The IWA Outdoor Classics trade show, aka “Euro SHOT Show”, opened yesterday, March 3rd, in Nuremberg, Germany. For four days (March 3-6, 2022), exhibitors from around the world will show their products at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre. IWA Outdoor Classics is Europe’s biggest combined trade show for the hunting, shooting, and civilian/military security industries. CLICK HERE for MORE PHOTOS.
Three long years have passed since the last IWA Outdoor Classics in 2019. In years past this been a hugely popular event, attracting over 45,500 trade visitors from 115 countries. This year 918 exhibitors from a total of 54 countries will present their latest products and services in ten exhibit halls. We are pleased to see the IWA Outdoor Classics return in 2022 after the event was cancelled due to COVID in 2020 and 2021.
Anschutz straight-pull action Biathlon rifle with interesting skeletonized grips.
European Market for Civilian Firearms is Thriving
While IWA show attendance may be lower this year, Europe’s civilian firearms industries are thriving, based on data from the European Institute of Hunting and Sporting Arms (IEACS). “Global production of civilian firearms has increased in recent years, as has European production, which recorded 3.6 million firearms produced in 2020, of which 2.7 million were pistols and 900,000 were shotguns and rifles. Compared to the previous year, this represents a 34% increase in European firearms production,” said Nicola Perrotti, IEACS president.
About the IWA Outdoor Classics Trade Show
What is now the IWA Outdoor Classics trade show began 49 years ago as Germany’s national product show for gunsmiths and gun retailers. That product show started modestly in 1973 with less than 100 exhibitors. Over the past five decades IWA Outdoor Classics has grown into a massive event, drawing the major players in the hunting, security, and shooting sports industries. In the firearm universe, the IWA event is second only to America’s SHOT Show in importance.
IWA Live Talks – Long Range Shooting and Hunting
In this IWA-hosted video, Nic Kytlica, Shooting Sports Marketing Manager at Leupold, explains how modern optical and electronic technology has enhanced long-range shooting. Nic also explains key equipment used for long-range shooting and hunting. The video also covers the rise of long-range competition shooting in Europe. To view other IWA Live Talks, CLICK HERE.
If you want to ship handguns, as a private party (non-FFL), there are now very limited options. You cannot use the U.S. Postal Service, and, since September 2021, you cannot use FEDEX. Yes, that’s right, FEDEX no longer allows non-FFLs to ship handguns.
So UPS is currently the only choice for handguns (for non-FFLs). But this can be very expensive because of rules requiring overnight shipping. There IS an alternative that can save you significant money. By ordering your shipping labels from ShipMyGun.com, you could save $50 or more on UPS handgun shipping. It is quick and easy.
ShipMyGun.com has a large FFL database, so you can verify the recipient’s address and FFL status. The ShipMyGun.com website has a simple to use label-printing process.
All handgun shipments are fulfilled via next day air. Long guns are shipped quickly via ground and typically arrive within 3-5 business days. (NOTE: For rifles and shotguns it is still possible to use U.S. Postal Service and FEDEX, following their rules.)
How ShipMyGun.com Works
Go to ShipMyGun.com. Click the Get Started Link. The choose handgun or long gun (rifle, shotgun). Use the FFL Database to find the address for the FFL shop to which the gun will be shipped. All shipments must go to an FFL. Then you fill out the billing information. After confirming all the info, print the label. Then you attach the label to your shipment box and take it to a participating UPS facility. (NOTE: some private UPS stores will NOT handle ANY firearms).
Shipping Questions? Read the FAQ Page
ShipMyGun.com has a helpful Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page. We suggest you read over this before your first shipment. GO TO FAQ PAGE.
Here are some notable Questions & Answers:
Q. Can I ship ammo with my gun?
A. NO, it is against the law to include ammo with your firearm shipment. Loose ammo or boxed ammo cannot be included. Also, inspect (clear) your firearm to ensure it is NOT LOADED prior to packaging.
