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October 21st, 2025

1911-Type Competition Pistols — Shooting Skills + Accessories

1911 pistol handguns 3D animation cad john browning .45 acp race gun

Pistol Shooting Skills Demonstrated with 1911

Over time the 1911 design has evolved into many variants, including the modern “race gun” used in rapid-fire pistol competitions. Show above is an STI DVC Open model fitted with a C-More sight, and front compensator. It is chambered for the .38 Super.

This article has good tips on pistol marksmanship (grip and trigger control). In addition we offer resources on how to upgrade and accessorize 1911-type handguns.

How to Grip a 1911 Handgun Properly
World Champion pistol ace (and 18-time Bianchi Cup winner) Doug Koenig demonstrates how to grip a handgun. While the fundamentals are demonstrated on a 1911 pistol they are effective for establishing a proper grip on any handgun.

Trigger Press and Trigger Control
In this video Champion shooter Doug Koenig talks about key techniques that apply to all pistol marksmanship — not just speed shooting “on the clock”. With any handgun, Doug explains, you should focus on consistent trigger control. You want to avoid yanking the trigger or anticipating recoil.

How to Accessorize Your 1911

The Brownells YouTube Channel has a series of videos showing how to accessorize a 1911. The videos show procedures for upgrading the magazine release, slide release, hammer, guide rod, mainspring housing, and grips. There are also good videos on barrel replacement and drop-in trigger group installation. If you want to upgrade your 1911, these videos are worth watching. Below are links to three of these 1911 videos.

brownells 1911 pistol upgrade video
brownells 1911 pistol upgrade video
brownells 1911 pistol upgrade video

Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, Shooting Skills No Comments »
August 28th, 2025

CMP Moves Firearms and Collectibles Auctions to Gunbroker

cmp gunbroker auction transition schedule

For decades the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) sold firearms, barrels, and other valuable collectible products through its own CMP online auctions. This system worked well, allowing Americans to purchase M1 Garands, M1903 Rifles, 1911 pistols and more via the CMP auction site. But that’s all changing now. The CMP is moving its auction program to GunBroker.com. CLICK HERE for CMP Gunbroker INFO page. The final listings on the current CMP Auction site will end on Friday, August 29, 2025 at 11:59 PM Central Time.

But note, firearms and other products will continue to be sold in the CMP Store. It will be the select or more rare guns that will go up for auction. The CMP states that “Our partnership with GunBroker aims to enhance the quality of our auction services while giving more U.S. citizens the chance to own a treasured piece of our nation’s history.” The CMP store will continue to sell “non-select” M1 Garands, M1917 Enfields, M1911/A1 Pistols, as well as ammunition, gear, and shooting equipment. Visit CMP Online Store.

CMP Auctions on GunBroker

Beginning in September 2025, all CMP Auction and “Buy Now” items will be listed, displayed, and sold through GunBroker.com, one of the most widely-used online marketplaces for firearms and related items. CLICK HERE for more INFO on CMP Gunbroker Auction Programs.

Q. What type of CMP items can we expect to see auctioned on GunBroker?

CMP Answer:
Rare Collector Grade rifles
M1C, M1D, M1903A4 sniper rifles
Four (4) digit Garand receivers
Memorabilia and Collectibles
Rifles in very low quantities

Other items for which the auction program is used to determine market value.

CMP states this change should make auctions more accessible: “This transition will allow for improved accessibility, a more user-friendly bidding experience, and enhanced customer support, all while maintaining the same level of quality items you’ve come to expect from our auction site.”

CMP Auction Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about the CMP Auction transition, with answers from the CMP.

Q. How do I register to participate in auctions from the CMP?

A. To participate in any CMP auctions on GunBroker.com, potential buyers must create an account at Gunbroker.com/newregistration/signupdetails.

Q: Will additional fees be added to auction items?

A: Since CMP is a non-profit, no extra fees will be charged on the GunBroker platform.

Q. Whom should I contact if I have questions about the item being auctioned?

A. Email khayden@thecmp.org or auction@thecmp.org. CMP hours of operation are 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM (CST) Mon-Fri. There is no one available to answer your questions on weekends.

Q: How will GunBroker ensure CMP membership and purchasing requirements are met?

