The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites air rifle and air pistol shooters to the 5th Annual Camp Perry Open. This year’s match will include a 3-position air rifle competition, an international air rifle (all standing) event, a pistol course of fire, and junior clinics. The 3-day match will be held January 14-16, 2011 at the CMP Marksmanship Center in Camp Perry, Port Clinton, Ohio. Visit the Camp Perry Open webpage for complete information including rules, fees, event schedule, and match descriptions/courses of fire. You can also download (and print) the Camp Perry Open Match Program (PDF) for future reference. This includes rules, schedules, match descriptions, registration info, gear lists, and even directions to the CMP range.
The U. S. National Team coaches, Maj. David Johnson and Sergey Luzov, plan to bring some National Team members to shoot in the International event. The Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) is also sending some of their best to shoot in the International standing course of fire event. Members of many top NCAA rifle teams will attend as well. This is a great opportunity to see some of the best shooters in the USA compete.
Special Junior Clinic
On Saturday afternoon, 15 January 2011, there will be a clinic for a maximum of 50 school-aged junior
shooters. The clinic will run from 2:30 – 5:30 PM. On-the-line training will be provided by the members of the U. S. National Development Team, as well as USAMU Team members. The culmination of this event will be a 20-shot standing competition. This was a very popular event in 2010, so register early!
What to Bring
In addition to your air rifle, you’ll need a Clear Barrel Indicator (CBI). You will not need spotting scopes because the match will be fired on MEGAlink Electronic Targets and the exact shot locations are shown on electronic monitors at each firing point. (Isn’t technology great?) Shooting mats are provided at the range, but you may bring your own. Shooters using precision air rifles should bring them along with their shooting jackets and other equipment. Also, bring your own pellets. The CMP will have air tanks and CO2 available at the range. Please bring your own adapters.
HOW TO REGISTER (Registration Closes January 1!)
To register, log on to the CMP’s Camp Perry Open Registration page. Competitors over the age of 18 must complete and sign a CMP Affidavit and Liability Release prior to competing at Camp Perry. Shooters under the age of 18 must have a 2011 Parental Permission Form completed prior to competing at Camp Perry. These Release Forms may be submitted to Katie Harrington at: CMP, P. O. Box 576, Camp Perry OH 43452, or fax it to 419-635-2573. If you have questions call Katie at 419-635-2141 ext. 1131, or email kharrington [at] odcmp.com. NOTE: The last day to register is January 1, 2011. (In hardship situations, a late registrant might be accepted, but this isn’t guaranteed.)
On Sunday, January 2, the Friends of NRA television show will premiere at 10:30pm EST on the Outdoor Channel. The Show is co-hosted by professional shooter Jessie Abbate and former MLB player Matt Duff (host of the Buck Commander series). Based on the Preview Video below, it appears the show will have high production values and be entertaining. Click Here for Guide to Future Episodes
Click on Screen to Start Video
In the show, Matt and Jessie travel across the United States to explore the world of NRA’s grassroots fund-raising program known as Friends of NRA, which provides grants for firearms education classes, construction and maintenance of shooting ranges and various youth programs.
Hundreds of Friends of NRA banquets are held across the country each year. Matt and Jessie will attend events and meet the people whose generous donations help the world of shooting sports. Here is the the Outdoor Channel’s description of the upcoming show:
Whether they’re spending time at the Whittington Center, showcasing the world’s best at the Bianchi Cup, going behind the scenes on an exclusive Black Bear Hunt in Alaska, or introducing America to our unsung heroes during a Wounded Warrior Elk Hunt — Matt & Jessie will go everywhere and explore everything to uncover the unseen facets of the shooting [world].
Matt Duff (L) and Jessie Abbate (R) Host New Friends of NRA TV Show.
A legal challenge proceeds against a new California law (AB962) slated to go into effect February 1, 2011. As of that date, California will require buyers of handgun ammunition to provide personal information and a fingerprint with every ammo purchase. In addition, the new law would effectively ban mail-order and internet ammo sales, since AB962 requires that all “handgun ammunition” sales be conducted through “face-to-face” transactions. Right now it looks like “handgun ammunition” will be interpreted broadly, and this could include .223 Rem, .30-30, 7.62×39 — basically anything that has ever been shot in a handgun (even the single-shot variety).
