Smith & Wesson plans to expand its GUNSMARTS video series with over thirty new educational videos for both new and experienced firearms owners. Hosted by legendary shooter Jerry Miculek, talented competitor Julie Golob, and industry expert Ken Scott, Smith & Wesson’s GUNSMARTS Series 2 covers a comprehensive set of topics. These subjects will include firearms education, shooting tips, gear recommendations, and more. These videos can provide valuable information for all firearms owners, not just new handgun purchasers.
To See ALL S&W Gunsmarts Videos, click these Series 2 and Series 1 Playlist Links:
Matt Spafford, S&W’s Sr. Marketing Manager, said, “We received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback after the launch of GUNSMARTS in 2020, and as such, we’ve developed GUNSMARTS Series 2. This new content series provides new, exciting videos to help both new and experienced gun owners improve their firearm knowledge and skillset. We hope that GUNSMARTS Series 2 encourages firearms owners to get outside, enjoy the shooting sports, and brush up on their skills.”
GUNSMARTS Series 2 content is hosted on YouTube. New GUNSMARTS videos will be released weekly throughout the summer, starting on June 1st. There are currently five (5) Series 2 videos available, along with forty (40) Series 1 videos. To watch the entire Smith & Wesson GUNSMARTS Series, CLICK HERE to access the YouTube Playlists.
GUNSMARTS — Joining a Range and Getting Instruction
In this GUNSMARTS Series 2 video, Ken Scott outlines the benefits of joining a range facility. Ken also explains how all new shooters can benefit from formal instruction.
GUNSMARTS — What to Expect When Shopping for a Handgun
In another GUNSMARTS Series 2 video, Ken Scott covers what to expect when visiting a gunstore to shop for a firearm. Ken explains the key factors when considering different types of firearms and setting a budget for your purchase.
For more information and updates on Smith & Wesson products and events, visit Smith & Wesson’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
June is National Safety Month. In summer, when children are home from school and more likely to be unattended, it’s especially important to store firearms securely. The No. 1 way to help prevent accidents is to securely store your firearms when they’re not in use. The NSSF says: “Whether you own a gun or not, firearm safety is your responsibility. Take a moment to watch the videos below on how to safely handle and store firearms.” Along with these videos, the NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program offers a host of gun safety materials on its resources webpage.
Firearm Safety: First, Last, Always
There are Ten Key Rules for Firearm Safety and the first four are the big ones. Remember, while at the shooting range or anywhere you handle a firearm, safety always comes first.
This is a Good Video that Covers the Key Principles of Gun Safety. Worth Watching:
Storing a Gun Safely and Securely
For those who have guns in the home, this video reviews a variety of gun storage options. To learn more about storing firearms safely and securely, visit ProjectChildSafe.org.
Message from the National Shooting Sports Foundation
The last thing any gun owner wants is for their firearms to fall into the hands of an unsupervised child, a thief or someone going through a difficult period in their life. That’s why we urge individuals to store firearms responsibly when they’re not in use. [That is] the number one way to help prevent accidents, thefts and misuse –including suicides. The vast majority of gun owners are safe and responsible, which is why fatal firearms accidents are at historic lows. We’re proud that our safety programs, including Project ChildSafe® have contributed to that decline.
… We provide gun safety resources for all ages through our award-winning Project ChildSafe program and our new suicide prevention program. We remind gun owners there’s a storage option that will fit into their lifestyle, such as a fast-opening lock box for those who keep a firearm for home security.
The fastest speed shooters in the nation showcased their skills at the Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championship this past April. Competing at the Talladega Marksmanship Complex in Alabama, dozens of top handgun and rifle shooters took on the Steel Challenge course. This consists of multiple 5-target close-range stages. Speed is king. The shooter with the lowest overall time wins. There are multiple pistol and revolver classes, both rimfire and centerfire. Increasing in popularity (and speed) are the rimfire rifle and pistol-caliber centerfire rifle classes. For both rifle and pistol there are iron sights as well as optics divisions. There are 13 gun classes in total, the most for any shooting championship.