A: All CMP auction purchases require compliance with CMP eligibility requirements. Please review the eligibility criteria at: thecmp.org/cmp_sales/eligibility-requirements-2/

Final CMP-Hosted Auctions Conclude August 29, 2025 at 11:59 PM CT
cmp gunbroker auction transition schedule

Learn More About CMP Auctions on Gunbroker

CMP’s current auction website includes a link to the new CMP Page on GunBroker.com. Current and featured listings will also be visible on the CMP site, with direct links to the GunBroker auction.

cmp gunbroker auction transition schedule

If you have questions, contact the CMP Auction Team at auction@thecmp.org or 256-835-8455 ext. 418. Inquiries relating to GunBroker account creation are handled through the GunBroker Help Center.

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July 28th, 2025

BargainFinder 514: AccurateShooter’s Deals of the Week

AccurateShooter Deals of the Week Weekly Bargain Finder Sale Discount Savings

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.

NOTE: All listed products are for sale to persons 18 years of age or older. No products are intended for use by minors.

1. EuroOptic — Leupold Sale, up to 45% Off Blem Items

leupold blem blemish discount scope spotting discount eurooptic sale
⏺️ » HUGE discounts on Leupold scopes, spotters, binoculars

This week, at EuroOptic, Leupold scopes with a slight blemish are on sale at huge discounts — up to 43%. These are not used — they are new optics with the full Leupold Lifetime warranty. If you need a scope for your hunting, varmint, or competition rifle, this is great savings opportunity. In addition, regular (non-blem) Spotting Scopes and Binoculars are on sale at big discounts. For example the Leupold 15-45x65mm SX-4 spotter is now $449.99, a 44% saving off the $779.99 list price.

2. KYGUNCO — Taurus .45 ACP Stainless 1911 Pistol, $413.38

taurus model 1911 kygunco .45 acp sale discount
⏺️ » Huge 43% discount on good quality 1911 handgun

An American classic, the model 1911 pistol offers excellent accuracy, and a great single-action trigger. Right now at KYGUNCO you can save 43% on a Taurus stainless model 1911 pistol that ships with two 8-round magazines. A quality stainless 1911 is a great addition to any gun collection, both for target shooting and defensive use. With this 43% discount you are saving over $312.00 compared to regular list price.

3. Powder Valley — Varget Special 8.8-lb Cannister

hodgdon varget powder valley 8.8 pound sale discount
⏺️ » Great super-size value for popular Varget powder

Varget is one of the very best powders for many popular cartridges including .223 Rem, 6mmBR, 6XC, 6mm Creedmoor, 6GT, .243 Win, .308 Win and others. Right now you can get an 8.8-lb cannister of Varget for $409.95. That works out to just $46.59 per pound — a great value. If you load a lot of Varget, we recommend this deal from Powder Valley Outdoors. NOTE: A single 1-lb container of Varget is $55.95 at Powder Valley. So the big 8.8-lb cannister offers considerable savings.

4. Amazon — Lyman 8-station Turret Press, $265.90

lyman press sale
⏺️ » 8-station turret press is great for loading multiple cartridge types

The 8-station Lyman Brass Smith All-American 8 Press (#ad) is an impressive product. This sturdy turret press is made from heavy-duty cast iron. The 8-die station turret will hold up to four 2-die sets. Below the turret is a rigid cast iron frame, housing a 1″-diameter ram and compound linkage. NOTE: With a $269.97 price on Amazon, the 8-station Lyman is $130 cheaper than the $399.99 7-station Redding T-7. No question, that’s a significant price advantage.

5. Amazon — Folding 4-Wheel Gear Cart, $44.99

beach waggon sale
⏺️ » Great deal on folding cart that can handle all your shooting equipment

The F-Class Nationals starts next week in Wisconsin. Along with heavy rifles, competitors must haul rests, heavy rear bags, spotting scopes, ammo, shooting mats, and other gear. Moving all that gear could require multiple trips. But with this Collapsible Foldable Beach Wagon (#ad) you can haul your gear way more efficiently. Often used at matches to haul rifles, rests, mats, windflags, spotting scopes etc., these handy carts make life easier. The large oversized wheels traverse rough terrain and roll through sand with ease. This cart is offered in black for $44.99, or with blue color (as shown) for $50.99.