Q. Should I include identification?
A. Yes, you MUST include a copy of your driver’s license. Dealers will not accept a private party transfer without it. Failing to include your drivers license could delay the recipient from being able to accept their transfer or result in the firearm being returned to you at an additional cost.
Q. Are there any restrictions on what I can and cannot ship?
A. Simply put, yes. You can find our restrictions on our State Restrictions Page. Please note: it is your responsibility to ensure that the firearm you’re shipping is legal to own at its destination. If it is not, the dealer who receives the firearm will not transfer it to its intended recipient[.]
About ShipMyGun.com
ShipMyGun.com is a division of BudsGunShop.com. The business has now shipped over 1 million guns for over 250,000 customers. This allow ShipMyGun.com to pass on significant discounts for both private party shippers and FFL shippers.
SIGHTRON Spring Instant Savings Program
SIGHTRON is running a Spring 2022 Sales Promotion on select riflescopes: the SII, SIII, SVIII and SIII PLR. With this Spring Instant Savings program, you save up to $900 (31%), with typical savings from $300 to $350 (23-28%). CLICK HERE to see all scopes on sale now, all of which are backed by SIGHTRON’s Lifetime Performance Guarantee warranty. To get these savings, you can BUY DIRECT from Sightron, or order from Sightron Dealers such as Creedmoor Sports.
This INSTANT SAVINGS promotion runs March 1, 2022 through April 30, 2022.
Save $350 on SIII PLR (precision long-range riflescopes): Sightron’s PLR scopes provide premium performance in an affordable package. All models sport a black satin finish with high visibility markings. Discounted models included: 8-32x56mm illum. MH-5 reticle and 6-24x50mm illum. MH-5 reticle.
Save $300 on SIII: The SIGHTRON SIII models included in the Spring Savings Program are: 6-24x50mm Mil-Dot, 8-32x56mm Target Dot 1.25, 36x45mm Fine Cross Hair and 36x45mm ED Target Dot .1
Save $900 on SVIII: The SVIII FFP features ED (extra-low dispersion) glass providing exceptional brightness, clarity, and sharpness. Designed for long-range target shooting, the SVIII 5-40x56mm ED scope provides 20 MILS of windage and 40 MILS of elevation with .1 Mil tactical knobs. The new 40 mm body tube is waterproof, shockproof, and nitrogen-charged.
Save $150 on SII: Designed for competition, the SII BRD 36x45mm riflescope features a precision-ground glass objective lens system for high-quality, crisp and clear color corrected images. The SII BRD 36x45mm is offered with a Target Dot .125 MOA reticle.
Henry Repeating Arms Founder and CEO Anthony Imperato.
In 2022, Henry Repeating Arms celebrates its landmark 25th year. The company, one of America’s biggest long gun manufacturers, is now the nation’s leading rimfire/centerfire lever-action rifle-maker. Learn all about the company’s 25-year history and current programs in the 16-page Anniversary Newsletter.
The company was started in 1993, when Henry Repeating Arms Founder (and CE0) Anthony Imperato took a home equity loan in 1993 to start the Colt Blackpowder Arms Company. That entity made historic Colt revolvers and muskets under license from Colt’s Manufacturing. Along with his father, Louis Imperato, the father/son duo leveraged the family’s experience in the gun business and began developing a rimfire lever-action rifle in 1996. In March 1997, the first Henry Repeating Arms model H001 Classic Lever Action .22 rifles shipped from a small factory in Brooklyn, New York.
The Henry Repeating Arms motto is: “Made in America, Or Not Made At All.”
Now headquartered in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, the company employs over 550 people at three manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin and New Jersey. Henry manufactures over 200 different rifles and shotguns in a wide variety of calibers for hunting, home protection, and shooting sports. Notable standouts include the company’s flagship rifle, the Henry Golden Boy .22, its centerfire counterpart, the Henry Big Boy, the engraved Tribute Edition firearms, and the modern X Model series.