The 2021 Steel Challenge will be featured June 2, 2021 on Shooting USA, broadcast on the Outdoor Channel. The Shooting USA video below covers the classes and course of fire for the Steel Challenge.
Shooting USA Video covers Course of Fire, Firearms Classes, and Target Layouts (1:20)
Definitely watch this 4-minute video produced by Shooting USA. It explains the classes, shows the stages, and illustrates ALL the different gun classes, pistol AND rifle. You can also see some of the world’s fastest shooters including Jessie Harrison (1:47, 3:44) and Max Michel (3:48). And if you want to be amazed by the speed of competitors shooting semi-auto rimfire rifles, watch the rifle run starting at (00:30) — five targets hit in under two seconds!
Here is Jessie Harrison, the fastest lady pistol shooter on the planet. At the 2021 World Speed Shooting Championship, Jessie won the Ladies Overall Open title for the 13th time with a total time of 93.03 seconds. Full Report on SSUSA.org.
Steel Challenge 2021 World Speed Shooting Championship
Practical shooting in all of its forms boils down to speed and accuracy and the one practical shooting sport that tests those two elements exclusively is steel shooting. Shooting USA calls it “drag racing with guns”. Draw and shoot five (5) steel targets with time as your score. With divisions expanded to rimfire rifles and pistol-caliber carbines, the times are now regularly setting new world records.
The Steel Challenge is a test of speed, accuracy and equipment that anyone and everyone can enjoy. By design, even someone who has never seen competitive steel shooting before, can tell a good run from a bad run. The unmistakable sound of five shots and five hits is an instant marker of success. There are eight standardized 5-plate stages, including the “Showdown” stage illustrated below.
Steel shooting has evolved over the years, but the courses of fire remain unchanged. The original concept for the Steel Challenge was designed around centerfire handguns drawn from a holster, starting with the shooter’s wrists above shoulders. Historically, 80 seconds was the time to beat and only a handful of competitors have done it. Since the inception of the low ready divisions, the time to beat has dropped to 60 seconds. That record was finally beaten in 2020. In the centerfire handgun match, the fastest times are posted by competitors using their enhanced open guns, with compensators and red-dot optics.
The competition was founded in 1981 by Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman, in Southern California. The two Mikes wanted an exciting alternative to paper targets and came up with the all-steel format. The Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships have grown to one of the largest professional pistol competitions in America. In 2021, scores of competitors competed at the Talladega Marksmanship Park for glory and cash prizes. The Steel Challenge is governed by the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) that consists of eight standardized stages with three types of steel targets: small circle, big circle, and square. Here is a steel challenge layout in Germany.
At the 2019 Alabama Steel Challenge State Championship, then 19-year-old Rimfire Rifle Optic Class shooter Chris Barrett set the fastest total time in the 35-year history of Steel Challenge: 59.82 seconds. SEE FULL Story at RangeStore.net.
Here’s something you don’t see every day — a reloading press that has loaded over 1,000,000 rounds of ammo. At the NRA Convention in Dallas in 2018, Redding showcased an old Redding T-7 Turret Press delivered to Sierra Bullets decades ago. 0ne of the very first T-7s made by Redding, this “old warrior” was used by Sierra Bullets to load over 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition in Sierra’s ballistics lab.
Redding T-7 Still Within Spec
After all that loading, Redding tested the press and, remarkably, found that it still remained “within spec”. Redding notes: “This press was subjected to real world reloading wear and stress yet remains within ‘new’ spec after this historic test”. When showcased in Dallas, this Redding turret press was fitted with indicators to show “just how good American steel and craftsmanship remains after what, in a normal situation, would represent numerous lifetimes of use.”
About Redding Reloading
Redding Reloading Equipment has crafted quality, American-made products for the precision handloading market since 1946. Along with single-stage and turret presses, Redding makes great dies. And Redding’s line of tools/accessories includes concentricity gauges, scales, trimmers, powder measures, powder tricklers, cleaning tools, deburring tools, bushings, and many other quality items.
