Taurus, a major handgun manufacturer, has opened its big new U.S. manufacturing facility and Operations Center in Bainbridge, Georgia. The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday, December 5, 2019, at the new corporate headquarters.
The move to Bainbridge, Georgia, follows an initial investment of over $22.5 million in infrastructure and the creation of over 300 new jobs in Decatur County. The 5-year plan foresees continued expansion in U.S. engineering and production for the Taurus, Rossi, and Heritage Manufacturing product lines, and significant capital and resource investment in the Bainbridge area.
Taurus USA is a subsidary of Taurus Armas, S.A., a publicly traded company based in Brazil. Taurus Armas S.A. manufactures a wide variety of consumer and industrial products that are distributed worldwide. For more information about Taurus, go to TaurusUSA.com.
The opening ceremonies included appearances by local politicians and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp who told the assembled crowd: “This is a big deal … for Taurus HQ to be located here. It continues the growth of our state. Our employment is at new highs and our unemployment numbers are the lowest in nineteen years — all that means great things for the state and all of us.” Georgia, Kemp added, leads the country in workforce development, competitive environment and “speed to permit”.
Taurus Holdings CEO David Blenker stated: “All of us at Taurus have been anticipating this moment for some time. It is the culmination of much hard work, intensive planning, and considerable investment in time and resources by many people—not only from Taurus, but also from the good people in the Bainbridge, Georgia, area. We are looking forward to this transition and the exciting opportunities this move will offer Taurus and its employees[.]”
Shooting Industry Magazine reveals scores of new products in its December 2019 issue, which you can read for free online. The 2020 New Product Showcase is a focal point of Shooting Industry’s December issue — with 88 brands represented. View the entire line-up of New-for-2020 products HERE: New Product Showcase.
Here are 10 Cool New Products our Editors spotted in the Shooting Industry New Product Showcase:
The CZ 457 Varmint Precision Chassis pairs CZ’s heavy-barreled 457 action with an aluminum chassis of the company’s own design. Equipped with an adjustable Luth-AR stock, AR-style grip, QD sling sockets, and M-LOK slots, proper fit and customization are made easy. Available in .22 LR with a 16.5″ or 24″ barrel, the CZ 457 Varmint Precision Chassis is threaded for use with rimfire suppressors.
The new 1 to 10-power scope from Konus boasts a class-leading 10X zoom system with a 1 MOA dot reticle. The 1-10x24mm riflescope features 30mm tube, fully multi-coated optics, dual color illumination, glass-etched reticle, removable zoom lever,adjustable locking turrets, and flip-up covers. The 1-10X Konus is waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof.
Christensen Arms unveiled a Steel-Barreled Modern Precision Rifle. Heavier than Christensen’s signature carbon fiber offerings, the steel-barreled Modern Precision Rifle weighs 8.4 and 9.6 lbs depending on barrel contour/length. The folding chassis features a carbon fiber comb, free-floating carbon fiber handguard, flat match-grade trigger, AR-style grip and a 20 MOA rail.
Target Factory is introducing a new target design, the Flip-R-Spin Target. This indoor/outdoor range and retail consumer target is actually a “3 in 1” target, as it can be deployed in several configurations: on the ground, vertical spinning or horizontal spinning target. With its unique 3D 2.5″ diameter “Target Ball” concept, it always self-resets.
Springfield Armory’s Hellcat is a micro-compact 9mm carry pistol. New for 2020 is a Hellcat Optical Sight Pistol (OSP) configuration. The Hellcat OSP features a removable cover plate to allow direct mounting of a Red Dot optics to the slide. Capacity is 11+1 — best in class. The U-Dot sight system is made of high visibility tritium and a luminescent front sight paired with a tactical rack U-notch rear. A high-hand beavertail and undercut triggerguard situate the pistol low in the hand.
The new 6X RangeTracker 1800 from German Precision Optics (GPO) incorporates state-of-the-art optical and electronic technology in a compact laser rangefinder built for long-range rifle hunting (up to 1,800 yards). It offers angle correction, Hyperscan (three readings per second), and an outside temperature reading in Fahrenheit or Celsius. The OLED system allows up to 25% more light to get through the optical system, ideal low-light situations.
Texan air rifles from AirForce Airguns now feature a carbon fiber tank and valve system — capable of energy levels of 750 ft. lbs. with a 520gr projectile. The carbon fiber tank holds 3,625 psi or 250 BAR of air. The power increase allows users to hunt larger game by delivering a heavy projectile to the target with up to 750 ft/lbs of energy.