Guns For Great Causes
Through a charitable branch of the company called Guns For Great Causes, Henry Repeating Arms has made significant financial contributions to children’s hospitals and families of critically ill children. Guns For Great Causes also helps support active-duty and military veterans’ organizations, law enforcement and first responder organizations, pro-Second Amendment organizations, shooting sports education groups, and wildlife and habitat conservation entities. As part of Henry’s 25th-anniversary celebrations, the company is donating 1,000 Golden Boy “Silver Anniversary” Limited Edition rifles to raise a total of $1,000,000 for distribution among these deserving constituencies.
The company praised its employees: “Without a doubt, we would not be here celebrating 25 years of success without the hard work and dedication of every Henry Repeating Arms employee, several of whom have been with me since day one. They are the heart and soul of the company,” says CEO Anthony Imperato. Company President Andy Wickstrom added: “This company was built on a solid foundation of talent and sheer determination, and while we have come a long way, it still feels like we are just getting started. Henry fans and customers have a lot to look forward to this year and beyond.”
Special Edition Models Coming this Year
Henry Repeating Arms will mark its 25th year with several limited-edition models, including the Golden Boy “Silver Anniversary” Edition, a special edition of the New Original Henry, a 25th-anniversary edition of the H001 Classic Lever Action .22, and more. For more information about these releases, visit Henryusa.com/25-year-anniversary.
Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) Urges Support of Ukrainian Gun Owners
Ukraine is in crisis, but Alan Gottlieb, SAF founder and executive vice president, says American gun owners can help: “We’re calling on our fellow gun owners and rights activists to support Zbroya, the Ukranian Gun Owners Association (UGOA).”
UGOA is a member organization of the Int’l Association for the Protection of Civilian Arms Rights (IAPCAR), which SAF helped organize more than a decade ago. Now, more than ever, gun owners in Ukraine are in dire need of support, because civilian arms rights has never been more important in that nation.
“Our brother and sister gun owners in the Ukraine are fighting for their lives,” Gottlieb said, “and now is the time for gun owners across the country and around the world to step up and help them in their hour of need.” Contributions may be made directly to the UGOA. CLICK HERE to visit UGOA website.
When IAPCAR was founded, Gottlieb recalled, “We stressed the importance of civilian arms rights because when a nation is threatened with its very existence, responsibility for that nation’s defense invariably falls to the people, the patriots willing to take up arms and stand on the front lines of freedom.”
“If anyone wonders why the right to keep and bear arms is so important, they only need to watch the evening news for the answer. More than 200 years ago, our fledgling nation had to fight for its very existence. Times have changed, but for the people of Ukraine, the circumstances are very much the same. This young nation is battling raw aggression, and that fight involves our fellow gun owners. Help us help our friends and allies in Ukraine.”
EDITOR: I have visited Ukraine twice, and still have friends there in Kiev and Odessa. What is happening right now is tragic for the Ukrainian people, who suffered mightily in the 20th Century due to Stalin-caused massed famines, followed by Nazi oppression.
The NRA has released the final 2022 National Rifle and Pistol Match schedule. The 2022 NRA National Rifle and Pistol Championships will be held July 8 through August 7, 2022 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. A National Match Calendar for next summer has been released, which we publish below.
The 2022 NRA Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Atterbury will start with OTC (Over the Course) High Power Rifle competition. This is unlike 2021 when the Nationals at Atterbury started with Smallbore events. In 2022 the Smallbore 3-position event runs from July 25 through July 29. Some competitors have lamented that this overlaps with the Long Range Championship (July 23-28), so shooters will have to choose one or the other. The 1-Mile Extreme Long Range Challenge match returns to the National Matches Calendar after being dropped in 2021.