Each year, on the last Monday in May, Americans honor the sacrifices of military men and women who paid the ultimate price in their service to our nation. More than 1 million American men and women have died in military service during wartime, including more than 666,000 combat deaths. On May 31, 2021, we again pay tribute to these men and women and remember their service to their country.
This is what Memorial Day symbolizes — a time Americans take a clear look at both our past and our future. One day each year, when we acknowledge the debt we owe to those men and women who — because they so cherished peace — chose to live as warriors.
Could anything be more contradictory than the lives of our soldiers? They love America, so they spend long years in foreign lands far from her shores. They revere freedom, so they sacrifice their own that we may be free. They defend our right to live as individuals, yet yield their individuality in that cause. Perhaps most paradoxically of all, they value life, and so bravely ready themselves to die in the service of our country. — Deborah Y. Parker
Moment of Remembrance
Memorial Day Observances will range from parades to memorial ceremonies and organized moments of silence. The Memorial Day National Moment of Remembrance honors America’s fallen warrriors. Established by Congress in 2000, the “Moment” asks Americans, wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause for one minute, in an act of national unity and respect for the fallen.
What Is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the men and women who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the last Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.
On Memorial Day, the United States flag is traditionally raised to the top of the staff, then solemnly lowered to half-staff position until noon, when it is raised again to full-staff for the rest of the day. The half-staff position is to remember the more than one million men and women who have given their lives for this country.
Flags and flower leis adorn each grave in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in observance of Memorial Day, 1991. (U.S. Navy photo by OS2 John Bouvia, released).
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.
Posting on the F-Class Competition Shooting Facebook Group Page, F-TR competitor Tony H. said he was very impressed with the new JoyPod-X coaxial bipod made by SEB Rests. The upgraded JoyPod-X features an enhanced head unit and new rapid height adjustment for the legs. The new JoyPod-X is also offered now in a variety of colors: Blue (as shown), Red, Green, Purple, Black, and Bronze.
Click to Zoom Photo CLICK HEREto view larger side-view image.
Tony H. stated: “First match today [shot] with the brand new JoyPod-X. What a GREAT bipod — thank you Sebastian Lambang for the outstanding product! Also want to thank Ernie Bishop for the awesome service he provides! Even getting used to the new setup made made that 597-38X even sweeter!”
Leg Height Adjustment System
on New 2021 JoyPod-X
JoyPod-X designer Sebastian Lambang tells us: “Now height adjustment of the JoyPod-X can be much easier quicker and more precise. With a simple, adjustable brake and improved ratchet system. Thanks to Bob Bock for the design suggestions”.
Watch the video to see how this works. You can adjust each leg individually in seconds. You can do individual clicks up and down, with ratcheted steps. Or slide the entire leg unit rapidly up and down for gross elevation changes. So you have the choice of small, precise increments or big movements — whichever you want. This is very slick.
JoyPod-X Is Shipping Now
in Six Bright Colors
The new 2021 JoyPod-X has started shipping with the first units arriving in the USA in late May 2021 (as you can see). The new JoyPod-X is available in blue, red, green, purple, black, and bronze colors.
“Descended from the M1 Garand, the M14 utilized multiple improvements that made it a far superior firearm for combat and a much better rifle for competition.” — Dick Jones, Shooting Sports USA.
In the April 2018 issue of Shooting Sports USA, you’ll find a good article on the civilian version of the M14, now sold commercially as the Springfield M1A. An evolution of the battle-proven M1 Garand, the M14 was designed to shoot the 7.62×51 (.308 Win) round instead of the larger .30-06 Springfield cartridge used in WWI, WWII and Korea. While the vast majority of today’s M1As are chambered for .308 Win/7.62×51, Springfield Armory also produces a 6.5 Creedmoor version.
Dick Jones reports that accurized M14/M1As could post remarkable scores: “The accuracy potential of the M14/M1A is unquestionable. During their reign as service rifles, they produced multiple perfect 200 scores at 600 and 1000 yards in the hands of top shooters. This is a difficult feat with a modern, scoped, magnum-caliber rifle and remarkable with an iron-sighted battle rifle. Good competition rifles can group 10 shots under one MOA, and the meticulously-massaged rifles used by the top shooters during my career would consistently put up 10 shots under an inch at 200 yards off a test cradle.”