The Firearms Guide 10th Edition is a comprehensive guns and ammo reference guide, available online or on a flash drive. Published since 2009, this Guide offers gun prices, gun schematics, blueprints, and manual. Guns are cross-referenced with the ammunition database. Guns and ammo are presented with prices, tech specifications, features, ballistic information and high-resolution color pictures.
The Modular Drive Technologies (MDT) ACC chassis is now available for the CZ 457 rimfire action, making it a great option for rimfire cross-training or NRL22 competitino. The MDT ACC offers a customizable steel weight system allowing over nine pounds to be added to the buttstock and/or fore-end. The ACC Chassis comes with a SRS-X Elite buttstock with adjustable LOP. A full ARCA rail runs the entire length of the 17.75″ fore-end. This stock can accept variety of pistol grips.
The new Otis Long Term Gun Storage Kit provides what you need to protect and store a firearm for an extended period of time corrosion-free. The kit includes Rust Stopper Rust Prevention Gun Storage Bags (pistol and rifle/shotgun), microfiber towels, chamber flags, an all purpose receiver brush, Shooter’s Choice MC-7 bore cleaner (2-oz. bottle), FP-10 Lubricant Elite (4-oz. bottle) and Rust Prevent (6-oz. aerosol).
Yes Americans cherish their Second Amendment rights. Despite what the Mainstream Media may say, gun ownership is alive and well in America, as 30% of U.S. adults say they personally own a gun, while a larger percentage, 43%, report living in a gun household. This is according to a recent Gallup Poll Survey. The same survey reveals that 40% of Conservatives own a firearm vs. 28% of Moderates and 18% of Liberals. 43% of Republicans own guns vs. 16% of Democrats — that’s a big gap. And more men than women own firearms, by a large margin. 43% of men polled say they own at least one gun, compared to 17% for women.
Gun Production Figures — 423 Million Civilian Guns in America
Based on Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) records, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), now says there are nearly 423 million guns owned by civilians in the United States. The estimated total number of firearms in civilian possession from 1986-2018 is 422.9 million, according to data from the BATFE’s Firearms Commerce Report in the United States 2019 report and preliminary 2018 Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation Report (AFMER) figures.
While Gun Ownership Rises, Crime Rates Have Fallen
The NSSF’s 2017 Firearms Production Report also notes that as lawful firearms ownership in America continues to grow, criminal and unintentional misuse of firearms is falling. During the 25-year period covered in this report (1993–2017) the violent crime rate has decreased by 48.6 percent and unintentional firearm-related fatalities have declined by 68 percent.
Black Rifles Are Big Sellers — 17,740,000 Modern Sporting Rifles in Private Ownership
There are some very interesting figures in the NSSF’s 2017 Firearms Production Report. One telling finding is that 17.74 million AR-Type Modern Sporting Rifles are now privately owned in the United States. Yes black rifles remain very popular — More than half (54%) of all rifles produced in 2017 were modern sporting rifles. Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President states: “The Modern Sporting Rifle continues to be the most popular centerfire rifle sold in America today and is clearly a commonly-owned firearm with more than 17 million in legal private ownership today.”
7.66 Million Firearms Were Produced or Imported in 2018
An interim 2018 estimate showed a total 7,660,772 total firearms were produced and imported. Of those 4,277,971 were pistols and revolvers, 2,846,757 were rifles and 535,994 were shotguns. These interim reports will be updated as complete information becomes available.
8.1 Billion Rounds of Ammunition Produced Last Year for the U.S. Market
An estimated 8.1 billion rounds, of all calibers/gauges, were produced in 2018 for the U.S. market. Firearms-ammunition manufacturing accounted for nearly 12,000 employees producing over $4.1 billion in goods shipped in 2017.
Story tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
What did you really want for Christmas? A new rifle? Maybe a new reloading press? A poll of sportsmen and firearm owners by Southwick Associates’ HunterSurvey.com / ShooterSurvey.com asked, “What hunting or target shooting gear are you most hoping to receive this holiday season?” Respondents could select three items from a long list of products. The most-wished-for items were in the Hunting Apparel category, with 22.3 percent of respondents asking Santa for new hunting duds. A new Handgun was second-highest on the list, followed by a Trail Camera at #3, Ammunition at #4, and a Laser Rangefinder at #5. How do your choices stack up against the survey responses?