High Power OTC Events and Championship: 8-14 July, 2022
Precision Pistol Championships: 17-23 July, 2022
High Power Mid-Range Championship: 16-21 July, 2022
High Power Long Range Championship: 23-28 July, 2022
Smallbore 3-Position Nationals: 25-29 July, 2022
Smallbore Prone Nationals: 30 July – 7 August, 2022
Extreme Long Range Challenge: 5-7 August, 2022
The 2022 NRA High Power Across the Course, Mid-Range, and Long Range Championships will be fired on the ranges of Camp Atterbury. Matches will begin on July 8 and run through August 7. This year the NRA revives the Extreme Long Range Challenge, which will run August 5-7. All registrations will be handled through the NRA Competition Portal.
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.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has issued an ammunition safety advisory to all users of M1 Garands, M1903s, and M1903A3 rifles. Ammunition that is loaded beyond 50,000 Copper Units of Pressure (CUP) and using bullets weighing more than 172 grains should be limited to modern rifles, and NOT USED in old military rifles aged 70+ years.
After this warning was issued by the CMP, the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA) provided further safety recommendations for owners or older firearms:
CRPA Ammunition and Older Firearms Guidelines
Many of us have either purchased or inherited firearms in excess of 25 years of age. The issue … noted as an example by the Civilian Marksmanship Program in regards to certain ammunition leads as they apply to the M1 Garand is not isolated to that particular firearm. The CRPA… has seen similar issues exposed with other [older] firearms when using modern loads. We strongly advise you to check with the manufacturer for recommended load limitations before purchasing modern ammunition for an older firearm.
CRPA also recommends these safety procedures:
— Have a gunsmith check your older firearm for safety prior to using it.
— Take a reloading class to help develop a safe load for your older firearm.
— Inspect older ammunition for defects such as a green patina or rust build up on the cases or crystallization on the projectiles. If defects are observed, the CRPA suggests disassembling the ammo into components for proper recycling and disposal.
Storage of Ammo for Older Rifles
The CRPA also cautioned that you should be cautious about older ammo that may be decades old, including old milsurp ammunition. The CRPA advises:
1. Store ammunition in a cool, dry, location where little temperature fluctuation occurs.
2. If storing ammunition in an air/watertight ammo can, utilize water absorbent silica packs and place packs in the can with the ammunition.
3. Conduct periodic checks every 12-24 months and replace the silica packs as needed.
Blaser Group will soon be offering a rare selection of Sauer rifles — the J.P. Sauer and Sohn’s 270th Anniversary Collection of rifles. Only 10 sets of this special limited-edition collection were made and only one set is currently available for sale here in the United States. The set includes four rifles: a Sauer 100, Sauer 101, and Sauer 404 all chambered in .270 caliber, along with a Sauer 303 in .308 caliber. Designed to be beautiful, accurate, and museum-grade in appearance, these rifles feature stunning wood stocks (Grade 5 in the Sauer 100 and Grade 7 in the S101, S303 and S404). These Limited Edition rifles boast the most modern materials and technology available, with Sauer’s 270th anniversary logo in black and gold on the custom grip cap.
“These elegant and accurate Sauer rifles represent 270 years of craftsmanship from Germany’s oldest hunting rifle manufacturer, and they are rare with only 10 sets made for the entire world,” said Jason Evans, CEO of Blaser Group. “We are now offering Set Number Three for sale here in the United States.”
Big news in the Outdoor Sports retail industry — the Merger of Bass Pro with Sportsman’s Warehouse is NOT going to happen — the buy-out effort is halted. Under a planned merger deal, announced in late 2020, the Great American Outdoors Group, which now owns Bass Pro and Cabela’s, was going to purchase Sportsman’s Warehouse for $785 million. In 2017 Great American acquired Cabela’s for more than $4,000,000,000 (four billion). Great American (based in Missouri) was going to pay $18 a share for Sportsman’s Warehouse, a significant premium over the listed stock price. Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. will now continue to operate independently from its HQ in West Jordan, Utah.
According to the Springfield Missouri News-Leader, the deal collapsed because of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opposition, among other factors: “Nearly a year after Bass Pro entered into a merger agreement with Utah-based Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc., the deal is off, according to a federal filing dated Dec. 2 by Sportsman’s Warehouse. The filing stated that feedback from the Federal Trade Commission led both companies to believe that the deal would not get FTC approval.”
