Ever find yourself sitting in an airport, bored out of your gourd? Well here’s how to make good use of your time — listen to a gun-centric Podcast. There are a number of interesting Podcasts for shooters and firearms fans. A Podcast is like an old-fashioned radio show, but delivered over the internet. You can listen “live” or save the Podcast file for later review. That’s great when you’re on an airplane and don’t have a web connection. Download some Podcasts to your smartphone before you get to the airport and then you can play them back during your flight.
The NRA Blog reports that podcasts are more popular than ever: “The Great Podcast Renaissance is upon us! It’s easier now than ever for anyone and everyone to make their own podcast, which is why the number of podcasts and variety of show topics have greatly increased.”
1. It’s Federal Season Podcasts
Ammo and components supplier Federal offers an excellent series of informative podcasts. These Federal podcasts cover a wide range of topics and shooting disciplines. This year Federal is celebrating its 100th year in business. Podcast Episode No. 36 covers Federa’s Centennial Celebration
In this latest Federal Season podcast, guest host Tom Sega discusses Federal’s first 100 years with Federal President Jason Vanderbrink and V.P. of Marketing Jason Nash. The podcase covers Federal’s foundation, pivotal moments in company history, and the iconic products that have propelled Federal to become a world-leading ammunition manufacturer.
In a second Federal Season podcast, ace shooter Julie Golob provides a fascinating history of the firearms industry. Julie served with the U.S. Army before embarking on her professional shooting career.:
2. The Firearms Radio Network
With more than a dozen different podcasts, the Firearms Radio Network (FRN) offers a large range of audio programming. Whether you’re a tactical shooter, or a handgunner, or a hunter, you’ll find something of interest. This network also offers a regular podcast dedicated to hand-loading. Here are some of our favorite FRN podcasts:
3. Tom Gresham’s GunTalk Podcasts
Tom Gresham’s GunTalk is the leading radio talk show about firearms, shooting, and gun rights. It is available as a live radio broadcast as well as recorded podcasts. Each week Tom host notable guests from the firearms industry and shooting sports. Along with the primary Gun Talk podcast there is a Gun Talk Nation Podcast and Gun Talk Hunt podcasts. All are accessisble from the Gun Talk Podcast Home Page.
4. Hunt Talk Radio
Randy Newberg’s Hunt Talk Radio covers hunting politics, access to public lands, and conservation topics. Expert hunters and guides join Randy each week, sharing their field skills and stalking tips.
What’s a “wallet group”? It’s a singularly spectacular proof target that entitles its bearer to bragging rights. The wallet group may or may not have been shot in competition, and, by definition, it may not be repeatable. But it exists as incontrovertible proof that, at least once, the stars aligned, and the wind gods smiled on the shooter.
Five Shots in 0.178 MOA at 1000 Yards
A few years ago, Forum member and F-Class shooter Gary Wood was testing his 6.5-284 rifle at the 1000-yard range in Coalinga, California, getting ready for an upcoming long range match. In practice, Gary nailed a witnessed 1.859″ five-shot group, with four of the five shots well under an inch. Use this as proof to win those club-house arguments about whether it is possible to shoot “in the ones” at 1000 yards. Gary’s group worked out to 0.178 MOA!
Gary reports: “I was load testing with 5-shot groups. Each group was shot on a new F-Class center and pulled by Ret. Master Chief Jerry Pullens and spotted by an other long-range shooter. The second 5-shot load group looked really small … by our reckoning four out of five shots measured under an inch. I was amazed. What’s more, when I shot the group, the 4th shot blew the spindle out of the 3rd shot. My spotter saw that in his scope and Jerry Pullens told me about it afterwards”.
As measured with the OnTarget Software, using a scan of the target, Gary plotted the group size at 1.859″ total for five shots, or 0.178 MOA. Gary noted: “I had everyone sign the target which I saved and photographed.” Yes, Gary, this may be the wallet group to end all wallet groups. You should have that target framed.