Springfield M1A at Camp Perry National Matches
For many years, the semi-auto version of the M14 was “top dog” in iron sights Service Rifle competition. Now that discipline is dominated by .223 Rem (5.56×45) AR-type rifles, but the bigger .308-caliber rifle, now sold as the M1A, remains popular. The CMP hosts a major M1A Match every year at Camp Perry, sponsored by Springfield Armory. Significant prizes are awarded. In past years M1A Match competitors took home over $25,000 worth of cash and merchandise in 2016. This year’s Springfield M1A match will be held at Camp Perry on August 8, 2021.
In this video, YouTube Reviewer Hickok 45 compares the M1 Garand and the M14/M1A:
See how the modern M1A is built in this Springfield Armory Video:
As racing improves automobiles, competition improves firearms, and the current crop of Springfield M1As, from the Basic to the top-of-the-line Super Match and Loaded models, reflects the years of development. The M14 and its variants are still in service today and it’s still considered by many to be the best battle rifle in the history of the U.S. Military. — Dick Jones, Shooting Sports USA
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Natchez — Memorial Day RCBS Sale — Save up to 19%
⏺ Major Discounts on RCBS Reloading Kits and other products — act soon!
For Memorial Day week, Natchez is running a big SALE on RCBS products. Save up to 19% on RCBS Reloading Kits, Tumblers, ChargeMasters, Case Cleaners, Die Sets and more. Act soon — some products are already selling out as the sale started May 25th. NOTE: You can refine your search on the Natchez website by searching for “RCBS” then click “Sale” and “In Stock” in the left column. CLICK HERE for all items on sale this week.
2. EuroOptic — Mauser M18 6.5 PRC, $499.99
⏺ European quality hunting rifle, save $249 with this deal
If you are looking for a refined, well-designed hunting rifle, this Mauser M18 fills the bill. And right now this Mauser M18 in 6.5 PRC is just $499.99 at EuroOptic.com. That’s a huge $199.01 savings off the regular $699.00 price. This M18 rifle features a modern 3-lug bolt with 60-degree bolt lift. Action and barrel are black nitride coated for durability. The 6.5 PRC is a modern potent hunting cartridge that can drive 140gr bullets at 2950 FPS. Mauser short- and long-action M18s with other chamberings (regular or magnum) are offered by EuroOptic for $549.99 to $699.99 with choice of black or Savannah brown stock.
3. Cabela’s or Garmin — Handheld GPS/SatComm Sale
⏺ Devices offer GPS and Satellite Communication — Backcountry Safety Item
Through June 2, Cabela’s has slashed prices on Garmin Handheld GPS/Satellite communication devices. Save up to $150. We like and use the Garmin In-Reach Mini because it is so light (3.5 oz) and compact (4″x2″). The Mini can send maps to your cellphone. NOTE: These three handheld units can be purchased direct from Garmin.com at the exact same discounted prices. In addition, GPS watches and vehicle GPS units are on sale now at Garmin.com/promotions.
⏺ Excellent FFP MOA-value Scope for Varminting or PRS/NRL
Are you into PRS/NRL, or just looking for a FFP scope for target shooting and varminting. Then here’s a killer deal. Right now you can save $600.00 (50%) on an excellent first focal plane 4.5-27x50mm Bushnell scope with a great reticle. Price is now just $599.99 with FREE shipping from MidwayUSA. The Bushnell Forge Rifle Scope boasts side parallax, locking zero stop, and high contrast lenses. Click values are 1/4 MOA. We really like the Deploy MOA reticle which has the “Christmas” tree wind-hold marks.
5. KYGUNCO — Federal .22 LR Rimfire Ammo, 800 Rds $105.99
⏺ Rimfire ammo is hard to find — grab it while you can
Good .22 LR rimfire ammo is difficult to find these days. But KYGUNCO has large Federal 800-round 22LR ammo packs IN STOCK as of 5/30/2021. This is good ammo, delivered in a large box. The $105.99 price works out to $6.62 for 50 rounds or $0.13 per round. That’s pretty good these days. User reviews have been positive. This ammo features 40gr lead bullets running at 1200 FPS.