As listed in a Sportsman’s Warehouse SEC filing, Bass Pro’s parent company Great Outdoors LLC will pay Sportsman’s Warehouse $55 million to terminate the merger.
According to Bloomberg, the cancellation of the merger is related to a 2021 Executive Order by President Biden instructing Federal regulators to boost competition in retail industries. Bloomberg also noted Sportsman’s Warehouse stock dropped signficantly after the planned merger was canceled.
Sportsman’s Warehouse Revenues Boosted Dramatically by Hunting and Shooting Sales
Jon Barker, President/CEO of Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings, Inc., was disappointed that the Bass Pro merger did not go forward. However his company’s revenues are booming. According to SGB Online: “Sportsman’s Warehouse’s same-store sales surged 48.3% in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. The gains were led by its hunting and shooting department, which showed a same-store hike of 70.0%. Hunting and shooting grew to account for 57.6% of Sportsman’s Warehouse’s sales in the year, up from 49.1% the prior year.”
Both Bass Pro and Sportsman’s Warehouse Have Billions in Revenue
Had the merger gone through, approximately 110 stores (and $1.45 billion in sales) would have been added to the Great American Outdoors Group retail empire. SGB Online reported: “According to Moody’s, Bass Pro had revenues in the twelve months ended September 26, 2020, of $7.1 billion. Sportsman’s Warehouse’s sales in 2020 were $1.45 billion.”
Under the current administration in Washington, Second Amendment rights are under attack. President Biden wants to restrict handguns and ban modern semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15. And the ATF continues to digitize millions of sales records, effectively creating a national Firearms Registry, in direct violation of Federal law.
To help fight these trends, Brownells encourages all gun owners to take collective action to help defend the Second Amendment. For this purpose Brownells has declared the first-ever Second Amendment Day (2A Day) on February 2, 2022 — 2-22-2022.
FREE Range Sessions, FREE Ammo, and FREE Food
On 2A Day you can shoot for free — on Brownells’ nickel — at affiliated gun ranges. On 2-22-2022, Brownells has partnered with a few gun ranges to host 2nd Amendment Day range sessions. The range sessions will include free range time, limited free ammo, and free food for those who attend.
Post your Second Amendment Day Range Sessions
Brownells encourages Second Amendment supporters unable to attend a participating range to shoot at a nearby, local range and post photos of their 2A Day activities on social media with hashtag #2ADay.
Join a Second Amendment Organization
Brownells recommends that gun owners join a national and/or state-level gun rights organization. Brownells will promote the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), and American Suppressor Association (ASA) on its website. Brownells will also feature a clickable USA map which visitors can use to find a state organization to join.
Brownells states: “The most important thing you can do is join with us to help preserve, protect and expand your 2nd Amendment rights. Join a state level organization promoting gun rights where you live. Join a national organization to help protect freedom for the whole country. In the spirit of joining, Brownells will purchase FPC memberships for its employees, and donate $22,222 each to FPC, SAF, the ASA, and the Iowa Firearms Coalition.”
Advocate for Your Rights — Contact Your Legislators
Brownells encourages all gun owners to advocate for the 2nd Amendment by contacting their state and federal lawmakers and communicating citizen support for gun rights. The National 2nd Amendment Day webpage includes tips on how to how to effectively communicate with politicians.
“The spirit of this event is to designate a day that we, as a nation, recognize, celebrate and do our part to secure one of the most important rights guaranteed by our Constitution – the right to keep and bear arms,” said Pete Brownell, Chairman of the Board. “This event, which we hope continues to grow in size, scale and scope, is aimed at bringing all freedom-loving Americans together on one day – 2/22 – this year and every year going forward to show support for our beloved 2nd Amendment.”
ShipMyGun.com has a large FFL database, so you can verify the recipient’s address and FFL status. The ShipMyGun.com website has a simple to use label-printing process.
