The 2022 United States F-Class National Championships commence Sunday, October 16, 2022 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) in Phoenix. There’s a “hybrid” format this year. (The range should be open for practice on Saturday 10/15/2022). For 2022, the Nationals combine both Mid-Range and Long-Range competitions in one extended mega-match. The Mid-Range U.S. F-Class Nationals take place October 16-19, 2022, with all shooting at 600-yard targets. The Long Range F-Class National Championships then run Thursday, October 20 through Sunday October 23, 2022. All Long Range matches are at 1000 yards. The competitions will have two different divisions: F-Open and F-TR (Target Rifle). Registration is now closed for both Mid-Range and Long-Range Championships.*
Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, Ben Avery is one of the nation’s largest publicly operated shooting facilities. A City of Phoenix “Point of Pride,” the facility has received a five-star rating from the National Association of Shooting Ranges. A camping area is available for competitors. Contact Ben Avery Shooting Range Camping to reserve a camping spot.
Firing line at 2015 F-Class Nationals at Ben Avery Shooting Facility.
You’ll see some serious hardware on the firing line at Ben Avery. Here’s a modern F-Open rig with a handsome maple stock. The gun, belonging to David Mann of Texas, shoots as good as it looks.
RULES: Current NRA F-Class Rules shall apply. TARGETS: MR-1FC at 600 yards and LRFC at 1000 yards. TARGET SERVICE: Competitors will pull their own targets. SCORING: Competitors will score. Any competitor failing to perform his scoring duties may be disqualified. SQUADDING: All matches will be squadded. Squadding tickets for individual matches will be issued at the Stat. Office starting at 6:30 AM Sunday 16 October. Any competitor who fails to obtain his squadding ticket by 7:30 AM will only be squadded to fill up vacancies. CLASSIFICATION: NRA F-Class Classifications will be used. Those competitors unclassified or without proof of a lower classification, will be required to compete in the Master class. Please indicate classification on the registration and entry form. EMPTY CHAMBER INDICATOR (ECI): Approved NRA empty chamber indicators are required to be used at all times except during the preparation period time and firing.
* Registration officially ended on Monday, October 10, 2022. Entries after this time are considered late entries and may be accepted to fill vacancies on existing relays only. An additional $20.00 will be charged for late entries.
The first step in overturning unconstitutional new anti-gun laws in New York state has been accomplished. In the case of Antonyuk et al v. Hochul, a Federal judge has enjoined the application of a draconian New York law which severely restricts the rights of gun owners to carry firearms outside their homes.
The groups leading the legal action in Antonyuk v. Hochul, Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Gun Owners Foundation (GOF), secured a temporary restraining order (TRO) in Federal court against the poorly-named New York “Concealed Carry Improvement Act”.
Provisions of this law that are blocked under this TRO include:
— Requiring businesses to openly state they ALLOW concealed carry
— Disclosing one’s social media accounts for review
— Prohibitions on carrying in most so-called “sensitive places”, including doctor’s offices, Times Square, restaurants, and places of entertainment, and on public transportation
— In-person interviews with law enforcement
The TRO will take effect next week, unless a Federal circuit court overturns this ruling before then. Erich Pratt, GOA’s Senior Vice President, issued the following statement:
“Anti-gunners like Kathy Hochul and Eric Adams lied and misrepresented the 2nd Amendment to the courts, putting New Yorkers at a great disadvantage in the midst of rising crime. We are grateful to Judge Suddaby for his quick action to restore the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Once the TRO goes into effect, GOA encourages New Yorkers to exercise their rights and to defend themselves and the ones they love.”
Sam Paredes, on behalf of the Board of Directors for the Gun Owners Foundation, added:
“New York doubled down to infringe on the Second Amendment in direct contradiction of the edicts from the U.S. Supreme Court. GOA and GOF are thankful to be vindicated by Judge Suddaby, who helped restore gun rights today. GOA and GOF will continue to fight for the rights of the people until Albany sets aside anti-gun hysteria and supports their citizens’ unalienable right to self-defense, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment.”
