Story based on Report from NRA-ILA
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reports that, as of April 30, 2022, Florida now has over 2.5 million firearms permit holders. This number has steadily risen every year and is more than double the total from 2012. The 2.5 million permits represents 11% of Florida’s 22 million residents, and 14% of all adult Floridians (18 and over). This comes after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced last week that he plans to sign Constitutional Carry legislation into law while he is Governor.
Twenty-five states now have permitless or “Constitutional Carry” in the United States. Four states, including Florida’s neighbor states Georgia and Alabama, enacted Constitutional Carry laws this year. Officially, half of the nation’s 50 states now recognizes the right of law-abiding adults to carry a concealed firearm without first having to obtain government permission and pay a tax. This ensures that citizens have the right to self-defense without government red tape or delays.
The NRA-ILA will continue to update members and supporters on this and other Second Amendment issues in the Sunshine State. Visit www.NRAILA.org for more information.
More Information for Gun Owners with Carry Permits
LawShield, America’s largest provider of Legal Defense for Self Defense® coverage, offers a National Travel Guide for Gun Owners and state-specific Travel Guides for Gun Owners. These guides feature practical information for people traveling through nearly every state in the USA.
State-Specific Travel Guides — Access for FREE
State-specific Travel Guides and a National Travel Guide for Gun Owners can be accessed for FREE on the the U.S. LawShield website. For planning future travel, bookmark Resources.uslawshield.com/travel-guide,
According to Kirk Evans, President of U.S. LawShield, “Because there are so many details for people to understand before they leave home, we developed state-specific guides to help folks stay on the right side of the law. Take the time to learn the laws before hitting the road because they are not the same everywhere. Don’t wait until after the fact to plan for your guns when preparing for your trip.”
Travel Guide for Gun Owners Topics:
Permits/licenses recognized by specific states
State laws you should know, including vehicle carry, duty to notify law enforcement, and open and concealed carry laws
Where you can legally carry your gun
Federal laws you should know
Carrying in National Parks
Transfer of firearms
Traveling from state to state and the Safe Passage provision
Flying with a firearm, including TSA requirement warnings and how to pack ammunition
Driving with a firearm
Two Knowledgeable Attorneys Explain State Law Issues When Traveling
In this video U.S. LawShield Independent Program Attorneys Richard Hayes and Emily Taylor provide essential information for traveling with firearms. Discussion includes essential information needed to stay safe and responsible while traveling with firearms.
Know the Laws of Every State You Travel Through
“There is no standardization of gun laws within the 50 individual states, so even if a state recognizes your handgun license or permit, they may have additional restrictions on certain types of firearms, magazines, or ammunition,” said Evans. “In some states, it’s illegal for a non-resident to possess a firearm in the passenger compartment of their vehicle. And, because you are subject to a state’s laws when you are in that state, if you break their laws, you could be committing a crime — whether you think you intentionally broke the law or not,” he added.
“Remember, not knowing the law is not a valid defense,” stated Evans. “Use our Travel Guide for Gun Owners for whatever state you’re traveling through, and learn which states honor your carry license or permit before you go.”
So, are you feeling lucky? Then you may want to head over to Brownells.com. Right now Brownells and SIG SAUER are running a cool contest, with an impressive Grand Prize valued at $9,999.00.
PRIZE PACKAGE: Brownells customers will get a chance to win a SIG MCX-Spear chambered in .277 Fury, along with a training class hosted at the SIG SAUER Academy, airfare to the class and lodging, and an SLX suppressor. The hardware and the Academy training trip have a combined value of $9,999.00.
The contest runs through May 15, 2022. Get more INFO or enter via the Brownells SIG MCX-Spear & Training Sweepstakes page. No purchase is necessary. However, the winner must be legally eligible to own the SIG MCX-Spear, and must be from a state where Suppressors and Short Barreled Rifles are legal with the ATF tax stamp.
