and skill levels.
Shooting opportunities on the third day, Monday, 19 October, have also been expanded. There will be a second Garand-Springfield-Vintage Military Rifle Match that morning followed by an M1 Carbine Match that afternoon. The Western CMP Games Matches conclude on Tuesday, 20 October, with a third Garand-Springfield-Vintage Military Rifle Match.
Creedmoor Cup Clinic and Matches
The Creedmoor Cup schedule begins on Wednesday, 21 October, with an Advanced Clinic. The Creedmoor Cup Matches include a Practice Match, a 4-Man Team match, the 80-shot Creedmoor Cup Match and an EIC Match. Both events feature special hospitality events and prize awards.
For more information, or if you have questions, vist the Western Games Webpage, or contact Christina Leveck-Roguski, (419) 635-2141 x1114, croguski [at] odcmp.com.
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