Gary’s Load and 6.5-284 Rifle Specs
Gary was running a stout load of Hodgdon H4350 and CCI BR-2 primers, pushing moly-coated 142gr Sierra MKs, in Lapua 6.5-284 brass. The rifle features an F-Class, single-shot Surgeon action with a Bartlein 5R barrel chambered with a no-turn neck. Gary says “The barrel only has 70 rounds through it… yep, I think it will shoot.” Gary did all of the gunsmithing and barrel work himself.
Did Gary have any special reloading tricks? Apparently not: “Other than weighing the cases and the powder very carefully, there really were no magical reloading secrets used. The Sierra 142s were moly-coated straight from the box of 500, but they were not weighed or checked for bearing surface. The powder was dropped with a RCBS ChargeMaster then checked with an Acculab scale (to under a tenth). The Lapua cases were not neck-turned, but I did weight-sort them. The five cases for the small group weighed: 195.05, 195.03, 195.03, 195.03, 195.01.”
How’d you like a memorable shooting experience at America’s most famous shooting range? Then register now to compete at the CMP National Matches, held at Camp Perry, on the shores of Lake Erie near Port Clinton, Ohio. Registration is still open for popular centerfire and rimfire competitions. While many of America’s best marksmen will be at Perry this summer, there are programs, such as the Rimfire Sporter series, for shooters of all experience levels. There is still time to register for pistol and rifle matches.
The CMP National Matches will run from July 10 to August 13, 2022 at Camp Perry, Ohio. This major event attracts thousands of shooters over the course of the summer. The 2022 National Matches start with pistol competition and conclude with Long Range Rifle. The Full 2022 Nat’l Matches Calendar is available online.
Held annually at Camp Perry, the CMP National Matches include the CMP National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches, the Pistol and Rifle Small Arms Firing Schools, the National Games Rifle Matches, the National Smallbore Matches, and the National Long Range Matches. These matches are conducted by a partnership of the CMP and Ohio National Guard. Since their inception, the National Matches have become a huge, national shooting sports festival with well over 4,500 annual participants. Competitors range from beginners to many of the world’s best.
Good Gear for Camp Perry Competition — High Power and Smallbore
Here are some items that can benefit High Power and Smallbore shooters at the National Matches. All these items are available from Creedmoor Sports, which also sells excellent, customizable shooting coats. Through 11:59 pm on June 20th, FREE Shipping is available for $149+ orders with code DAD22.
Last week, it was reported that the Biden administration seeks to limit the sales of Lake City-produced ammunition. Specifically, Biden’s team intends to prohibit commercial (public) sales of 5.56x45mm NATO ammo produced at the Lake City Ammunition Plant in Missouri. The move could result in a reduction of the commercial production of 5.56×45 (.223 Rem) caliber ammunition by over 30 percent (30%).
The sales restriction would dramatically reduce availability of ammunition for America’s most popular centerfire rifle caliber, and the ammo most commonly used in AR-15 platform rifles. This could result in a significantly increased cost for all centerfire .223 Rem and 5.56×45 ammunition, because overall supply would be drastically reduced.
Lake City-produced ammo, which exceeds the U.S. government’s requirements, has long been made available to the private commercial market. Lake City’s output, according to some estimates, accounts for one-third of the 5.56×45 ammunition available to U.S. consumers.
News of the move was broken by Larry Keane, NSSF Senior V.P. and General Counsel. This past week, Keane published a tweet, which stated: “The U.S. Military is actively considering shutting down the sale [of] M855/SS109 ammo from Lake City to the commercial market”.
Lake City Ammunition Plant Produces over 1 Billion Rounds Annually
Lake City is a sprawling ammunition plant in Independence, Missouri, originally established by Remington in 1941 to manufacture and test ammunition for the U.S. Army. It is currently owned by the government and operated by private contractors and produces well over a billion rounds of ammunition per year.