.277 Fury — Modern Hybrid Cartridge That Delivers Amazing Velocities
The .277 Fury cartridge (shown below) is the same length as the .308 Winchester and has a unique hybrid three-piece cartridge case allowing for increased pressures that drive bullets at high velocities. The MCX-Spear is the civilian version of the SIG rifle recently chosen by the US Army as the new Next Generation Squad Weapons System.
“Right now, civilian variants of the MCX-Spear are very limited in number and almost impossible to find,” said Brownells Marketing V.P. Ryan Repp. “This giveaway is a great chance for somebody to win one, and we’re very happy we can partner with a great company like SIG SAUER to offer this fantastic prize.”
MCX-Spear Rifle Features Short Barrel and Suppressor
The MCX-Spear Prize Rifle is a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) with a 13″ barrel and SLX suppressor optimized for this and its special ammunition. Both the rifle and suppressor are subject to Federal paperwork and rules under the ATF. Brownells will cover the $400 for the two required tax stamps. Obviously, the winner will need to live in a state that permits suppressors and short-barreled rifles.
The 43rd Edition of the Blue Book of Gun Values was released last month. Purchase this popular price guide through Blue Book Publications for $54.95. Or order from order from Amazon for $61.17. The Blue Book of Gun Values by S.P. Fjestad is the leading gun valuation resource. There are now over 1.8 million copies in circulation worldwide. This book continues to be the “Bible” for buyers, sellers, collectors, and connoisseurs in the firearms industry.
Blue Book of Gun Values, 43rd Edition, April 2022
The 43rd Edition contains 2,528 pages covering over 1,900 manufacturers/trademarks, with almost 30,000 gun model descriptions, and over 180,000 values, with new-for-2022 data!
This 2022 43rd edition includes a new dedicated section on AR-15 manufacturers, making it easier to find these popular models. In addition there is an updated 64-page color Photo Percentage Grading System (PPGS) which makes firearms grading even easier and more accurate. The 2022 Blue Book also features a Serialization Index to make finding serial number information even easier!
Review by Tom Gresham, Gun Talk Radio Host
“At some point, every gun owner asks the question, ‘What’s it worth?’ The leading reference for decades has been the Blue Book of Gun Values. Whether you are a seller, a buyer, a shopper, or just curious, this constantly-updated gold mine of research is your friend.”
Features of the new Blue Book of Gun Values:
· Includes the new 2022 makes and models, with many new handguns and rifles, and important pricing updates.
· 2,528 Pages covering over 1,900 manufacturers and trademarks, with almost 30,000 gun model descriptions, with new section on AR-15 manufacturers.
· 180,000+ up-to-date values are provided — most complete resource in print.
· Important pricing updates on major trademark current, antique, and discontinued models, including Colt, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, and Ruger.
· An 64-page color Photo Percentage Grading System (PPGS) which makes firearms grading even easier and more accurate.
· More information, more values, more illustrations, and more history than any other gun price guide on the market.
Big news for High Power rifle shooters — Electronic Targets will be employed at the 2022 High Power Rifle National Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. That means faster relays, quicker scoring, and NO PIT DUTY!
The 2022 NRA High Power National Matches will run at Camp Atterbury from July 8-28, 2022. Registration is now open. Click HERE to Register.
Silver Mountain Targets Electronic Targets at Camp Atterbury This Summer
The NRA has confirmed that the Silver Mountain Targets electronic target system will be deployed for the High Power Rifle phases of the 2022 National Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The Silver Mountain Targets (SMT) technology, the “fourth generation of Electronic Target System”, is an OPEN SENSOR system fitted to conventional wood target frames. It uses four sensors to plot shot location (and score value) with great precision. Scores are transmitted via a WiFi network to mobile devices placed at each shooting station. Along with shot location, the score values are listed and recorded on the receiving devices.
“The NRA has been working with the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association (ISRPA), as well as the Central Indiana High Power Rifle Shooters (CIHPRS) in order to bring electronic targets to the NRA National Matches”, said Joseph P. De Bergalis, Jr., Executive Director of NRA General Operations.