6. Brownells — Sinclair Tools Discounted in Summer Kickoff Sale
⏺ ACT SOON — this sale ends at 11:59 pm on 5/31/21
Sinclair makes excellent tools for handloaders. Right now you can save $10-$20 on Sinclair tools. On sale are the case trimmer kit, hand primer tool, concentricity gauge, and seating depth gauge. NOTE: In addition to discounted Sinclair tools, you’ll find savings on ammo, AR15 triggers, electronic muffs, red dot sights, and many other products.
7. Sportsman’s Warehouse — SITKA Camo Clothing, 20% Off
⏺ 20% Savings on some of the best hunting gear on the market
Now through June 3, 2021 you can save 20% on quality SITKA hunting clothing at Sportsman’s Warehouse. Save on jackets, hoodies, pants, and zip-front pull-overs. Choose among five different GORE OPTIFADE Camo styles. About these new camo patterns, Gore states: “The OPTIFADE concealment pattern applies revolutionary new findings in animal vision science. In contrast with mimicry camouflage, which attempts to make the hunter match his environment, the premise of OPTIFADE Concealment is to prevent the animal from recognizing the hunter as a predator.”
8. Palmetto SA Memorial Day Sale — ARs, Handguns and More
⏺ Great deals on AR products, along with handguns — Sale ends soon
Palmetto State Armory is running a big Memorial Day Sale. There are big discounts on AR Uppers, Lowers, complete rifles plus AR triggers and magazines. In addition you’ll find notable savings on semi-auto pistols and revolvers. Riflescopes and Red Dot sights are also on sale. To see all the discounted items, visit the PSA Memorial Day Sale Page and use the “NEXT >” navigation button to see all products on sale.
⏺ Owners say it is sharp with good features for price
This Sawback Bowie spring-assisted folding knife, just $9.99 on Amazon, has a 3.5″ blade. There is a curved cutting edge with a serrated section near the handle. Actual purchasers state: “This knife is very well made with a tight feel. No play at all. The assisted open is excellent [and] they come very sharp too”, and “This is a good quality knife. It’s solid and a bit heavy, really good looking and comes pretty sharp. Overall its a great knife.”
⏺ Quality name-brand shooting eyewear — buy multiples at this price
Every shooter needs eye protection EVERY TIME you go to the shooting range. Right now Midsouth has the good Radians clear Lens Outback Shooting Glasses for just $5.88. These ANSI Z87.1 Radians Shooting Glasses provide 99.99.9% UVA/UVB protection with the coated lenses. These offer excellent wrap-around protection and are fairly light and comfortable. A handy neck cord is included. With this low $5.88 price, you can buy 3 or 4 sets and keep spares in your vehicles, so you always have protective eyewear for yourself and your friends.
Forum member Rardoin’s handsome F-Open rig features the new Borden BRM-XD action.
One of the most popular items in our Shooters’ Forum is the ongoing “Pride and Joy” thread. Since 2009, Forum members have posted photos and descriptions of their most prized rifles. Here are some of the most recent “Pride and Joy” rifles showcased in our Forum. Do you have a gun you’d like to see featured there? Just Register for the Forum and you can add your favorite gun to the list.
Bill Goad’s 6PPC Hunter “Ranch Rifle”
Forum member Grimstod tells us: “This is the personal rifle of Bill Goad. He has been experimenting with it on several levels. It is shooting great and has several matches on it now. Please enjoy these photos. More can be found on the website www.PremierAccuracy.com. We like the subtle barbed wire effect on the stock.
Twin-Upper AR with Custom Wood Furniture
This very unique AR belongs to Forum member Nuto-BR. He tells us: “Here are the two uppers I built. The top one is am X-caliber in 20 Practical with 24-inch, 1:11″-twist barrel. The bottom one is a WOA in .223 Rem, with 20″, 1-12″ twist barrel. They both shoot 1/2 MOA or better. Both stocks are laminated Maple and Walnut. I reversed the order of the two woods to tell them apart.”