Not surprisingly, the California Department of Justice has not created any regulations to better define what constitutes “handgun ammunition” under AB 962. Currently, the Department of Justice is involved in litigation challenging the constitutionality of AB 962. The case, Parker et al. v. State of California, et al., is expected to go to trial January 18, 2011. The judge has indicated he intends to render a ruling before February 1. Meanwhile, the California Department of Justice has refused to provide any practical guidance that would better enable industry members to comply with the law’s vaguely worded definition of “handgun ammunition.”
Story by Larry Keane, NSSF Since the early 1970s, ammunition being shipped in the United States has been classified under “Other Regulated Materials” — class D (ORM-D) regulations. This precludes the need for hazardous material (HazMat) shipping charges and other expensive handling requirements. The savings to the industry has been estimated at more than $300 million per year.
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) recognized a potential risk of losing ORM-D status due to the emerging “global harmonization” of shipping regulations. Simply put, the U.S. was likely to adopt United Nations (UN) regulations in an attempt to help ease the global shipping process by adhering to one uniform policy. The problem with shifting to UN regulations is that there is no “ORM-D” status, so if/when this happened, ammunition would have to be shipped under the UN 1.4s category — a category that includes HazMat fees.
SAAMI petitioned the world body to change its shipping regulations to allow for a Limited Quantity (LQ) exemption for class 1.4s products that meet certain testing criteria. Then, SAAMI proved that ammunition meets these criteria. The LQ exemption for loaded ammunition would allow countries to adopt regulations very similar to the current U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ORM-D classification, yet still be in alignment with global shipping regulations.
‘LQ’ Ammo Shipping Class Will Replace ‘ORM-D’
The UN has adopted SAAMI’s petition and the new international regulation have become final. In the meantime, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) has announced sweeping changes to U.S. regulations that will harmonize them with the international regulations. Included in these upcoming changes are the elimination of ORM-D status and the addition of the LQ exemption for ammunition . The net result is that while the regulations will change, shipment of ammunition in the U.S will continue without additional fees and handling requirements. So you will still be able to ship loaded ammo with NO Haz-Mat Fees, but in the future, the ORM-D status will change to LQ exempt status.
This Christmas Santa (in the guise of John Loh) brought us a most wonderful gift — a special edition JJ Industries front Ultra-Rest, customized for AccurateShooter.com + 6mmBR.com. If you have never used (or fondled) a John Loh rest, we can assure you it is a masterpiece of machining. Loh Rests are rock-solid and utterly smooth in use. The horizontal windage tracking is perfect — absolutely smooth and linear. You can move the windage all the way from max left to max right and back again and your horizontal cross-hair stays rock steady. And for fine elevation adjustments, the gold-tone “speed screw” is as good as it gets. John employs a super-fine thread pitch so you can easily make very precise up/down corrections.
The “feel” of the controls is what really sets a John Loh rest apart from the competition. Everything is ultra-smooth — as though the controls were running on tiny ball bearings. This is achieved by maintaining super-fine tolerances on all threaded components.
Click Photo to see LARGE Size
Separate Base Unit Provides Secure Footing
John Loh also provided a custom triangle base, which mates perfectly to the three adjustable feet on the pedestal rest. This base, which has circular rubber pads at each of the corners, provides extra grip and stability for the rest. In addition, it allows you to position the front rest securely without creating screw holes in your benchtop. (In case you’re wondering, yes if you already own a Loh rest, John can craft a triangle base like this for your unit.) Also, FYI, the small scratches in the base unit were our fault — we didn’t retract the pointed tips of the height-adjustment screws when transporting the unit. FYI, in the triangle base, John does machine three countersunk recesses for the screw-tips, so you can precisely locate the rest each time without scratches. To avoid scratches, simply carry the black Ultra-Rest separate from the triangle base.
Click Photo to see LARGE Size
Another nice feature John provided in our special rest was an extra black rectangular “riser” block that fits between the normal base and the upper section (riser not shown in photos). This raises the whole bag assembly up an extra inch. That extra “lift” comes in handy when your target is placed “uphill” at a much higher elevation than the benchtop. The riser block is so nicely made and finished that it looks like part of the original unit when installed.
Click Photo to see LARGE Size
Edgewood Bag and Bag-Block Included
As with all his pedestal rests, John Loh supplies a high-quality Edgewood leather and cordura bag in your choice of fore-arm width. In addition, the rest comes with a precision-crafted bag-block, with integral bubble level. The bag-block helps maintain the proper front bag geometry, and the level helps you ensure that the bag itself provides a level surface for your rifle. This is important! Many people level their rest, only to have a bag that is higher on one side than the other. In addition to the level in the bag-block, the Loh rest features an easy-to-see bubble level mounted on the rear-facing leg.