Over the past three years, the NRA has confirmed that Silver Mountain Targets systems have worked very effectively in rifle competition. The SMT sensor technology is now proven in competition: “In 2019, the ISRPA chose Silver Mountain Targets for our High Power matches including the ISRPA Across the Course State Championships and the Governor’s Cup match in 2019″, said ISRPA President Charles Hiltunen. “We did an extensive comparison of alternatives and Silver Mountain Targets best fit our needs. Since then we have been very happy with the targets.”
“Silver Mountain Targets is very excited to be chosen for the very first deployment of this technology at the NRA National Matches. Our advanced modular architecture represents the latest in electronic target technology,” said SMT’s David Schnelle. “The system is designed to be easily expandable and provide a high level of reliability. System components are battery-powered to simplify deployment on a military range and allows the system to even operate if there is a power outage. Communications between targets and the firing line is a highly reliable WiFi connection, utilizing any WiFi-capable device to display competitors’ shots.”
“The National Rifle Association is pleased to continue our improvements at Camp Atterbury in order to better serve the competitive shooting community and further promote the shooting sports”, said Cole McCulloch, Director of NRA Competitive Shooting.
“With the Silver Mountain Target system, we will be able to run more relays in less time and reduce demands on competitors and staff. We are also very pleased that technical representatives from Silver Mountain Targets will be on-site for the entire championship to ensure optimum performance and to train NRA staff and volunteers on the technology.”
The 2022 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits will be held May 26-29, 2022, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Starting Thursday evening the 26th, the NRA Annual Meetings will include numerous special events over the four days preceding Memorial Day (Monday May 30th). The NRA will have a powerhouse lineup of political speakers, country music artists, plus workshops and seminars. Below major events are listed. Along with these events, the Exhibit Hall will showcase over 14 acres of the latest guns and gear from shooting industry companies. Over 540 exhibitors.
Major Scheduled Events at 2022 NRA Annual Meetings
NRA-ILA Leadership Forum
May 27, 2022 | General Assembly Hall, George R. Brown Convention Center I
Confirmed Speakers will include: Wayne LaPierre (NRA Exec. VP), Jason Ouimet (NRA-ILA Exec. Director), Texas Governor Greg Abbott, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Dan Crenshaw, Kristi Noem, South Dakota Governor, Mark Robinson, North Carolina Lt. Governor.
Bryan Litz, founder of Applied Ballistics LLC, has a new Facebook page where, multiple times every week, he posts useful ballistics info and shooting tips. We recommend that Facebook users check out the new Bryan Litz Ballistics Facebook page. Here is one interesting example from that page. Bryan analyzes the Crosswind Weighting Factor (CWF). The Crosswind Weighting Factor (CWF) shows where a bullet’s trajectory is most susceptible to wind. By understanding CWF, shooters can better predict how wind affects bullet flight, especially at extreme ranges, when the projectile has gone transonic.
Crosswind Weighting Factor (CWF) graphs show where bullet trajectories are most susceptible to wind.
Where does the wind have the most effect?
At the shooter?
At the target?
Halfway?
Bryan Litz explains: “Out through the supersonic range, the CWF is maximum at the shooter. However as the trajectory extends into transonic, the max CWF gets pushed down range. That’s because the greatest segments of lag time in the bullets trajectory are at transonic where the drag coefficient is maximized around Mach 1.” [Editor: So if your bullet stays fully supersonic during its flight to your target, you can normally expect the CWF to be highest at your shooting station. But once the projectile drops into transonic speeds then the situation changes.]
Get More Tips on Bryan Litz Ballistics Facebook Page
This post is from the new Bryan Litz Ballistics Facebook page. You can bookmark that page at www.Facebook.com/BryanLitzBallitics. Facebook users will want to check that page regularly for other advice from Bryan, American’s leading Ballistics expert and founder of Applied Ballistics LLC.
Applied Ballistics recently launched a major online training operation — The Science of Accuracy Academy. This will include podcasts, exclusive seminars, and access to the latest Applied Ballistics research.
SIG Sauer has been awarded the Next Generation Squad Weapons System (NGSW) contract by the U.S. Army after a 27-month testing/evaluation process. This contract is for a new basic rifle and a new lightweight machine gun. Both new NGSW arms will use a new high-velocity 6.8mm cartridge — the 6.8×51 FURY. This 6.8×51 FURY Hybrid Ammunition features a patented bi-metal hybrid case designed to handle pressures higher than conventional ammo, resulting in significantly increased velocity and on-target energy in lighter weapons. These new rifles will also feature SIG Sauer suppressors.
The SIG-LMG (XM250) lightweight belt-fed machine gun and SIG MCX-SPEAR Rifle (XM5) are purpose-built to use SIG FURY 6.8 Common Cartridge Ammunition enabling greater range and increased lethality while reducing the weapon/ammo weight carried by soldiers. Both the SIG-LMG (XM250) and MCX-SPEAR (XM5) deliver significant advancements compared to the current M249 and M4/M4A1.
SIG Sauer’s new 6.8×51 XM250 and XM5 combat weapons both have a suppressor as standard issue equipment. SIG SLX Suppressors are designed to reduce sound signature and flash, and they feature a patented quick-detach design for easy installation/removal.
“The U.S. Army is taking a bold step toward the command of the 21st-century battlefield and SIG SAUER is immensely proud to be the selected provider for this historic revolution in infantry weapons. The fielding of the SIG SAUER Next Generation Squad Weapons System will forever change the dynamic of military engagement for America’s warfighters with American innovation and manufacturing,” stated Ron Cohen, President, and CEO of SIG Sauer, Inc.
SIG Sauer states: “The SIG FURY Hybrid Ammunition, SIG-LMG (XM250), SIG MCX-SPEAR Rifle (XM5), and SIG SLX Suppressors meaningfully advance soldier weapons technology to meet the emerging requirements of the U.S. Army.”
But is there a downside to switching to a completely new cartridge type? Yes — the problem is building ammo supplies. BreakingDefense.com notes: “While both the legacy rounds [5.56×45 and 7.62×51] have significant stockpiles built up over the years, getting ammunition levels to where they need to be is a daunting challenge”. At a Pentagon media briefing, Brig. Gen. William Boruff, executive officer for armaments and ammunition explained: “Current ammunition is such that the availability is almost an afterthought. This is because the Army has spent decades refining its process to ensure a sufficient inventory of 5.56 ammunition is available and the industry base is present to continue replenishing on a consistent basis. The Army has not introduced a new caliber for about 65 years[.] Doing so will require extensive coordination” to ramp up production and build 6.8×51 inventories.
The SIG Sauer XM5 rifle offers advantages over current U.S. military rifles. The new SIG rifle is built on the MCX platform with the added firepower of the 6.8×51 round. The XM5 features familiar AR-style ambidextrous ergonomics for easy transition from the legacy weapons to the SIG NGSW system. The weapons will also employ SIG Sauer “Next Generation” Suppressors.
SIG Sauer is proud to offer the advancements of the NGSW System in the SIG 277 FURY Hybrid Ammunition (the commercial variant of the SIG 6.8×51 FURY Ammunition round), SIG MCX-SPEAR Rifle, and the SIG SLX Suppressors available to the consumer. For more information about these products visit sigsauer.com.
Applied Ballistics has just launched a great, new online resource for shooters: The Science of Accuracy Academy. This subscription-based website is launching with nearly 30 podcast episodes, with many more planned, as well as video content, Zoom classes, and much more.