6. Precision Reloading — FREE HazMat on $149+ Orders

precision reloading free bonus hazmat powder primers
⏺️ » FREE HazMat through 7/31/25 on $149+ orders

Here’s a good way to save $20-$35 on your next order of Powder and/or primers. Now through Wednesday, July 31, 2025 Precision Reloading is offering FREE HazMat on powder and primer orders over $149.00 total. That can save you significant fees compared to other vendors. In addition, Precision Reloading has very competitive prices on popular powder and primer types.

7. Midway USA — Walker’s Electronic EarMuffs on Sale

walker electronic ear muffs microphone FireMax
⏺️ Major savings on popular electronic hearing protection

This week the MidwayUSA Sales Page has major discounts on quality Walker Electronic EarMuffs. Get Walker’s Razor Slim Electronic Muffs for just $36.79. Or, if you want to be able to talk with a shooting buddy or rangemaster, consider Walker’s FireMax Rechargeable Electronic Muffs with Detachable Microphone for $89.99 ($110 off MSRP) or a matched pair of FireMax Rechargeable Electronic Muffs with Mics for $159.99 (66% Off). CLICK HERE for other MidwayUSA Sales and Clearance Offers.

8. Palmetto SA — PSA Bundle 9mm Ammo, Bag, Targets, $220.00

9mm ammo targets case bundle
⏺️ » 500rds 9mm ammo plus targets, range bag, and more

Here’s a great package for pistol shooters. The $220.00 PSA Range Day Bundle includes: 500 rounds of AAC 9mm 124gr Ammo in transport case; Walker’s PSA Electronic Muffs and Glasses Combo Kit; PSA Black Range Bag; Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C 12″x18″ Silhouette Targets, 5 Pack; and Birchwood Casey Target Stapler (with staples). That’s all you need for fun days at the range — just bring your 9mm firearm(s).

9. Amazon — 52″ Double Rifle Case, $39.99

rifle case sale
⏺️ » Good price for versatile case that can hold long-barrel rifles

Here’s a very affordable rifle case that can hold long competition rifles. The Huntsen 52″ Double Rifle Case features a removable divider that enables the carrying of one or two rifles up to 50″ OAL. This case includes a large zipper pocket, 3 magazine pouches, plus MOLLE straps for other accessories. For the same $39.99 sale price, this 52″ case is offered in black (#ad), green (#ad), or tan digital camo (#ad) colors.

As an Amazon affiliate, this site can earn revenues through sales commissions.

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July 19th, 2025

Saturday Video Showcase: At the Movies with Miculek

Jerry Miculek Saturday Movies Videos revolver pistol

About Jerry Miculek… The Man, The Myth, The Legend

The video above begins: “My name is Jerry Miculek. Guns are what I do.” Jerry Miculek is a true legend in the firearms community. Acknowledged as the best wheelgun speed-shooter in history, Jerry is also an accomplished rifle and shotgun shooter with many class victories in 3-Gun competition. He also has been a prolific YouTube Video creator. For this Saturday Showcase, we feature seven notable Jerry Miculek videos. You will find over 500 more interesting videos on the Miculek “Trigger Tribe” YouTube channel Jerry shares with his daughter Lena Miculek.

How to Avoid Common Mistakes with Semi-Auto Rifles and Pistols

In this second video, Jerry explains common mistakes people make when handling and shooting three classic, semi-auto firearm types — the M1 Garand, the SKS carbine, and the M1911 pistol. Jerry shows handling faults that can cause out-of-battery detonation or early primer strikes, or cause jams in the Garand and SKS. Then Jerry explains why you should never release the slide on a M1911 pistol with a round already in the chamber. This is a must-watch video for Garand owners.

Hitting Target at 400 Meters with a Pistol

Could you hit an 18″ x 24″ target at a distance of 400 meters (437 yards)? Sure, you’re thinking, that would be easy with a good rifle fired from the bench or prone position. OK, now think about making that shot, OFF-HAND with a pistol. That’s something entirely different. We doubt many marksman would wager they could hit a plate 400 meters away with a handgun. That’s exactly the challenge legendary shooter Jerry Miculek undertakes in this interesting video. Shooting a Smith & Wesson 9mm M&P pistol with a red-dot optic, Jerry makes the 400m shot look easy, hitting the steel plate with his first shot. This takes good eyes, a solid grip, perfect trigger control (and a bit of luck).