If you’re interested in purchasing a JJ Industries front Ultra-Rest, contact John Loh at (562) 602-5553 or email info [at] jj-industries.com. Sinclair Int’l also sells the JJ Industries Ultra-Rest for $879.95, but the product is currently back-ordered at Sinclair. We suggest you order directly through John.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America-Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund (PVA-ORHF) provides recreational opportunities for seriously wounded veterans. According to the PVA-ORHF, when wounded servicemen and women are asked what they’d like to do again during/after their rehabilitation, a frequent answer is: “I’d like to go hunting and fishing again.” PVA-ORHF makes that possible. These programs help our heroes heal, gain confidence in their abilities, build new support networks and, in general, be happier and more positive about life. Scheduled 2011 events for wounded veterans include:
Jan: Devil Dog Elk Hunt — Raton, NM
Feb: Pig Hunt Bradley Ranch — Amarillo, TX
March: Turkey Hunt — Jacksonville, FL
April: Turkey Hunts — Amarillo, TX and Billings, MT
May: Turkey Hunt — Warrenton, VA
May: Black Bear Hunt — Tyonek, AK
July: Kenai Fishing — Kenai, AK
Sept: Moose Hunt — Chena Lake, AK
Oct: Pheasant Hunt — Parker, SD
Nov: Whitetail Deer — Warrenton, VA
You can assist PVA-ORHF in its efforts by making a tax-deductible gift. Log on to www.100000patriots.org where you can donate to a permanent endowment fund established to support hunting, fishing, shooting and other outdoor activities for America’s wounded heroes. To learn more about PVA’s outdoor programs for wounded veterans, visit www.pvaheritagefund.org.
“Sports and outdoor recreation play an enormous role in helping our seriously wounded veterans help themselves. Sports are life saving and quality-of-life changing. You just need to see the faces of these guys and gals, many of whom had lost the will to live when they were injured, to understand the impact sports have. Thanks to ORHF and Paralyzed Veterans of America’s world-class sports program, these folks go from hospital beds to taking their first steps back to independence-whether it’s through trap shooting or shooting hoops.
We support many different outdoor sports including fishing, hand-cycling, recreational shooting and hunting, and other sports. Our events are open to all America’s paralyzed veterans and all people with disabilities.”
Joseph L. Fox, Sr. (US Marine Corps, Ret.)
Chairman, Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund
We wish all of our readers Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. We hope you’re enjoying time with your family today, whether you’re basking in the sun in Australia, or shoveling snow up in Finland near the Arctic Circle.
We want to take this opportunity to thank all the folks who have generously donated to the site over the past year. (Please, if you’ve donated and are a Forum member, tell us your Forum “nickname” so we can acknowledge your contribution).
We also want to thank the many individuals who help this site by donating their time testing gear, helping with the Forum, and/or writing articles. This includes Jason Baney, Vince Bottomley, Laurie Holland, Speedy Gonzales, “Graymist”, Bryan Litz, Chris (“Techshooter”) Long, Larry Medler, Danny Reever, German Salazar, Jerry Tierney, and all the folks who have helped with Gun of the Week stories. And we want to say thanks to our commercial sponsors that have supported the site through advertising or donated items for auction. And Blessed Are the Programmers
This Christmas we want to give special recognition to Vladimir Prelovac and his talented team of young programmers in Belgrade, Serbia. Starting with our “wish-list” for an enhanced, “enterprise-quality” web site, these guys worked very hard, for many months, to deliver all that we asked for — and more. This required hundreds of hours of database programming, layout work, and creative site design. If you like the new and improved AccurateShooter.com site, we have these hard-working guys to thank for it. By the way, if you’re curious, most Serbians in Belgrade are Oxthodox Christians, and yes, they celebrate Christmas just like we do — only a few days later. The Serbian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar, so Christmas in Belgrade currently falls on January 7th, 2011.
2010 IBS 600-yard Shooter of the Year honors have just been announced. Sam Hall of Boonville, NC stole the show again this year, securing 100 points to earn another Shooter of the Year (SOY) Title. Congrats Sam! Not far behind was Dasher Ace (and a former Shooter of the Year) Richard Schatz with 86 Points. Brenda Hobbs was the Female Shooter of the Year with 7 Championship points, while Stanley Clarke’s 6 points him earned him “Rookie SOY” honors.
Here are the final standings, courtesy Dick Grosbier of the IBS:
IBS Shooter of the Year Rankings
1. Samuel Hall – 100 points
2..Richard Schatz – 86 points
3. Dan Hobbs – 50 points
4. Glen Sterling – 39 points
5. Rich Griffin – 32 points
Female SOY: Brenda Hobbs (7 points)
Rookie SOY : Stanley Clark (6 points)
Some months ago, Sam Hall revealed many of his shooting secrets and gun-handling tips in a short video. Because of windy conditions, the audio track is pretty poor, but if you pay attention you can learn some very valuable lessons from Sam:
McMillan has released a new semi-auto tactical rifle, based on a Springfield Armory M1A receiver, glass-bedded by hand. McMillan’s new M3A rifle is configured for scope use, and features a CNC-inletted McMillan stock with adjustable cheekpiece. The gun takes M1A/M14 magazines. The M3A features a 6-groove, 10-twist, 18″ barrel, chambered in .308 Winchester. A notable option is a massive three-sided rail system. This allows the user to fit a scope very securely in either standard or front (scout scope) position. The side rails can carry other accessories such as lights or a back up red-dot scope. The trigger is a two-stage with pull weight of 5-6 pounds. Shown below is the M3A with optional full-length upper handguard tactical rail.
CLICK HERE for more information, or call (623) 582-9674 for pricing with desired options. A variety of McMillan rifles are showcased in the Video below.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve had a chance to test and evaluate a one-piece shooting rest designed by Wally Brownlee of TargetShooting.com. The model 1000LP rest is solid, strong, nicely-machined, and versatile. We found it provides a very stable platform for every kind of rifle — from big magnums all the way down to benchrest air rifles.
The 1000LP rest is distinguished by its use of two (2) leather sandbags, a normal-sized one in the front and a compact mini-bag in the rear. Many other one-piece target rests use low-friction pads or Delrin contacts in the rear. The typical “lead-sled” rests use a solid cradle or V-block in the rear. The small, cube-like, rear mini-bag helps the model 1000LP out-perform typical, one-piece steady-rests. The small rear bag, which is supported by metal plates on three sides, does a great job stabilizing your gun. We also found that the combination of front and rear sandbags seems to provide good vibration damping — something that really helps with precision shooting.
When our designated trigger-puller Joe Friedrich tried the 1000LP with his tuned rimfire benchrest rifle, he immediately noticed that his gun shot amazingly well. Joe owns a variety of high-quality, one-piece rests, and the model 1000LP produced results equal to the best of them. Consider this, in Joe’s ARA unlimited discipline, a perfect score on a 25-bull target is a 2500, with “worst edge” scoring. “Perfect” 2500s are very rare. Only a handful are shot each year in ARA competition. Now get this, Joe managed to shoot multiple 2500s in a row off this rest, and he did that shooting in a variety of conditions (with different lots of ammo) over a 24-hour period. Joe was amazed that this rest, which was not designed for rimfire benchrest competition, could perform so well.
The model 1000LP has many features which contribute to the rest’s fine performance. First, as noted above, the small, 3-way-braced rear bag really seems to work, as long as it fits your stock well. Second, the windage control (which can be switched from left side to right side), is extremely precise and positive — it has zero slop. Third, the 1000LP has a relatively low-mass center bridge connecting the higher-mass front and rear sections. We think this barbell-type design, combined with the integral hand-rest, helps quell vibrations. Finally, the rear height control lets you make fine elevation adjustments without altering the gun’s position on the front bag.
The 1000LP Works Well for Many Purposes
While we were enthusiastic about the 1000LP’s performance with a rimfire benchrest rifle, we want to stress that this rest was not optimized for smallbore shooting. In fact the 1000LP was designed primarily to provide a stable platform for centerfire rifles. It works great for sighting in your hunting rifle, and it is a fine choice for varminters shooting off a field bench. Though not as fast to adjust as a joystick rest, the 1000LP is no slouch. The rear elevation knob is very quick and easy to employ, while the windage adjustment provides precise horizontal tracking with no vertical or diagonal drift. And because the front support is connected rigidly to the rear section, your front and rear bag always stay in perfect alignment, shot after shot. In the video below you can see Wally Brownlee shooting a 22-250 varmint rifle off his 1000LP rest. Note how well the gun tracks, and how little torque and hop there are, even with a narrow sporter-style stock. (Of course, the installed suppressor does reduce some recoil.)
1000LP Breaks Down into Sections for Transport
The TargetShooting.com model 1000LP easily breaks down into two or three sections. This makes it is easier to pack up and transport than most one-piece rests. The 1000LP also allows easy exchange of front bag assemblies so you can quickly switch from a 3″-wide bag to a narrow front bag for thinner, hunter-style fore-ends. A variety of accessories are available for the model 1000LP, including extra quick-release front bag units ($125.00), large-diameter machined discs for the feet (for added stability), and a dual-rail, front fore-end stop ($89.95).
Model 1000LP Starts at $699.95
Are there downsides to the model 1000LP? Well at $699.95 for the base unit, the 1000LP is far more expensive than a typical Lead Sled-type one-piece rest sold for hunters. However, that’s like comparing a Mercedes with a Yugo. The 1000LP is far more sophisticated than a Lead Sled. Plus, as Joe demonstrated, the model 1000LP can do double-duty as a true competition rest. Don’t even think about using a primitive $130.00 Lead Sled in ARA benchrest competition.
We also found that peak performance demands careful sandbag packing and a good fit of the rear bag to your particular stock. Someone who shoots multiple rifles may want to purchase more than one rear mini-bag so that the rear bag-to-stock fit is optimal. Joe found that bag-to-stock matching was important if you want to shoot ultra-small groups off this rest.
If you are interested in the model 1000LP one-piece rest, visit www.TargetShooting.com or call Wally Brownlee at (800) 611-2164, or +1 605-868-2164 (int’l).
Disclosure: TargetShooting.com provided a “loaner” 1000LP (with accessories) for testing, but Joe Friedrich then purchased the rest at a slight discount off retail.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites air rifle and air pistol shooters to the 5th Annual Camp Perry Open. This year’s match will include a 3-position air rifle competition, an international air rifle (all standing) event, a pistol course of fire, and junior clinics. The 3-day match will be held January 14-16, 2011 at the CMP Marksmanship Center in Camp Perry, Port Clinton, Ohio. Visit the Camp Perry Open webpage for complete information including rules, fees, event schedule, and match descriptions/courses of fire. You can also download (and print) the Camp Perry Open Match Program (PDF) for future reference. This includes rules, schedules, match descriptions, registration info, gear lists, and even directions to the CMP range.
A legal challenge proceeds against a new California law (AB962) slated to go into effect February 1, 2011. As of that date, California will require buyers of handgun ammunition to provide personal information and a fingerprint with every ammo purchase. In addition, the new law would effectively ban mail-order and internet ammo sales, since AB962 requires that all “handgun ammunition” sales be conducted through “face-to-face” transactions. Right now it looks like “handgun ammunition” will be interpreted broadly, and this could include .223 Rem, .30-30, 7.62×39 — basically anything that has ever been shot in a handgun (even the single-shot variety).
Since the early 1970s, ammunition being shipped in the United States has been classified under “Other Regulated Materials” — class D (ORM-D) regulations. This precludes the need for hazardous material (HazMat) shipping charges and other expensive handling requirements. The savings to the industry has been estimated at more than $300 million per year.
SAAMI petitioned the world body to change its shipping regulations to allow for a Limited Quantity (LQ) exemption for class 1.4s products that meet certain testing criteria. Then, SAAMI proved that ammunition meets these criteria. The LQ exemption for loaded ammunition would allow countries to adopt regulations very similar to the current U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ORM-D classification, yet still be in alignment with global shipping regulations.
This Christmas Santa (in the guise of John Loh) brought us a most wonderful gift — a special edition 
Edgewood Bag and Bag-Block Included
Jan: Devil Dog Elk Hunt — Raton, NM
We wish all of our readers Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. We hope you’re enjoying time with your family today, whether you’re basking in the sun in Australia, or shoveling snow up in Finland near the Arctic Circle.
2010 IBS 600-yard Shooter of the Year honors have just been announced. Sam Hall of Boonville, NC stole the show again this year, securing 100 points to earn another Shooter of the Year (SOY) Title. Congrats Sam! Not far behind was Dasher Ace (and a former Shooter of the Year) Richard Schatz with 86 Points. Brenda Hobbs was the Female Shooter of the Year with 7 Championship points, while Stanley Clarke’s 6 points him earned him “Rookie SOY” honors.
The model 1000LP has many features which contribute to the rest’s fine performance. First, as noted above, the small, 3-way-braced rear bag really seems to work, as long as it fits your stock well. Second, the windage control (which can be switched from left side to right side), is extremely precise and positive — it has zero slop. Third, the 1000LP has a relatively low-mass center bridge connecting the higher-mass front and rear sections. We think this barbell-type design, combined with the integral hand-rest, helps quell vibrations. Finally, the rear height control lets you make fine elevation adjustments without altering the gun’s position on the front bag.