Here’s great news for F-TR and long-range competitors. SEB Joy-Pods are getting ready to ship. Produced by SEB Rests in Indonesia, these superb joy-stick controlled bipods are favored by top F-TR competitors. They also work great for informal bench shooting and varmint shooting from the ground or a truckbed. We also know some folks who use Joy-Pods with .22 LR rifles at rimfire benchrest matches.
The Joy-Pod has been a huge success around the world. And while the the Joy-Pod’s geometry has worked exceptionally well, designer Sebastian Lambang has made some minor updates to the main support arms. The angle of the horizontal arms is slightly flatter (more horizontal). This allows the entire unit to ride lower if desired. Compare the two types of Joy-Pods in the photo below. The older design is in the rear while the updated Joy-Pod is in the front. The new Joy-Pod rides about 1.2″ lower at lowest setting.
Order Joy-Pods through SEB USA
Joy-Pods, Mini-X, NEO and other SEB Rest products are sold in the United States by SEB USA, run by Ernie Bishop. Contact Ernie for the current pricing and the projected delivery dates. Visit Sebrests-USA.com for ordering information.
Today’s episode of Shooting USA TV has two interesting reports. Fans of 1911 pistols will enjoy the report on America’s leading collector of this classic handgun. In addition, Shooting USA has an informative feature on the Springfield Model 1903 bolt-action rifle, which served the U.S. military in two World Wars.
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
America’s Most Notable 1911 Collector
Today’s Shooting USA episde features a notable collector of rare and extremely valuable 1911s from as far back as the Military Trials in March of 1911. He even owns the Savage that competed for the contract and lost to John Browning’s design made by Colt. Plus, he has 1911s with official documents to prove they don’t exist, but they are very much present in his collection. At a location in Indiana, behind a 1300-pound door, rests a stash of 1911s that would make any museum proud.
The 1911 pistol, the most famous of John Browning’s classic pistol designs, served as the standard pistol of the US Military for 75 years. More than two and a half million were made for U.S. forces, and civilian versions are still in production today. The 1911 is one of the most popular for collectors, because of its rich history, and the many variations by different gun-makers.
There are so many different variations of the war era 1911 that it’s hard to keep track of all the versions. In fact, some 1911s are known not by the markings they have but rather the markings they lack. Collectors call them “lunchbox guns”, pistols that made their way out of the factory (maybe in somebody’s lunchbox) before they got a serial number and proof markings.
History’s Guns — Springfield Model 1903-A3 Rifle
Mention WW II and instantly folks will remember the M1 Garand. But at the start of the war, there weren’t enough of them. So, thousands of American soldiers instead carried the Model 1903 Springfield, left over from World War I. And Remington got the contract to make more and make them quickly. That brought changes, lots of them, and a new designation, the U.S. Model 1903-A3. This legendary rifle is featured today on Shooting USA’s History’s Guns segment.
M1903 Springfield shooter at Camp Perry. From GarandThumbBlog’s 2015 CMP Games Video.
New York state’s cynical response to the landmark NYSRPA v. Bruen case, which affirmed a Constitutional right to carry firearms, was to defy that decision completely. New York’s politicians, lead by authoritarian N.Y. Governor Kathy Hochul, passed legislation (S51001) that put nearly all of the state “off-limits” to persons with carry permits. The goal was to render New York CCW permits essentially useless because CCW use was geographically forbidden throughout the state. Thankfully, Second Amendment advocacy organizations FPC and SAF have now challenged these new restrictions in New York state.
The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) has filed a motion for preliminary injunction in Boron v. Bruen*, its lawsuit challenging New York’s “sensitive location” handgun carry bans in public parks, public transportation, and all private property without express consent. The motion can be viewed at FPCLegal.org. That new legislation, S51001, banned carry nearly everywhere, including public buildings, shopping centers, parking lots, train stations, parks, and countless other locations.