Take-Down and Full Cleaning of AR-15

If you want to keep your black rifle running smoothly and reliably, you must clean it regularly and follow the correct maintenance procedures. In this video, Jerry Miculek takes down and cleans an AR-platform rifle belonging to his daughter Lena. This is a good video because Lena’s rifle was “run hard and packed up dirty” so you can see where carbon and grease build up. This 35-minute video is very thorough. Jerry is one of the nation’s top action carbine shooters, so listen carefully to his advice on cleaning and lubrication.

Ammo Types and Calibers — Jerry Miculek Explains the Basics

In this video, legendary shooter Jerry Miculek talks about popular types of pistol and rifle ammunition and the various bullet options used for plinking, competition, and self-defense. Jerry, one of the greatest pistol shooters on the planet, provides useful insights on cartridge selection and bullet choices. Jerry notes: “There are a TON of different types of ammunition” so he explains the basics. And Jerry answers common questions such as: “What is the difference between ball and hollow-point bullets?” and “What type of gun takes rimmed cartridge versus rimless?”.

Wheelgun Wisdom — How to Avoid Problem with Revolvers

Jerry Miculek has won multiple revolvers championships, and has set amazing records for revolver speed shooting (with reloads). Yes Jerry, “Mr. Revolver”, knows a thing or two about wheelguns. In this video, Jerry explains how you can damage your revolver by using the wrong methods to open and close the cylinder and extract ammo. Jerry shows what NOT to do, and then he very carefully explains the proper procedure to release the cylinder, and swing it out of the frame. In addition, Jerry shows how best to swing a loaded cylinder back into place.

80,000 Philippine M1 Garands in One Place

Back in 2020 Jerry Miculek visited the CMP’s HQ in Alabama. There he looked at the vast inventory of military rifles, including 80,000+ M1 Garands recently received from the Philippines. CMP tech staff showed Jerry some rare Garands that had never been issued. If you’re interested in classic military arms, you should definitely watch Jerry’s video. Gina Johnson, CMP’s general manager, told Guns.com that: “We have roughly 86,000 rifles from the Philippines and roughly 13,000 rifles from Turkey in our possession”.

Along with the 80,000+ Philippines Garands, the CMP received 13,000 from Turkey. The arrival of these 99,000 M1 Garands is great news for rifle collectors. Garands have been in short supply in recent years.

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July 12th, 2025

Never Do This! — Gun Preserving Advice from Jerry Miculek

Jerry Miculek gun video handling safety error garand sks AR15 revolver

Jerry Miculek is the best action revolver shooter who has ever lived. Miculek is also a true master with rifle and shotgun. This guy shoots hundreds of thousands of rounds every year in all types of firearms. Through that process, he has discovered common mistakes many shooters make. Those mistakes can harm the guns, or threaten the safety of the operator. Here Jerry offers some vital gun handling and safety advice in his “Never Do This” video series.

Jerry Miculek has won multiple revolvers championships, and has set amazing records for revolver speed shooting (with reloads). Yes Jerry, “Mr. Revolver”, knows a thing or two about wheelguns. In this video, Jerry explains how you can damage your revolver by using the wrong methods to open and close the cylinder and extract ammo. Jerry shows what NOT to do, and then he very carefully explains the proper procedure to release the cylinder, and swing it out of the frame. In addition, Jerry shows how best to swing a loaded cyclinder back into place. If you own a revolver, ANY revolver, you should definitely watch this video.

In this second video, Jerry explains common mistakes people make when handling and shooting three classic, semi-auto firearm types — the M1 Garand, the SKS carbine, and the M1911 pistol. Jerry shows handling faults that can cause out-of-battery detonation or early primer strikes, or cause jams in the Garand and SKS. Then Jerry explains why you should never release the slide on a M1911 pistol with a round already in the chamber. This is a must-watch video for Garand owners.

Here Jerry demonstrates of the most common jams that can happen with AR-platform rifles. Miculek reveals the cause of the issue and then shows how to prevent it. Jerry notes: “This is one of those malfunctions that you won’t see coming! I’ve seen it … on the range and it can be devastating to your time in a match. All ammo used in the video were dummy rounds and intentionally loaded for training without powder or primers.”