Note, the totals of all selections exceeds 100% because survey participants could elect three total choices. Also, since this 2012 survey was specifically directed at hunters (rather than just firearm owners), a number of responses relate to bows and archery equipment.
Curious about suppressors (aka “silencers”, “moderators”, or “cans”)? Below you’ll find an informative NSSF Infographic that covers the history, legal status, design, and operation of modern-day suppressors.
Here’s a cool video showing how suppressors work. This video features see-through rifle suppressors filmed with ultra-high-speed (110,000 frame per second) cameras. When played back in super-slow-motion, you can see the flame propagate through the suppressor and the bullet move through each baffle before it exists the muzzle. Check it out!
See Through Suppressor in Super Slow Motion (110,000 fps) — Click Arrow to Watch:
Suppressor Facts — What You Need to Know
In this infographic, the NSSF provides the history, specifications, benefits and uses of firearm suppressors. Don’t suppress your knowledge!
Suppressors reduce gunfire sound levels by using baffles that contain expanding gasses exiting a firearm’s muzzle when ammo is discharged. Suppressors are similar to car mufflers that were, in fact, developed in parallel by the same inventor in the early 1900s. Well-designed suppressors typically reduce the gun sound levels by 30-35 decibels (dB). Suppressors are becoming more popular even though it still takes many months to get approved. In fact, the number of suppressors registered with the ATF grew by over 1 million from 2011 to 2017. That’s a 355% increase.
Image Courtesy NSSF. This story is based on an NSSF Article.
‘Tis the season of gift-giving — Christmas is just 3 weeks away. Perhaps you’re considering giving a a first rifle to your grandson or perhaps a carry pistol to a spouse. When making a gun gift to a friend or family member, however, there are some very important legal considerations. Also the rules on firearms gift transfers vary from state to state. Bottom line here — you need to know the law BEFORE you deliver that shiny new firearm to a family member, close friend, or relative.
The first thing to remember if you’re thinking about giving someone a gun is that … it’s a gun! You already know that ownership of a firearm brings with it some serious legal and ethical obligations that other consumer products don’t. So let’s look at some questions you may have about giving a firearm as a gift.
Image Courtesy NSSF
The first question you have to ask is whether the intended recipient can legally own the firearm where he or she lives. With more than 20,000 different gun laws on the books, even the kinds of firearms that law-abiding citizens can own vary from place to place. For example, juveniles (under age 18) generally speaking are precluded by law from possessing a handgun. Check out the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) website for an overview of local laws and, whatever you do, don’t forget that you can never under any circumstances transfer a firearm to someone you know — or have reasonable cause to believe — legally can’t own one. That’s a federal felony, so be careful.
There’s no federal law that prohibits a gift of a firearm to a relative or friend who lives in your home state. Abramski v. United States, a recent Supreme Court decision involving a “straw purchase” of a firearm did not change the law regarding firearms as gifts. The following states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington State) and the District of Columbia require you to transfer a firearm through a local firearms retailer so an instant background check will be performed to make sure the recipient is not legally prohibited from owning the gun. Maryland and Pennsylvania require a background check for private party transfer of a handgun. There are exceptions, so it’s important to check the law of your state or ask your local firearms retailer.
Consider a Gift Card Instead of Direct Gift
The ATF recommends that if you want to give someone a new firearm, rather than going to a gun store and buying the gun on your own, consider instead purchasing a gift certificate/card from your favorite gun retailer. Then give that gift card as the present. That way the recipient can choose the exact gun he or she wants, and there’s no question about who is “the actual buyer of the firearm,” which is a question any purchaser must certify on the Federal Form 4473 at the time of purchase. The Gift Card option avoids any “straw purchaser” issues.
Intra-Family Transfers and Antique Arms
What if you want to give “Old Betsy,” your favorite old deer rifle, to your son or daughter as a college graduation gift? Again, in most states, there’s no law that says you can’t, but some states require even intra-family transfers to go through a licensed dealer. Remember, you can never transfer a firearm directly to another person who is a resident of a different state. In that case, you must transfer the firearm through a licensed dealer in the state where the person receiving the gift resides. Using a gift certificate from a firearms retailer near where the recipient lives might be a good solution. Pre-1898 antique firearms are generally exempt from the dealer requirement. [But check with the laws in your jurisdiction]. Be safe and check with your dealer or local law enforcement before you hand over your prized possession.