Two Dashers and a Rimfire for Fun
Courtesy Forum member Dan H., here are two red-stocked Dashers plus an Anschutz 54.30 (Benchrest Stock) to make it a trio. Dan says: “The Anschutz provides good practice in trigger-pulling. It’s amazing what you can learn from a rifle that is as sensitive as this one.”
Dream Hunting Rifle with Custom Camo
Here is Forum member TyDaws’s “Dream Hunting Rifle” in 6.5-280 Ackley Improved. We love the custom paint work by by Melodie Yarbrough. Smithed by West Texas Ordnance, this rifle features a Rem 700 action with fluted bolt, PT&G tapered recoil lug, and Timney 510 2-lb trigger. The barrel is a fluted 26″ 1:8″-twist Bartlein 5R #3 contour. On top is a Huskemaw Blue Diamond 4-16x42mm optic in Warne Maxima rings. That’s an Atlas bipod up front.
Three Guns for Mr. Big
Forum Member Mr. Big offered up another trio of rifles — two bench guns and a tactical rig. Mr. Big says: “Here are the rifles I shoot most: Farley 6mm PPC, Stiller .243 Win, and Rem 6.5×47 Lapua. They will do just about anything I ask them to…” Challenge: Can you identify the makers of the three different stocks shown in this picture (and the different materials used in each)?
Classic M1917 Enfield Action in Hand-Carved Maple Stock
This impressive rifle features an “antique” 1917 Enfield action chambered for the .338 Win Magnum cartridge. The lovely Maple stock was hand-carved by Forum member Spitfire_ER. He tells us: “I found this piece of wood as a return at a lumber yard about [many] years ago. I asked the guy in the yard about it and he said it had been returned because it had too much figure for the job the customer was working on. First thing I thought was, ‘That would make a nice stock’.”
6mm Dasher in Robertson Spider Web Stock
Here is Forum member Vahena’s 6mm Dasher. It has a no-turn-neck chamber in a 28″, 1:8″-twist barrel with 1.25″ straight contour. This has an original Robertson fiberglass stock with spider web graphics. This rifle was originally built as a 6.5×284 with a fluted barrel. Now it sports a bigger barrel for a smaller cartridge. The front rest is a SEB Neo with counterweight up front.
Everyone should have a heavy-duty, thick-walled steel gunsafe for their firearms and valuables. Ideally this should weigh 400+ pounds and offer fire protection for the contents. However, a gun owner may also want more rapid access to defensive arms and security items, in a different part of the home. That is where the “hidden in plain sight” concept comes into play.
Freedom Cabinet Holds Long Arms and Pistols — RFID Access
The unique Freedom Cabinet, shown above, is a patriotic, wall-mounted Stars & Stripes Flag-themed concealment unit. Available in Wood, Steel, or Carbon Fiber, each secure Freedom Cabinet features inlaid steel and Invisible RFID or Biometric locking systems. The Freedom Cabinet regularly costs $219.95 but is discounted to $179.96 this Memorial Day Week (with coupon code). Along with this flip-up Freedom cabinet, there is a “Slider” version regularly priced at $254.95, but now $196.76 (with code).
Get the 20% discounts this Memorial Day week with CODE “THANKYOU20″. Later, for Father’s Day week, save 20% with CODE “DAD20″
Tactical Walls Shelf Secure Storage Unit
TacticalWalls.com, producers of home security/concealment products, offers clever furniture item that hold defensive arms. We like the big model 1242 Top Locking Shelf. This will hold a long gun plus a pistol and other items, which can be accessed rapidly with magnetic keys. The foam-lined secret compartment measures 12″ Deep x 42″ Wide. Price starts at $455.00.
Tactical Walls also have a smaller model 825 Top Locking Shelf that holds two pistols and some small accessories. This model 82 has a 8″ x 25″ W foam-lined hidden compartment accessed by magnetic keys. The model 825 locking Shelf retails for $405.00 – $435.00, depending on wood choice.
Redding T-7 Still Within Spec