Jerry Miculek gun video handling safety error garand sks AR15 revolver

Permalink - Articles, - Videos, Handguns, Tactical, Tech Tip No Comments »
June 14th, 2025

Saturday Movies: 1911 Pistols — History, Function, Features

1911 pistol handguns 3D animation cad john browning .45 acp race gun

The model 1911 pistol, designed by John Moses Browning, is an American classic. Originally manufactured as .45 ACP military pistols, modern 1911s have evolved to be superb competition pistols, and carry pistols. With a Single-Action-Only (SAO) configuration, the 1911 design is different than most modern pistols. You must have the hammer cocked to fire a 1911 — like a single-action revolver. But the positive side of the Single-Action design is than modern 1911 pistols enjoy superb triggers with very positive release and fast reset. There is a reason the 1911 design is the basis for so many modern competition pistols.

In today’s Saturday at the Movies feature, we showcase videos that cover the history, design, and function of 1911-type pistols. We also include videos that explain how to field-strip a 1911 and how to accessorize/upgrade 1911 pistols.

Operation of 1911 Pistol with 3D Animations

Here are two excellent videos that show how a classic 1911-type pistol functions. 3D computer graphics animation offers a X-Ray view inside the pistol, showing how cartridges feed and how the slide cycles during the firing process.

How to Field-Strip and Re-Assemble a 1911 Pistol

There are a few tricks to field-stripping a 1911-type pistols, and it helps to have a couple specialized tools. This helpful TFB-TV (The Firearm Blog) video shows the process of disassembling a 1911 pistol from start to finish, and notes components that require lubrication or special attention.

History of the Classic Model 1911 Pistol

The model of 1911 pistol is an American classic with a long and illustrious history. These two videos cover the interesting origins of the 1911 pistol, and explain how J.M. Browning designed the remarkable 1911 pistol which became the iconic American sidearm of the U.S. Military, the longest-serving pistol in American military history.

A fascinating article by Rock Island Armory covers the complete evolution of the 1911 pistol, including its earlier prototype variants, starting with the model of 1905. SEE: Road to the 1911 Article (with Model 1905, 1907, 1909, and 1910 prototypes).

1911 pistol handguns 3D animation cad john browning .45 acp race gun

Colt 1911 pistol animation 3D

Over time the 1911 design has evolved into many variants, including the modern “race gun” used in rapid-fire pistol competitions. Here is an STI DVC Open model fitted with a C-More sight, and front compensator.

1911 pistol handguns 3D animation cad john browning .45 acp race gun

Pistol Shooting Skills Demonstrated with 1911

How to Grip a 1911 Handgun Properly
World Champion pistol ace (and 18-time Bianchi Cup winner) Doug Koenig demonstrates how to grip a handgun. While the fundamentals are demonstrated on a 1911 pistol they are effective for establishing a proper grip on any handgun.

Trigger Press and Trigger Control
In this video Champion shooter Doug Koenig talks about key techniques that apply to all pistol marksmanship — not just speed shooting “on the clock”. With any handgun, Doug explains, you should focus on consistent trigger control. You want to avoid yanking the trigger or anticipating recoil.

How to Accessorize Your 1911

The Brownells YouTube Channel has a series of videos showing how to accessorize a 1911. The videos show procedures for upgrading the magazine release, slide release, hammer, guide rod, mainspring housing, and grips. There are also good videos on barrel replacement and drop-in trigger group installation. If you want to upgrade your 1911, these videos are worth watching. Below are links to three of these 1911 videos.

brownells 1911 pistol upgrade video
brownells 1911 pistol upgrade video
brownells 1911 pistol upgrade video

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May 9th, 2025

Rob Leatham Wins SSUSA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award

rob leatham springfield armory pistol shooting golden bullseye competitor award NRA
Shooting Sports USA Editor John Parker presents Rob Leatham with NRA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award at the 2025 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits. SSUSA photo by Peter Fountain.

rob leatham springfield armory pistol shooting golden bullseye competitor award NRARob Leatham Wins Golden Bullseye Award
Renowned competitive pistol shooter Rob Leatham has received the inaugural (first-ever) Shooting Sports USA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award. Leatham received the award at the 2025 National Rifle Association Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia. CLICK HERE for full story.