Regulations on Firearms Shipping to Third Parties
When you intend to transfer a gun, there are important rules on interstate shipping*. Generally speaking, you can only ship a handgun by common carrier (but not U.S. Mail) and a long gun by U.S. Mail or common carrier to a federally licensed dealer, but not to a non-licensed individual. With all carriers, federal law requires you to declare that your package contains an unloaded firearm. To be safe, always consult your carrier in advance about its regulations for shipping firearms. Also check your state laws on transfers.
*Different rules may apply to shipping to parties IN-STATE or shipping firearms to yourself in temporary care of others. Always consult your own state laws, but here are some FAQs copied directly from the ATF.GOV website:
There are hundreds of cartridge types capable of winning in F-Open. For F-TR you can shoot either the .223 Rem or .308 Win, but you have many load options. This article will focus on proven choices, currently used by the top F-Class shooters in the world. Our discussion will analyze cartridge selection based on the four different F-Class sub-disciplines: Open Mid-Range, Open Long-Range, F-TR Mid-Range, and F-TR Long Range.
Click image to view full-screen photo.
Mid-Range F-Open Cartridges
For starters, a .300 WSM is certainly capable of winning mid-range matches but it is not ideal. So what is ideal, and why? F-Class Mid-Range matches usually are usually shot at 300, 500, or 600 yards — or all three. At those distances the 6mm and 6.5mm cartridges rule. In moderate conditions, the 6mm Dasher is unbeatable. Its low recoil along with its super grouping ability and good ballistics make it my number one choice for Mid-Range.
Best bullets for the 6mm Dasher are: Vapor Trail 103gr, Berger 105 Hybrid, 108 BT, and 105 VLD (hunting). Best powders are: Varget, H4895, and Reloder 15.
Choices for Mid-Range in Tougher Conditions:
We all know that conditions are not always “moderate” that’s why something a little bit bigger will save you a “Nine” or two. The 6.5X47 Lapua was designed for 300-meter competition, but as soon as it was released, it was adopted by F-Class, benchrest, and tactical shooters. It offers great ballistics with very low recoil and big “accuracy window”. Lapua makes great brass for it (no surprise there) and Berger makes great bullets: 130gr VLD, 140gr VLD, 140gr Hybrids. Best powders in most barrels are Varget and H4350, I don’t use double-based powders such as Reloder 17 and the Vihtavuori N500 series because of their unpredictable performance day to day (greater temp sensitivity).
The 6.5X47 Lapua necked down to 6mm is also a great option for mid range matches. I was able to easily get 3200 fps with 105 hybrids and H4350.
Choice for Long-Range F-Open Competition
In Long-Range F-Open Class (out to 1000 yards), the big, high-BC bullets rule. If I had to pick one cartridge for F-Class (both mid- and long-range) I would pick the .284 Winchester or one of its variants. The .284 Win is currently dominating in F-Open competition. It offers great barrel life, it is super-easy to tune and its recoil is very manageable. The best bullets for it by far (in my opinion), are the Berger 180 Hybrids. But Sierra’s new 183gr MK bullet (with factory-uniformed meplats) seems to perform very well as does the Berger 180 VLD. Best powders for the .284 Win are H4350 and H4831SC.
Long-Range Only F-Open Cartridge
As much as I like the .284 Win, for long-range competitions I like the .300 WSM even more. If you look at a .300 WSM and a 6mm Dasher side by side, they appear almost identical in geometry — the .300 WSM looks like an “super-sized” Dasher. Both cartridges are currently the “darlings” of long-range benchrest due to their extraordinary grouping ability and huge “node’’ windows. Big accuracy windows allow loads to perform well in different conditions and geographical locations. That’s obviously very important if you travel to compete. The .300 WSM loaded with Berger 215gr or 230gr Hybrids is very tough to beat at long range, and it is currently my number one choice.
The 7mm RSAUM is another outstanding long-range round. It resembles a 6BR on steroids and it is almost as easy to tune. Best bullets for it are Berger 180gr Hybrids, 195gr EOLs, and Sierra’s 183gr MatchKing. Best powders for the 7mm RSAUM are: H4350, H4831SC, and VV N160.
Top Caliber/Bullet Combos for F-TR
In F-TR competition, the choice is clear — a .308 Win throated for Berger 185gr BTLRs and 200gr Hybrids will win in mid-range AND long-range comps. Many championships have been won, and many records set with those two bullets in the .308 Win. To quote Danny Biggs (a two times FTR National Champion) “The 185 BTLR is the best bullet for .308 Win ever made”.