Commentary about the Potential Ammunition Sales Restrictions:
The Truth about Guns Blog commented: “The motivation here is obvious. The Biden administration is attempting to further spike the price of ammunition, squeezing the owners of America’s favorite rifles — the scary black ones that the president assures us are only good for killing people and taking down Kevlar vest-wearing deer. The hapless Biden administration [is] trying to make shooting most AR-15 rifles as expensive as possible for Americans who own between 20 and 25 million AR-platform guns.
The NRA-ILA states: “Gun prohibition advocates have a long-standing desire to ban the AR-15 and other types of semiautomatic long guns outright. Joe Biden in particular loves to brag of authoring the so-called ‘assault weapons’ ban that Bill Clinton signed into law in 1994. Congress, however, allowed the ban to expire 10 years later, after a Department of Justice-sponsored study was unable to substantiate any significant crime reduction benefit from it.
Close followers of Second Amendment issues will remember that these same [5.56×45] rounds were targeted by the Obama/Biden administration under the guise of relabeling them ‘armor piercing ammunition’, which is banned from commercial sale by federal law. The resulting … furor from the Second Amendment community was so intense that it culminated in Obama’s ATF director, B. Todd Jones, quitting his job.”
Online registration for the 2022 NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury is still available via the NRA Competitive Shooting Web Portal. Consisting of the NRA National Championships for Precision Pistol, Smallbore Rifle, and High Power Rifle, the NRA National Matches will kick off its second year in the Hoosier State on July 10 and conclude August 7. Also coming back after a hiatus is the NRA Extreme Long-Range (ELR) Championship. Click HERE to Register for 2022 NRA National Matches.
Updated 2022 National Matches Calendar
Here is the updated 2022 NRA National Matches calendar, which adds Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association events occurring in conjunction with the NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury, indiana. Click the link below or the calendar image to launch a printable, zoomable PDF that is easier to read.
At the NRA National Championships, shooters from across the country can compete shoulder-to-shoulder, continuing traditions going back to the 19th century. To showcase the National Championships, NRA Publications has created a great 36-page 2021 NRA National Matches commemorative magazine. This provides complete coverage of the inaugural year at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. There are plenty of photos along with interviews with top shooters. CLICK HERE for related story.
The true cost of living has risen significantly since Biden took office. The latest inflation number is 8.6% annualized — the worst in 40+ years. Accordingly, it’s important to save money whenever possible. Fuel is over $5.00/gallon, food prices are going up, health costs are rising significantly, and the cost of components (bullets, brass, powder) remain at high levels (though inventory is starting to improve). To help you hang on to those hard-earned dollars, here are discount codes you can use with a variety of online retailers, including leading vendors such as Brownells and Sportsman’s Warehouse.
For more deals, check regularly for current COUPON CODES at Gun.deals/coupons.
Sportsman’s Warehouse
DEAL: Spend $200 or more, get “Bounceback Bucks” worth $50 off future purchases made from 7/5/2022 through 7/14/2022.
CODE: No Coupon Code Needed
Expiration date: 6/19/2022 at 11:59 pm
Brownells
DEAL: $15 off $150
CODE: TAG or SAE
Expiration: Unknown
DEAL: $10 off $100
CODE: PTT or RTA
Expiration: Unknown
Sportsman’s Guide
DEAL: Club Bucks — Spend $50, Get $10
CODE: CB1030
Expiration date: 6/21/2022 at 11:59 pm
DEAL: $20 Off Sitewide (Excludes Ammo)
CODE: ULTIMATE20
Expiration: Unknown
Focus Camera
DEAL: 25% OFF select Vortex products
CODE: MEMORIAL25
Expiration date: 6/16/2022 (Ends today at 11:59 pm! Don’t hesitate.)