The main goal of this new online resource is to adapt and modernize the delivery of content coming from Applied Ballistics LLC. In past years, books, DVDs, and seminars were the primary avenues for delivering information. Modern technology has evolved, and the delivery of information can be done in more efficient ways such as streaming videos, podcast discussions of book and seminar content. In addition to being a more modern delivery platform, The Science of Accuracy Academy allows for more frequent updates than traditional books and DVDs.
Bryan Litz, owner of Applied Ballistics LLC tells us: “I’m very excited about this avenue to share what we’re learning in the Applied Ballistics lab. I think many shooters will benefit from the podcasts, which contain very insightful discussions and can be enjoyed in your car, or as you work. We look forward to publishing more of our research thru the Science of Accuracy Academy”.
About the Science of Accuracy Academy Content and Programs
Below, Bryan Litz comments about the Academy’s new podcast offerings and other interactive content. Bryan notes: “We’ve benefited a great deal from practicing the scientific method, and we want to share what we’ve learned.”
Book Content via Podcasts — Many of the podcast episodes are specific reviews of Applied Ballistics book chapters. I’ll sit with Mitch or Francis (both experienced, champion shooters) and discuss the chapter, what it was like to do the tests. We will also discuss behind the scenes problems, as well as what we’ve learned since publishing the books. This lets subscribers get knowledge from the books. And, as a podcast, you can listen while driving, working out, or whatever.
The World of Doppler Radar — In recent years we have spent considerable time visiting shooting matches with the AB Mobile Lab and running Doppler radar. Between that and some of the government contracting work, we’ve built up a lot of experiences and it’s been a long time since a book was published. This Academy is a great outlet for us to update the shooting world on what we’ve been doing and learning.
Ballistics Science and Precision Loading — We’ve been doing hardcore ballistic science for the past few years and have a lot to share. We’ve come to see some aspects of handloading and shooting in a fundamentally different way. For example, understanding the statistical nature of precision has caused us to re-shape how we make decisions in the handloading process. As a result, we now better understand cause-effect relationships and can make deliberate, reliable progress as a result.
Bryan Litz Announces the New Science of Accuracy Academy
The Lighter Side — Bryan told AccurateShooter.com: “Some of the podcast episodes are much less serious! We have fun arguing about which shooting disciplines are harder. For example, Mitch Fitzpatrick and I talk with Francis Colon and Chad Heckler about PRS vs. ELR shooting. We discuss what we like and dislike about the different sports, what we would like to see changed, and what competition shooting has meant for us as individuals. This open-ended format explores long range shooting from the technical to the personal and everything in-between.”
Airgun Depot has a new skill contest for airgun shooters. Airgun Depot’s 10X10 Challenge encourages customers to head out to the range, test their marksmanship skills, and earn a chance at over $4000 worth of prizes.
No purchase is necessary to enter. You can download FREE 10X10 Challenge targets or order a free set of pre-printed, 10×10 Challenge targets at AirgunDepot.com. CLICK HERE for target page then use Promo Code 10X10 to get the target set for free (shipping is extra).
How the 10×10 Challenge Works
Participants take 10 shots at the 10-inch target from a set distance. Try multiple distances for more challenge. The farther the distance, the bigger the prize level. To enter the contest, you must upload a photo of your completed 10X10 Challenge target. Upload the target using the online instructions at airgundepot.com/challenge.html.
10 yards: 10 winners of a Smith & Wesson M29 BB Revolver
30 yards: 3 winners of a Springfield Armory M1A Pellet Rifle
50 yards: 2 winners of a Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup
100 yards: 1 grand prize winner of a AirForce Texan LSS
The 10X10 Challenge will run from April 15th through May 20th. Winners will be selected randomly at the end of the campaign. NOTE: To enter the contest, you must upload a photo of the target(s) you shot. UPLOAD PHOTOS HERE.
With a wide selection of air rifles, air pistols, ammo, and accessories, Airgun Depot is the one-stop shop for all the airgun enthusiasts on your shopping list. To learn more and browse the full Airgun Depot inventory, visit AirgunDepot.com.