The Berger 215gr Hybrids have been used to win many competitions including recently the 2015 F-Class Nationals. Bryan Litz won both the Mid-Range and Long-Range 2015 Championships using 215s. Bryan’s rifle is shown below:
I recommend chambers throated for the 185/200 grain projectiles over the 215/230 grain bullets. The reason is that if you have your barrel throated out for the 215s or the 230s, you could have a “slow” barrel and max out on pressure before the desired velocity is reached. Optimum freebore for the 230s is too long for the 185/200s, so you would be limited to using only 215/230gr bullets in that barrel.Furthermore, the recoil increase with heavier bullets is substantial, causing the rifle to be more difficult to shoot.
.223 Rem — Not A Competitive Option
I would stay away from the .223 Remington. On paper the 90gr VLD will shoot inside most .308 Win loads even at a 1000 yards. But in reality, on average, the .223 Rem, regardless of what powder/bullet combo is used, cannot compete with the .308 Win. [Editor: The equipment lists at major F-TR matches will confirm Kovan’s conclusion here.]
Conclusion (and Other Options)
This article covers only the (currently) most popular cartridge/bullet combos for F-Class (F-Open and F-TR). As I said in the beginning, many cartridge types are capable of winning but are not listed due to their low popularity, case design, or lack of quality components. All of the above information is based on my personal experience and it is meant to help new shooters choose the right cartridges for F-Class matches. Thanks for reading and good luck — Emil Kovan
Emil Kovan Competition History:
– 2014 F-Class Open National Champion
– 2015 F-Class Open National Championship, Silver Medal
– F-Class Open National Championship Teams, 2015, 2014, 2013, Shooting Team Member
– Over 15 wins in Regional and State Championships in Palma, F-TR, F-Open
Mc3™ Stocks is running a big Cyber Monday Sale. Now through December 3, 2019 at 11:59 pm Mc3 stocks are available for 25% OFF. All Mc3 stocks come from the factory with precision inletting and aluminum pillars for a precise, drop-in fit. Mc3 stocks combine field-proven McMillan designs with advanced materials to deliver a custom feel in a very affordable package. Visit www.MC3STOCKS.com and use promo code CYBER25 at checkout to receive 25% OFF.
Use Promo Code: CYBER25 | Sale ends Tuesday, December 3rd at 11:59 pm MST
Mc3 Stocks are designed, engineered, and manufactured by McMillan to deliver perfect fit plus outstanding performance for the price. Mc3 stocks are constructed from a state-of-the-art proprietary polymer blend called Zenolite, resulting in a stronger, stiffer stock. These stocks are modeled after some of McMillan’s best-selling stocks and compatible with most Remington 700 models.
For example, the Mc3 Tradition Stock is available for short- and long-action Remington 700 rifles. The Mc3 Tradition Stock weighs 2.8-3 lbs., includes a one-inch McMillan recoil pad by Pachmayr, two front sling studs, one rear sling stud, and new finish options: Tan, Olive, Carbon Fiber Black, Painted FDE Transition, Painted Sonoran Transition, and Painted Woodland Transition. This stock is also competitively priced between $269.00 and $319.00.
Above and below — the world’s best female Action Pistol shooter, Jessie Harrison.
The shooting sports are not a “man’s game” these days. Far from it. More and more women have taken up target shooting. A recent survey showed an 80% increase in the number of women target shooters from 2001 to 2016. In total, six million American ladies participated in target shooting in 2016. Likewise hunting has become more popular with American women. Female hunters in the USA numbered 1.1 million in 2016. That represents a 104% increase from 2001.
Recognizing that ladies are an ever-increasing part of the shooting sports, Shooting Industry Magazine published its first-ever Woman’s Issue dedicated to female shooters and huntresses. This 2019 special issue can be accessed for FREE online. CLICK HERE to READ.
While the issue is focused primarily on SELLING products to women, there is some very useful information that can help match directors and club officials. The magazine interviews many business owners and range directors who have developed female-focused shooting and training programs.
Female Participation in Shooting Sports and Hunting
The Shooting Industry Woman’s Issue spotlights female participation in target shooting and hunting. One key article summarizes a nationwide survey conducted by Southwick Associates. One interesting finding was that much of the increase in female participation can be tracked to younger ladies: “Female participation in both hunting and shooting may be highest among younger women[.]” Notably, 16% of respondents among target shooters in the 16-24 age category were female. Southwick concludes: “Future generations of hunters and shooters will contain more women than ever before”.