The FPC’s lawyers note: “Under S51001, ‘ordinary, law-abiding citizens’ … are again prevented from carrying handguns in public for self-defense in almost all corners of the State, except in what Governor Hochul said were, ‘probably some streets’.” The FPC’s motion to enjoin enforcement of the new law adds that: “S51001 makes a mockery of the Supreme Court’s holding in Bruen, which reaffirmed that personal security “emphatically extends to include ordinary, law-abiding Americans ‘outside the home’.”
“The New York Legislature appears to think that when the Supreme Court closed the door on New York’s may issue permit regime it opened a window for equally onerous location restrictions,” said FPC Director of Legal Operations Bill Sack. For more on FPC’s pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org
About the Firearms Policy Coalition
Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutionally protected rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. FPC’s efforts are focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and adjacent issues including freedom of speech, due process, unlawful searches and seizures, separation of powers, asset forfeitures, privacy, encryption, and limited government. The FPC works through litigation, research, scholarly publications, legislative and regulatory action, and other programs.
* On September 28, 2022, the original first-named plaintiff, John Boron, has been voluntarily dismissed from the action. Plaintiffs Brett Christian, Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc., and Second Amendment Foundation will continue in the case as plaintiffs. A motion to change the caption and short title of this action has been filed. If that goes through, the lawsuit may be re-titled “Christian et al v. Bruen”.
Over 30 million Americans participated in target shooting or hunting last year. Notably, there is greater diversity among hunters and target shooters than ever before. In 2021, 32% of target shooters were female, up from 25% a decade ago. And the share of Black or Hispanic target shooters has been increasing 5% and 4% respectively per year.
This interesting information was revealed in a new report released by the Outdoor Foundation and the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports. According to that report, the user diversity of hunting and target shooting participation increased significantly in the USA over the past decade.
The 2022 Special Report on Hunting and the Shooting Sports provides a comprehensive look at the more than 30 million Americans who participated at least once in hunting (gun or archery) or target shooting in 2021. Highlights from the new report include:
Firearms Target Shooting Participation:
— 6.2% of the U.S. population ages 6 and over participated in target shooting
— 32% of participants were female, up from 25% a decade ago
— Share of target shooters who were Black or Hispanic increased 5% and 4%, respectively, on average for the past 3 years
— “High cost” was the number one barrier reported for target shooting
— “For recreation” was the number one motivation for target shooting
Hunting Participation:
— 4.6% of the U.S. population ages 6 and over went hunting at least once
— 27% of participants were female, up from 16% a decade ago
— Share of hunters who were Black or Hispanic increased 4% and 1%, respectively, on average for the past 3 years
— 68% of hunters were introduced to hunting by a family members
— 49% of hunters first participated before reaching the age of 18
— “For food/meat” was the number one motivation for hunting
The 37th annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, scheduled this weekend, September 30 through October 2, 2022 at the Westin Dallas-Fort Worth Airport hotel, in Irving, Texas. The event will feature more than 70 speakers covering a wide range of topics including Second Amendment legal actions, the upcoming November 8 midterm elections, state and local affairs, the media, personal protection and more. If you want to go, CLICK HERE for discounted Westin Hotel rates for attendees.
Co-sponsored by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), the 37th annual GRPC will feature a weekend of panel discussions, special reports by leading gun rights advocates, an awards luncheon and more. The event brings together speakers from across the country to offer insights on current and upcoming court cases, the outlook for state and federal elections in November, concealed and Constitutional carry updates, and the impact of the notable Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which affirmed the right to legally bear arms in public.
Some 600 to 800 Second Amendment activists are expected to attend. “We’re anticipating a good turnout, with lots of opportunities for networking, one-on-one conversations, updates on various lawsuits in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, and the outlook for November and beyond”, said SAF founder and Executive V.P. Alan M. Gottlieb.
You can attend the GRPC event for FREE — there is no admission fee. Register now via the Second Amendment Foundation website: www.SAF.org/GRPC.