Winners of NRA Golden Bullseye Awards are determined by NRA Media staff, who represent more than a century of collective experience in the shooting industry. In particular, the NRA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award recognizes a competitive shooter who has displayed outstanding performance in competition and has “given back” to the shooting sports world by providing guidance and support to the next generation of competitive shooters.

“This award honors the highest level of achievement in competitive shooting — and there is no one more deserving to receive it first than Rob Leatham”, said John Parker, Editor-in-Chief ofShooting Sports USA. “For more than 40 years, Rob has set the bar — not just with his championship titles, but with his relentless pursuit of excellence, his sportsmanship and his influence on generations of competition shooters. He’s a competitor, a pioneer and a true ambassador of the shooting sports.”

Interview with Rod Leatham for The Armory Life

Competing since 1978, Leatham has amassed a remarkable record of success over the past four decades — eight-time IPSC World Champion, 11-time NRA Bianchi Cup Action Pistol Champion, 34-time USPSA/IPSC National Champion (Overall & Aggregate), eight-time Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Champion, seven-time IDPA champion, and more.

rob leatham springfield armory pistol shooting golden bullseye competitor award NRA

Rob Leatham, By the Numbers:

34X USPSA / IPSC NATIONAL CHAMPION (Overall and Aggregate)
11X NRA BIANCHI CUP ACTION PISTOL CHAMPION
8X IPSC WORLD CHAMPION
4X USPSA CLASSIC NATIONALS AGGREGATE CHAMPION
14X USPSA / IPSC NATIONAL “SENIOR” CHAMPION
10X IPSC WORLD “TEAM” CHAMPIONS #TeamUSA
19X SINGLE STACK CLASSIC CHAMPION
3X AMERICAN HANDGUNNER WORLD SHOOTOFF CHAMPION
8X STEEL CHALLENGE WORLD SPEED SHOOTING CHAMPION
7X IDPA NATIONAL CHAMPION
2019 IDPA WORLD SENIOR CHAMPION
2006 ICORE INTERNATIONAL REVOLVER WORLD CHAMPION – LIMITED DIVISION​

“I am truly honored to have been selected as the first recipient of this new award from NRA’s Shooting Sports USA,” said Rob Leatham. “I have loved shooting all my life, and I’m humbled and thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to do this for a living with Springfield Armory. Thank you to Dennis Reese and the Springfield Armory team for making my dreams come true.”

» SEE Full Rob Leatham Career Feature Story and Interview

Rob Leatham has more than four decades behind the trigger as a professional shooter, trainer and expert. It is this background that has earned him the moniker of “The Great One”, or simply TGO. In fact, Springfield Custom created the “TGO 1″ handgun named in his honor and designed by the man himself. This special edition featured the Rob Leatham signature on the wood grips.

rob leatham springfield armory pistol shooting golden bullseye competitor award NRA

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April 23rd, 2025

3D Ammo Animation — Great Video Shows How Pistols Work

GECO Ruag Ammotec RWS ammo 3D animation video

Here’s a very cool 3D Animation showing pistol rounds being fired. Computer-generated graphics provide a look inside the cartridge at the moment of ignition as the primer fires and the flame front moves through the ignited powder. It’s really kind of mesmerizing. If you’ve every wondered just what happens inside your cartridges the moment that firing pin strikes, then watch this video…

Watch Video to See Handgun Ammo Being Chambered and Fired:

Mute Enabled — Click Speaker Icon to Hear Audio. Firing Sequence Starts at 1:28.

GECO Ruag Ammotec RWS ammo 3D animation videoThis animated video from German ammo-maker GECO (part of the Swiss RUAG group of companies) reveals the inside of a pistol cartridge, showing jacket, lead core, case, powder and primer. Employing advanced 3D rendering and computer graphics, the video shows an X-ray view of ammo being loaded in a handgun, feeding from a magazine.

Then it really gets interesting. At 1:28 – 1:50 you’ll see the firing pin strike the primer cup, the primer’s hot jet streaming through the flash-hole, and the powder igniting. Finally you can see the bullet as it moves down the barrel and spins its way to a target. This is a very nicely-produced video. If you’ve ever wondered what happens inside a cartridge when you pull the trigger, this video shows all. They say “a picture’s worth a thousand words”… well a 3D video is even better.