Optics Planet
DEAL: 8% Off over $50
CODE: 8DAD
Expiration Date: 6/19/22 at 11:59pm
DEAL: 5% OFF
CODE: GUNDEALS
Expiration date: Unknown
ShootingTargets7
DEAL: $10 Off Steel Targets
CODE: DAD
Expiration Date: 6/20/22 at 11:59pm
Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19, 2022, so now’s the time to shop for a great gift for the “Old Man”. If your father enjoys the shooting sports and hunting, here are some recommended items. These will all benefit “Pops” when he goes to the range. All selections cost less than $100.00. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can get two-day shipping in most areas of the country.
TEN Great Father’s Day Gifts for Dad Under $100.00
Protect Dad’s hearing — Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Muffs These high-tech muffs provide NRR 22 dB sound protection with the ability to still hear conversations and range commands. These muffs offer Headphone Functionality via external audio jack, so Dad can listen to music. We recommend using muffs over plugs for maximum hearing protection.
Teslong Digital Borescopes are “game-changers”, hugely popular with our Forum members. These Teslong borescopes display clear, sharp digital images on your mobile device. Shown here is the latest rigid version. Get the Rigid Borescope for $99.99, or flexible cable model for $55.99.
The versatile MTM Range Box includes cradles so you can do gun maintenance while at the range. A lift-out tray holds small items such as patches and jags. This is a durable product that can hold ammo and other gear.
Are you looking for a secondary press to handle basic tasks such as decapping? We’ve used this inexpensive Lee Breech Lock Challenger press for many functions. It is sturdy and has a convenient primer ejection tube. This is a great value for $99.99 on Amazon, including one Breech Lock quick change bushing.
Plano’s AirGlide case is a unique, top-loading rifle case. Ideal for benchrest guns with wide forearms, the AirGlide case puts no side-pressure on scopes. We like the ease of loading. AirGlides are now out of production, so get one while you can.
This Columbia Bahama II guide shirt is durable and comfortable. More importantly it provides UPF 30 protection from the sun’s damaging rays. The added cape over the shoulder area provides extra protection for shooters in the prone position. This is offered in 17 colors in breathable nylon. This is popular for fishing, sailing, hiking and other outdoors sports.
Walkie-Talkies are “must-have” items for long-range shooting. The 22-CH Motorola T100 Two-Way Radio is an Amazon Favorite in FRS/GMRS Handheld Radios. This is a 2-Radio set for under $30.00.
The latest 2020 Edition of The Wind Book, is the best wind resource in print for competitive shooters. The Wind Book analyzes key aspects of wind reading — vectors, cycles, vertical elements, and mirage. This excellent resource is now $17.67 at Amazon.
The Corque Gun Cleaning Kit boasts 12 jags, 9 bronze brushes, 9 mops, nylon brushes, 100 patches, oil bottles, plus 6 brass rods and other gear. This even comes with a mat and gloves. NOTE: we recommend one-piece rods for rifles.
This cleverly-designed Shotshell thermos will make Dad smile. Styled just like a 12ga shotgun shell, the Stansport Thermo Bottle holds 25 oz. of hot or cold liquids. Current price is $29.99 for black, a few bucks more for green or red.
The NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury Indiana are just a month away. The first event, the National High Power Rifle Matches, begins with Competitor Orientation on July 10, 2022. Then, after the Opening ceremony, the fun begins with Team Matches on July 11th. There is still time to register for one or more of the events. CLICK HERE to register.
National High Power Matches
July 10-29, 2022
Camp Atterbury, Indiana
PROGRAM
July 10 Packet Pick Up/Orientation
July 11 Team Matches
July 12-15 Across the Course (XTC)
July 16 Mid-Range Packet Pick Up & Squadded Practice
July 19 Mid-Range Team July 17-18 / 20-21 MR Course
July 24 Long Range Packet Pick Up
July 25-27 Long Range
July 26-27 Team Matches
July 28 Palma Individual Match
July 29 Palma Team
National Pistol Championships
July 17-23, 2022
Camp Atterbury, Indiana
PROGRAM
July 17 Registration
July 18 Un-squadded Practice
July 19 Revolver / .22 EIC
July 20 Prelim
July 21 .22
July 22 Center Fire
July 23 .45
National Smallbore Championships
July 25 – August 7, 2022
Camp Atterbury, Indiana
PROGRAM
July 25 3P Registration
July 26-27 3P Metric
July 28-29 3P Conventional
July 30 Prone Registration / Practice
July 31 – August 1 Conventional Prone Iron
August 2 Team/Spc Team
August 3 Pershing/Goodwill
August 4-5 Conventional Prone Any
August 6-7 Metric Prone
NRA Extreme
Long Range Championship
August 5-7, 2022
Camp Atterbury, Indiana
PROGRAM
August 5 Registration
August 6-7 Extreme Long Range
The new covered range at Camp Atterbury was a big hit in 2021 during the Precision Pistol and Smallbore Rifle Championships. This was built with the help of the State of Indiana, Indiana National Guard, the NRA, and the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association.
Earlier this week, U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping gun-control package titled the “Protecting Our Kids Act” (POKA). This radical legislation involves eight new statutes, covered below. Voting primarily on party lines, the Democratic-majority House approved the eight measures that collectively comprise POKA by a 223-204 vote.
NOTE: No part of POKA has become actual Federal law yet — it has only made it through the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. For any part of POKA to become law, the provisions must be approved by the U.S. Senate and then signed by President Biden.
Here Are Key Statutory Components of the New POKA Federal Legislation:
1. Anthony Brown’s Raise the Age Act — This raises the lawful age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21 years old.
2. David Cicilline’s Untraceable Firearms Act — This makes so-called “ghost guns” subject to existing federal firearms regulations.
3. Ted Deutch’s Keep Americans Safe Act — This is a new Full-Capacity Mag ban that would ban the sale, manufacture, and possession of New gun magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.
4. Robin Kelly’s Prevent Gun Trafficking Act — This creates new federal offenses for gun trafficking and straw purchasing.
5. Dina Titus’s End Bump Stock Loophole Act — This carries the Biden Executive orders further, by banning the manufacture, sale, or possession of Civilian bump stocks.
6-8. Gun Storage Regulations — There are three Gun storage proposals which mandate gun storage: Rosa DeLauro’s Ethan’s Law, Elissa Slotkin’s Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act, and Sheila Jackson Lee’s Firearm Safe Storage Act.
According to GunsAmerica Digest: “Only two Democrats — Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Kurt Schrader of Oregon — voted against [POKA] while five Republicans — Reps. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Fred Upton of Michigan, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, and Chris Jacobs of New York — voted for it.”
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) criticized lawmakers for supporting measures that clearly violated the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The NSSF stated that POKA is seriously flawed, and violates the U.S. Constitution:
“This legislation isn’t a serious attempt to find common ground and effective answers. This was nothing short of a partisan effort to advance a radical gun control agenda”, said Mark Oliva, NSSF’s Managing Director of Public Affairs in a message to GunsAmerica.
“Many of the ideas included in this legislative package are unconstitutional, including denying Second Amendment rights to adults under the age of 21″, he continued. “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit just struck down California’s age-based gun ban as unconstitutional.”
Here is the analysis of the new POKA legislation from the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA):
Among its many provisions, H.R. 7910 would ban law-abiding 18-20 year old adults from acquiring semi-automatic rifles and shotguns. This unconstitutional legislation would extinguish law-abiding adults’ Second Amendment rights and contends that these individuals are responsible enough to defend their country or vote in an election, but cannot be trusted to follow the law.
H.R. 7910 would generally ban standard-capacity magazines that are overwhelmingly popular with law-abiding Americans for self-defense, as well as redirect federal tax dollars intended for law enforcement and other public safety programs to “buyback” existing lawfully-possessed magazines.