SAF and CCRKBA leaders will be joined by representatives from Gun Owners of America, the National Rifle Association, Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership, Firearms Policy Coalition, and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership.
This is the first time in three years the GRPC has been an in-person event. In 2020 and 2021, the conference was conducted online as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Today, September 24, 2022, is National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD). We’re proud to recognize how important hunting is for millions of Americans — as a source of food for families and as an important connection with nature and the outdoors. The NFHD website has helpful resources for hunters, and in this article we provide links for Where to Hunt, How to get Hunting Licenses, and Hunter Education.
NHFD was first established by President Nixon in 1972. According to NationalToday.com, NHFD’s “roots go back more than 100 years to President Theodore Roosevelt, who introduced the first laws regulating the hunting of wildlife in the United States.”
This month we hope some of our readers can take new shooters afield and introduce them to hunting. Many hunters receive their first introduction to hunting from family or friends as a tradition passed down from generation to generation. There are over 9.2 million hunters in the United States.
To have a successful hunt you must first get to areas where game thrives. Finding the right places to hunt is essential. The NSSF offers a nationwide Where-to-Hunt database of hunting areas. You can click on a particular state, then specify the specicies you wish to hunt. This is a very useful resource.
In most states, when hunting game animals, you’ll need a hunting license and/or zone permit. The Federal Fish & Wildlife Service has state-by-state listing for hunting licenses on FWS.gov. Click the box below to learn how to get hunting licenses in your region.
For all hunters, whether they have mentors to guide them or not, the most important first step into the woods begins with a state-certified hunter education course. Click the box below to see hunting education opportunities around the nation.
Game Resources — To learn more about different game species, click these NSSF links:
To help you prepare for a fall hunt, here is a free, printable Deer Practice target. Hone your skills on a trio of bucks with a red bullseye centered on the animals. You can print the targets in black and white, but they look best in color. Right-click the image below to download a FREE printable PDF file.
There is a chilling new threat to Second Amendment rights coming from the financial sector. Major credit card companies — Mastercard, Visa, and American Express — intend to implement a new purchase code identifying sales at gun stores. This new “Merchant Category Code” (MCC) identifies specific types of transactions/purchases. If shared with state or federal agencies, lists of gun-coded purchases could be used to create a de-facto national registry of gun owners. That is a disturbing prospect.
Fox Business reports: “Payment processor Visa announced … its plans to separately categorize gun shop sales, joining Mastercard and American Express, which have already said they would categorize purchases at firearm stores. Visa said it would apply the International Organization for Standardization’s new merchant code to gun shop sales. The new IOS code was announced on Friday [September 9, 2022]. Previously, gun store sales were labeled as ‘general merchandise’.”
The NRA Institute for Legislative Action explained the risk of this new code for gun sales: “If fully implemented by the various payment processors, the hope of gun-control groups for this new MCC is that it will create a registry of gun owners that they have long sought.”
“On September 9, the International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) announced that it would create a new Merchant Category Code (“MCC”) specific to firearm and ammunition retailers. MCCs are the codes that payment processing networks (like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express) use to categorize various transactions. This is the system that allows various credit cards to offer different benefits for certain categories of purchases or to charge different fees for those same categories.” (SEE NRAILA.org Report.)
The push for this new code originated with anti-gun groups in Democrat-controlled blue states. This action by the ISO was made at the urging of New York-based Amalgamated Bank, which bragged about being “the first banking organization to endorse Everytown for Gun Safety’s principles”. Amalgamated’s petition was supported by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), New York Mayor Eric Adams, and the anti-gun groups Giffords and Guns Down America. Fox Business reported that “New York City officials and pension funds had pushed the ISO and banks to adopt the new code on gun shop sales”.
There is a real concern that there would be broad over-reporting of sales relating to guns, because the Code would be applied to a variety of purchases.