Our friend Dennis Santiago is a talented Service Rifle shooter, who normally competes with an AR shooting the .223 Rem cartridge. Recently he decided to go over to the “dark side”, putting together a Palma (fullbore) rifle chambered for the .308 Winchester. Dennis selected a Competition Machine (Gary Eliseo) R1 Chassis for the project. Here’s Santiago’s account of his “true blue” Palma build…
Palma Rifle Report by Dennis Santiago
“Here’s my new project — a .308 Win Palma rifle with an Eliseo R1 chassis, Rem 700 action (blue-printed with PT&G upgrades), Jewell trigger, Boots Obermeyer 1:11″-twist barrel, and Phoenix sights holding Gehmann apertures. Next comes chassis and sling set-up, initial mechanical zeroing, and load development. Yup, I have a bunch of Peterson small primer .308 brass, Sierra #2156 155gr MKs, and Varget to get started with. I’m told I can drive 155gr pills to stay supersonic to 1K. Should make for an interesting 2020. My goal is to be cozy with this blue beast by the time the Berger Southwest Nationals kick off in February 2020. Hey, you gotta have goals!”
CLICK Imagefor full-screen photo with more detail.
Pinning the Picatinny — For a Super-Solid Mount
One of the key parts of the build, Dennis explains, is mounting the top rail with pins: “Once the rail is aligned using a spin-centered optic, it locks down with three 3/16″ roll pins. That way there is no reliance on screws that can come loose. Above is a photo of the top of the Eliseo tube chassis showing the three, 3/16″ roll pins that unitize the Picatinny rail. You can also see the four brass screws that just kiss the action to fully stabilize it in the tube. The recoil ring buttresses completely around the action with metal to metal contact. There are a million details hidden inside a Gary gun.”
Phoenix Sights Front and Rear
Rise of the Phoenix — Here are the sights for the Eliseo R1. There are very few manufacturers left making these kinds of ultra-precise and repeatable iron sights.
These Ray-Vin tools help set mechanical zero on the sights. Dennis notes: “Finally a reason to pull out the Ray-Vin calibration paraphernalia to set up a mechanical zero. This photo is for all of you who still remember that those barrel flats and screws in our sight towers actually had a purpose once upon a time.”
Sling ‘N Irons — Classic Palma Configuration Dennis plans to use an Eric Hollis sling with his new blue Palma rifle.
Peterson Small Primer .308 Win Brass for Santiago’s Rig
Dennis plans to use Peterson Cartridge Small Rifle primer .308 Win brass. Peterson offers a “Select” version weight-sorted and length-sorted at the factory. All Select casings (in a 50ct box) are guaranteed to be within 1 grain in weight and .001″ in OAL. Peterson Select brass is available for 20 different cartridge types, including .308 Win both small primer/small flash hole and large primer/large flash hole.
Getting the Blue Rifle Ready for the 2020 Berger SW Nationals
Dennis plans to campaign his rifle at the 2020 Berger Southwest Nationals (SWN). He may shoot iron sights, or fit a scope and shoot in the “Any Sights” category. That’s not yet decided. The week-long Berger SWN is the biggest rifle match in the Western United States. Hundreds of shooters compete in both individual and team events. The SWN begins with the Mid-Range Nationals at 600 yards. Then the Long-Range matches are held, with targets out to 1000 yards. Watch the video to see the Ben Avery facility, home of the Berger SWN:
Chassis-maker Gary Elesio at the 2017 Berger SW Nationals. Gary shoots what he sells:
What did you really want for Christmas? A new rifle? Maybe a new reloading press? A poll of sportsmen and firearm owners by Southwick Associates’ HunterSurvey.com / ShooterSurvey.com asked, “What hunting or target shooting gear are you most hoping to receive this holiday season?” Respondents could select three items from a long list of products. The most-wished-for items were in the Hunting Apparel category, with 22.3 percent of respondents asking Santa for new hunting duds. A new Handgun was second-highest on the list, followed by a Trail Camera at #3, Ammunition at #4, and a Laser Rangefinder at #5. How do your choices stack up against the survey responses?
The first question you have to ask is whether the intended recipient can legally own the firearm where he or she lives. With more than 20,000 different gun laws on the books, even the kinds of firearms that law-abiding citizens can own vary from place to place. For example, juveniles (under age 18) generally speaking are precluded by law from possessing a handgun. Check out the 
Consider a Gift Card Instead of Direct Gift
.223 Rem — Not A Competitive Option
Emil Kovan Competition History:
