|
|
June 29th, 2010
To celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in McDonald v. Chicago, Creedmoor Sports is offering a special, one-day 54¢ Shipping Sale. For today only, June 29th, ANY Creedmoor Sports order, no matter how big, will ship for just $0.54. (Ammunition and bullets excluded!) To get your discounted shipping visit CreedmoorSports.com, and Use Coupon Code: 5-4VOTE.
Conditions: Sale today 6/29/2010 only. Not subject to prior sales. Shipping coupon excludes ammunition and bullets. These items will be charged shipping before the order is processed.
June 28th, 2010
 In McDonald v. City of Chicago, the most important Second Amendment legal case since D.C. v. Heller, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution applies to States and local governments. This will allow plaintiffs to proceed with their legal challenge to a Chicago law banning handgun possession. Justice Alito wrote the High Court’s 5-4 decision.
In making this ruling, the High Court held that the Second Amendment applies to actions of State and local governments under the incorporation doctrine derived from the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Justice Thomas offered a well-reasoned concurring opinion arguing that the “Privileges and Immunities” Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment also demands that State and municipal governments not abridge citizens’ Second Amendment rights.
CLICK HERE to Read FULL TEXT of McDonald v. City of Chicago Decision
Now State and Municipal Laws Can Be Challenged on Second Amendment Grounds
In a decision written by Justice Alito, the Supreme Court ruled the individual right to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution applies to states and local governments. The court split along ideological lines in voting 5 to 4 to support the right of individuals to own handguns for self protection. The Second Amendment now carries “full sway” over state and municipal actions, as do most of the other protections enumerated in the Bill of Rights. In applying the Second Amendment to state action, the Court followed a familiar blueprint under which other rights have been applied to the states by virtue of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The case before the Court, McDonald v. City of Chicago, was filed in 2008 a day after the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v. Heller — in which the high court reaffirmed that the Second Amendment protects an “individual” right to keep and bear arms. The Heller decision, however, did not reach the question of whether the Second Amendment also applied to the states.
Immediately after Heller, several Chicago residents, including retired maintenance worker Otis McDonald, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the city’s long-standing gun ban. The Chicago-based federal courts ruled that the Second Amendment did not apply to the states and local governments, setting the stage for the Supreme Court to decide the question it left unanswered in its Heller decision.
On hearing today’s decision, Plaintiff Otis McDonald thanked the Justices: “for having the courage to right a wrong, which has impacted many lives long ago and will protect lives for many years to come.”
Steve Sanetti, President of the NSSF, which filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of McDonald, added: “Today’s ruling is a victory for freedom and liberty. All law-abiding Americans, no matter whether they live in a big city like Chicago or in rural Wyoming, have the same Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Constitutional rights don’t stop at state or city borders. Cities like Chicago and New York and states like California must now respect the Second Amendment.”
Credit: Thanks to German Salazar, Esq. for sourcing the text of the Supreme Court’s decision.
June 28th, 2010
 In May, we reported on the new MicroSight invented by engineer (and shooter) David Crandall of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The MicroSight keeps both near and far objects in sharp focus, simultaneously imaging two distinct focal planes. This break-through technology allows the shooter to see a sharp image of the target and a sharp image of his iron sights at the same time.
The MicroSight is not a lens per se. Rather it is a phased Zone Plate that focuses light beams through diffraction. Zone Plates, first studied by Frenchman Augustin-Jean Fresnel in the 1800s, focus light via a set of concentric rings that alternate between transparent and opaque. The transparent sections let some light waves pass through unchanged, focusing objects that are far away (basically, at infinity). But light passing the edges of the opaque rings gets diffracted, which brings nearby objects into focus. This produces a seemingly impossible result — sharp images of distant and near objects, simultaneously.
The MicroSight is not just a laboratory experiment. Prototype versions have been crafted and placed on test rifles. INL has licensed the technology to Apollo Optical Systems which is right now working with gunsight manufacturers to adapt the MicroSight design to a variety of products. In the future, some MicroSight-equipped products might add refractive power to the Zone Plate, allowing target magnification as well as focusing.
WATCH the VIDEO below to see the MicroSight in Use and to learn how it works…
June 28th, 2010
 At SHOT Show in January, Nightforce revealed a new Hi-Speed option for its NXS scope line-up. This nearly doubles the MOA range for each turn of the elevation knob, giving a full 20 MOA of elevation for a single rotation. For most long-range calibers that means you can hit targets from 50 yards out past 700 yards all within a single turret rotation. That makes it far less easy to get confused with your long-range zeros.
We’ve been waiting for the “Hi-Speed” option to arrive. Well the wait is almost over — Nightforce Optics has begun taking orders for the new “Hi-Speed” ZeroStop feature for the following 5 models:
NXS 3.5-15x50mm
NXS 3.5-15x56mm
NXS 5.5-22x50mm
NXS 5.5-22x56mm
NXS 3.5-15x50mm F1 (First focal plane reticle)
The above scope models (with hi-speed turret) will be offered with either 1/4-MOA adjustments and 20 MOA per rotation, or 1/10th Mil-Radian adjustments and 10 Mil-Radians per rotation.
Nightforce reports it “will begin shipping these new featured models -– in limited numbers –- by mid to late July, 2010. There will be a 3% price increase per respective model (excluding the NXS1550 F1).”
June 27th, 2010
The 2010 National Junior Air Gun Championships in Albuquerque, NM concluded yesterday. The new champions were crowned last evening at an awards ceremony. Here are the top three individual and team winners from both the Sporter and Precision classes. Note: these results are preliminary, and are not final until the challenge period has ended.
| Precision Rifle Division
Individual Aggregate (1200 possible points):
1. Landon Shankles, LaCueva HS, MCJROTC, 1179
2. Abigail Stanec, Ohio Rifle & Pistol Assn., 1177
3. Dan Lowe, Washington State Rifle & Pistol Assn., 1172
Team Aggregate (4800 possible points):
1. Ohio Rifle & Pistol Association, 4667
2. LaCueva HS, MCJROTC, 4634
3. Washington State Rifle & Pistol Assn., 4633
A record number of JROTC teams competed in this year’s championship. |
Sporter Rifle Division
Individual Aggregate (1200 possible points):
1. John White, Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Assn., 1106
2. Dahkota Hayes, Montana Rifle & Pistol Assn., 1094
3. Shaley Clements, Ohio Rifle & Pistol Assn., 1085
Team Aggregate (4800 possible points):
1. Montana Rifle & Pistol Assn., 4267
2. Venture Crew 123 Aloha Council BSA, 4223
3. Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Assn., 4156
This was the second year in a row than the Montana Rifle & Pistol Assn. won a team championship. |
June 26th, 2010
 Impossible Shots, a spin-off of the Shooting USA TV show, is now the most-watched series on the Outdoor Channel’s Wednesday Night line-up of gun-related broadcasts. Reflecting its growing popularity, Impossible Shots will now also air on Saturdays, at these times: 4:30 PM EST, 3:30 CST, 2:30 MT, 1:30 PT. Impossible Shots features amazing trick-shooting challenges performed by six top professionals: Pistoleros Bub Munden, Jerry Miculek, and Gil Guerra, rifleman George Sutton, and archer Byron Ferguson. There are also regular appearances by Team Winchester’s Patrick Flanigan, considered the world’s fastest shotgun shooter. In the video below, Flanigan shoots 12 shells in just 1.442 seconds!
June 26th, 2010
Many of our readers use iPhones to run ballistics programs and to access travel maps and weather reports. We CAUTION readers who may be planning to purchase a new Apple iPhone 4 (Fourth Generation), first released on June 24th: Wait until the flaws are fixed.
You May Want to Hold Off on Purchasing a iPhone 4
We know many of you guys are anxious to get the latest iPhone 4… but we strongly advise you to wait a week or two at least. Or perhaps wait a few months until an improved version of the new iPhone is available. The reason for this advice is simple — the glass panels on the new iPhone are prone to cracking, and there is a serious reception problem on many of the latest generation of iPhones.
iPhone 4 Major Problems
We suggest readers WAIT before purchasing an iPhone 4, based on issues we observed ourselves, as well as thousands of reports that are flooding in. There are three main problems.
1. Many iPhone 4s have hardware-related reception problems causing dropped calls. This is apparently caused by hand interference with the antenna.
2. The iPhone 4’s front screen and back plate, which are composed of a new, ultra-hard Aluminosilicate glass, are very prone to cracking. We observed this first-hand.
3. Some iPhone 4 users are reporting yellow blotches and other abnormal screen discolorations. This is apparently a manufacturing defect.
 Cracked Glass on Faceplate and Backplate
On June 24th, we went to the shooting range. One of our shooters, Katrina, had just acquired a brand new iPhone 4. She carried it in a protective belt holster. After a couple hours of shooting from a sitting position at the bench, she tried to make a call, only to find that the front glass screen had a full-width diagonal crack. This phone was never dropped, tossed, or abused in any way. While the screen needs to be replaced, Katrina’s iPhone is still able to make calls — the first one of which went to Apple customer support.