Furthermore, H.R. 7910 includes several “safe storage” mandates that would control how individual Americans keep firearms in their own homes. These provisions are in direct contravention to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Heller that held mandatory storage provisions that prevent a law-abiding American from having ready access to a firearm for self-defense are unconstitutional.
- – – -
The second bill, H.R. 2377, is a combination of legislative proposals to create ‘red flag orders’ that allow for the confiscation of firearms without due process of law. The legislation would directly empower federal judges to nullify Second Amendment rights on a case-by-case basis and issue orders to seize firearms from the named individuals. It would also provide funding to encourage states and localities to pass and enforce laws allowing judges to issue orders to seize firearms.
H.R. 2377 would strip Second Amendment rights of individuals by confiscating firearms without constitutional due process by allowing courts to issue ex parte (meaning the accused is not present) firearm confiscation orders. A person could be forcibly disarmed of otherwise lawfully-possessed firearms before he or she had so much as an opportunity to contest the accusations – this would represent a clear denial of constitutional due process protections.
Moreover, H.R. 2377 would generally authorize indefinite firearm deprivations, giving courts options to issue orders without a time cap, or choose to allow for indefinite order renewals. This legislation treats the Second Amendment as a second-class, disfavored right and flies in the face of due process, the presumption of innocence and fundamental fairness.
With all the anti-gun rhetoric coming out of Washington these days, it’s great to know that some organizations are helping Americans celebrate their liberties and their Constitutional rights. U.S. LawShield is organizing a nationwide series of Summer Freedom Celebrations to be held in cities across America from early June through the end of August 2022. This weekend, Freedom Celebrations take place June 11th in three locations: Springfield, MO; Tulsa, OK; and Selma, TX. Other events are listed below.
“We are excited to connect with folks from all over the U.S. as we join in celebrating our unique heritage and honor our forefathers’ vision of freedom for future generations. Encouraging our members, their families, and friends to enjoy togetherness is especially important this summer. As the Summer Freedom Celebrations travel around our great nation, we’re proud to present education on local self-defense and gun laws in conjunction with the family-friendly festivities”, stated U.S. LawShield CEO P.J. Hermosa.
At these celebrations, U.S. LawShield Independent Program Attorneys (IPAs), officials, VIPs, and guest speakers with talk about gun laws and answer questions. Because regulations differ regionally, every Summer Freedom Celebration features local IPAs and authorities who can answer questions and educate folks about local requirements. Attendees will have the chance to get answers directly from experienced attorneys and local officials.
These Summer Freedom Celebrations feature fun attractions for people of all ages, including refreshments (food trucks and/or concessions), music/entertainment, and games with prizes. These will be family-friendly events, so parents are encouraged to bring their kids.
U.S. LawShield Summer Freedom Celebration Dates and Locations
Event activities, daily schedules, and speakers are subject to change. Visit this link to register and/or check for updates on times and venues. CLICK HERE for a full, updated schedule of events nationwide.
· June 11, Springfield, MO
· June 11, Tulsa, OK
· June 11, Selma, TX
· June 18, Springdale, AR
· June 18, Cleveland, OH
· June 18, Lubbock, TX
· June 25, Morton, IL
· June 25, Fort Wayne, IN
· June 25, Jacksonville, NC
· June 25, El Paso, TX
· June 25, Midland, TX
· June 25, Ashland, VA
· June 26, Littleton, CO
More Summer Freedom Celebration events are planned for July and August in states including: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
At these celebrations, U.S. LawShield Independent Program Attorneys (IPAs), officials, VIPs, and guest speakers with talk about gun laws and answer questions. Because regulations differ regionally, every Summer Freedom Celebration features local IPAs and authorities who can answer questions and educate folks about local requirements. Attendees will have the chance to get answers directly from experienced attorneys and local officials.