GECO Ruag Ammotec RWS ammo 3D animation video

GECO Ruag Ammotec RWS ammo 3D animation video

GECO Ruag Ammotec RWS ammo 3D animation video

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August 13th, 2024

John Bickar Wins 2nd Straight President’s Pistol Match at Perry

john bickar cmp national trophy match president's pistol match 1911 mother

At the CMP’s 2024 National Trophy Pistol Matches, John Bickar of Menlo Park, CA, became only the third competitor in history to earn back-to-back wins in the President’s Pistol Match. John captured his second straight title shooting a 1911 pistol used by his mother, who passed in 2003. After a two-decade long hiatus, Bickar returned to the National Matches in 2023, using his mom’s cherished 1911 pistol. He won the President’s Match in 2023 and now has won a second year in a row with his 2024 victory.

john bickar cmp national trophy match president's pistol match 1911 mother
John Bickar won his second consecutive President’s Pistol Match at the 2024 National Matches.

As Bickar packed his gear and waited for others to finish the President’s Match, the USAMU’s SSG Christopher Hudock told John, “That’s the highest score I’ve seen so far.” Bickar then thought: “I might’ve won this again.” Indeed he had won again, and was proud to do it with his mother’s 1911 pistol. “Glad to carry on the tradition,” Bickar said.

The President’s Pistol Match, a staple of the century-old National Matches since 1981, had 414 competitors this year. Bickar fired an overall score of 384-17X over the day — just one point above the second and third place finishers. John noted that the conditions on the day of the President’s Match were nearly ideal.

John Learned Pistol Marksmanship from his Mother and Father
Originally from Canton, Ohio, John competed at the National Matches as a junior. He comes from a line of pistol enthusiasts – with his mom, Judy, a competitor until her passing in 2003, and his dad, John, the president of the Canton McKinley Rifle and Pistol Club for 17 years before his passing in 1994.

John, with his parents’ guidance, earned his Distinguished Pistol Badge in 1993 at the age of 16 — the youngest at the time – and went on to compete in college as well as internationally attending World Championships and Pan American Games. He also trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. He earned his Distinguished International Badge in 2001 and his Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 2018.

john bickar cmp national trophy match president's pistol match 1911 mother

Other Notable Performances at the National Trophy Pistol Matches
Finding second behind Bickar was 1LT Lisa Emmert Traciak of Colorado Springs, who claimed the High Woman honor in the President’s Pistol event. She went on to also earn the National Woman’s Trophy as the top scoring woman in the National Trophy Individual Match (NTI), garnering a score of 280-14X, and the Rose Krelstein Trophy as the highest scoring woman in the President’s/NTI Aggregate.

Jonathan Shue of Liberty, NC, was the top overall competitor of the National Trophy Individual (NTI) event with a score of 293-15X. It was Shue’s second time earning his name on the General Custer Trophy, having previously won back in 2019. He also claimed the High Civilian title with his win and took the Anheuser Busch Trophy as the leading competitor in the NTI/NTT Individual Aggregate, with a score of 584-24X. Shue is the current national record holder in the Aggregate event.

john bickar cmp national trophy match president's pistol match 1911 mother

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June 17th, 2024

Trick-Shot Artist Split Cards with Twin-Barreled 1911 Pistol

Kirsten Joy Weiss 1911 2011 Arsenal Twin Barrel Playing Card

One Pistol, Two Barrels, Two Playing Cards — here’s a trick shot we just had to share. The talented Kirsten Joy Weiss does something we’ve never seen before, splitting TWO (2) playing cards with a unique, twin-barreled 1911-style pistol. Watch the video to see Kirsten pull off this double-barreled doozy of a trick, firing two bullets at the same time.

It took a few tries, but Kirsten makes the shot at the 3:14 time-mark:

Kirsten Joy Weiss 1911 2011 Arsenal Twin Barrel Playing Card

Kirsten was enthusiastic about this unique trick: “Splitting two cards with two bullets fired at once? The double-barreled 1911 was just begging for a trick shot application. Arsenal Firearm’s 2011 A1 twin-barrel, 1911-style pistol is a heavy monster to wrangle, but a lot of fun to shoot!”

Kirsten Joy Weiss 1911 2011 Arsenal Twin Barrel Playing Card

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