Many reports are surfacing about broken iPhone 4 glass. Unlike our experience with Katrina’s phone, most of the breakages appear to be on the back plate. You’ll find reports of the breakages in the Apple forums and on major tech websites.
Gizmodo.com reports: “Cases of broken iPhone 4’s backs are already appearing. This hasn’t changed from previous generations…. But the difference is that the iPhone 4 is all glass. If you drop any other phone, you have a 50% chance of breaking its screen. With the iPhone 4, the risk will always be there, no matter how it falls. It’s just more exposed to damage because of the material choice.” Another breakage report.
CNET confirms the cracking glass problem in iPhone 4s, and has already published a do-it-yourself YouTube video showing how to replace the glass rear plate.
Reception and Dropped Call Problem
There is a widespread problem with iPhone 4s losing reception when held in the hand. The video below shows how just picking up the iPhone and holding it normally will cause loss of reception. The problem appears to be hand contact with the iPhone 4’s metal frame, which serves as the antenna.
An article in Gizmodo.com addresses the issue: “There’s no great fix for the iPhone 4 reception issues right now. We’re also pretty sure—and Apple confirms it—that touching the antenna does affect things—whether or not it has the final result of killing calls or speed of data connection.”
Rubber Bumper Partial Reception Fix?
Here is a further CNET video report confirming the reception issue with multiple iPhone 4 test units. The problem is more acute with some users than others, and CNET did suggest that installing a $30 rubber bumper may help with the problem. Tests by igear360.com show that bumper can raise iPhone 4 downloading speeds, but uploading speeds still suffer substantially. Click here for iPhone bumper tests.
June 25th, 2010
 MidwayUSA is running a sale right now on Burris Signature and Signature Zee scope Rings and Pos-Align inserts. The Burris Signature Rings feature polymer inserts that fit between the scope tube and the ring itself. This protects the scope finish and also allows the scope tube to self-align within the rings. By using offset inserts with different thicknesses, you can keep your scope centered in its range of travel. You can also use the offset inserts to pre-load elevation into your scope, thus avoiding the need to purchase an expensive angled base for shooting at long ranges.
As examples of the current savings, Burris 1″ Signature Zee Weaver-Style Rings High Rings are marked down from $36.99 to $32.99. A set of Burris 1″ Pos-Align Offset Inserts (.005, .010 and .020) is now just $10.99, marked down from $14.99.
June 25th, 2010
 With the high cost of manufactured ammunition, the reloading market continues to grow, and Redding Reloading is growing with it. With the goal of doubling its production capacity, Redding has invested over $1,000,000 in the past two years in new equipment. Just this month, Redding added two more American-made CNC machines. These latest machines complete Phase One of Redding’s strategic growth plan.
Redding Expands Its New York Production Facility
At a time when some historic firearms factories (such as the Marlin plant in North Haven, CT) are shutting their doors, Redding is buying land and putting up new buildings. As Phase Two of Redding’s growth plan, the company is acquiring adjacent real property to expand Redding’s manufacturing facility. The planned physical plant expansion begins in late summer, 2010. This will add an additional 40% of dedicated production and warehousing space to the company’s current facility in Upstate New York. For more information, contact Redding Reloading Equipment, 1089 Starr Road, Cortland, NY 13045, or visit Redding-Reloading.com.
 CLICK HERE to download 2010 Redding Reloading Catalog PDF
June 24th, 2010
AccurateShooter.com has a new sponsor, Webyshops.com, which sells a full range of sporting optics for hunters, varminters, and competition shooters. To kick off WebyShops’ participation with our website, Mike Orlov, who runs Webyshops, has agreed to provide some EXCLUSIVE specials for AccurateShooter.com readers. These specials, just for our readers, are a full $50 below the normal low price. The Super-Sale items are limited quantity, first come, first serve, and subject to availability. When they’re gone, they’re gone. Go ahead and comparison-shop first. We think you’ll find these exclusive specials are hard to beat. For example, the Eotech 516 sells for $456.56 at Amazon.com, and $479.99 at Cabelas.com.
IMPORTANT: To qualify for these special prices, use Coupon Code ACCSHOOTER when you check out with your online order. For phone orders, call (800) 851-9329, ask for MIKE, and say you are an AccurateShooter.com reader.
|