NRA America’s First Freedom explains: “A person who uses a credit card to purchase a gun safe, a trolling motor and binoculars from a sporting goods store over several weeks or months, as well as any ammunition they might need, will make all of these purchases under the same proposed MCC used for gun sales. If anti-Second Amendment extremists get their way, these purchases could then prompt a credit-card company to report the sales to the authorities. Next, a police officer, or an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), might show up at a citizen’s home to find out why they’ve been buying so much stuff from their local ‘gun store’.”
Fighting Back — 24 State Attorney Generals Oppose New Code
The Attorney Generals (AGs) of 24 states have sent letters to Credit Card company CEOs requesting elimination of the new Merchant Category Code (MCC) for gun stores being implemented by Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. These AGs of 24 states stated their intent to “marshal the full scope of our lawful authority” to block the use of the new Code to be applied to gun and gun-related sales.
The AGs sent a letter last week to the CEOs of American Express, Mastercard, and Visa. The AGs explained that the Code could be misused and lead to a de facto gun registry: “Creating and tracking this data only matters if your institutions are considering using that information to take further, harmful action—like infringing upon consumer privacy, inhibiting constitutionally protected purchases by selectively restricting the use of your payment systems, or otherwise withholding your financial services from targeted ‘disfavored’ merchants.” READ MORE.
The AGs added that the Code would not be able to distinguish between actual firearms sales vs. hunting/outdoor accessories, leading to problems for consumers: “This categorization would not recognize the difference, for example, between the purchase of a gun safe and a firearm. Nor would it capture firearm purchases made at department stores, resulting in arbitrarily disparate treatment of ‘gun store’ merchants and consumers.”
Along with the letters set to Credit Card companies, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, has issued a statement saying that the use of a special gun code by Credit Card companies threatens the Second Amendment. Accordingly, he says the state of Florida would oppose this:
“If we come to the legislative session and companies like Visa, Mastercard and American Express are generating these reports to create a chilling effect against the purchase of firearms, then I’ll work with the Legislature to pass a law penalizing businesses who are targeting the right to bear arms.” READ MORE.
In support of America’s military veterans, in memory of those who sacrificed their lives, Andy Wickstrom, President of Henry Repeating Arms Company presented a $50,000 check to the American Legion at its recent national convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard was also given an engraved Henry Military Services Tribute Edition rifle in appreciation for Dillard’s service with the organization.
Respected YouTube host 22Plinkster reviews five popular Henry lever-action rifles.
“Henry Repeating Arms believes in the American Legion’s principles and mission of strengthening America by upholding American values, fostering patriotism, giving back, and we respect their many extraordinary accomplishments”, said Wickstrom. He added, “Thank you to all who have served, to those who are currently serving. We are forever indebted to you and the sacrifices you have made.”
Henry Repeating Arms Co. Pledges One Million Dollars for Charitable Causes
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Henry Repeating Arms’ CEO and Founder Anthony Imperato made a $1,000,000 pledge for the company’s charitable branch, Guns For Great Causes. This program’s beneficiaries include children’s hospitals, military veteran organizations, 2nd Amendment advocacy groups, shooting sports and hunter education organizations, and wildlife conservation agencies. In the coming weeks, Henry Repeating Arms will a limited-edition Golden Boy Silver Anniversary Edition rifle with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the organizations and charities supported by Guns For Great Causes.
About the American Legion: Chartered by Congress in 1919, the American Legion is America’s largest wartime veterans service organization, with over two million Legionnaires serving the motto, “Veterans Strengthening America”. Legionnaires seek to improve the well-being of their fellow veterans, their families, their communities, and the country through services and programs including youth mentorship, homeless veteran assistance, and quality-of-life improvements for wounded veterans.
Today’s Shooting USA episde features a notable collector of rare and extremely valuable 1911s from as far back as the Military Trials in March of 1911. He even owns the Savage that competed for the contract and lost to John Browning’s design made by Colt. Plus, he has 1911s with official documents to prove they don’t exist, but they are very much present in his collection. At a location in Indiana, behind a 1300-pound door, rests a stash of 1911s that would make any museum proud.
