The National Rifle Association (NRA) has announced that the 149th Annual Meeting of Members, previously scheduled in Nashville, TN in April, has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2020 in Springfield, Missouri. The 2020 NRA Annual Meeting will be held at the Springfield Expo Center. The NRA has not yet released a full schedule of events. But this will be a meeting of members only — not a large trade show with entertainment and celebrity guests.
We’re told that this will be a much smaller event than originally planned for April 16-19 in Nashville. The rescheduled NRA Meeting will take place in Halls A/B/C at the Springfield Expo Center at 635 E. Saint Louis Street, Springfield, Missouri. The meeting will sart 9/5/20 at 9:00 am Central Time. All NRA members are invited to attend.
The Springfield News Leader reported that this event will NOT be a large trade show. It will be a meeting of members only — there will be no large trade show with hundreds of exhibitors.
Dana Maugans with the Springfield Visitors and Convention Bureau, said that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NRA had to cancel the large NRA Convention originally scheduled for April in Nashville. “But with their bylaws, [the NRA] still has to have the membership meeting,” Maugans said. “They are going to have their membership portion of the meeting here. But it will not be nearly as large as the Convention/Trade Show that was planned.” Maugans revealed that, to allow for social distancing, the NRA reserved double the amount of space normally need for the 1,000 to 1,250 people expected to attend.
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Ben Avery Re-Opens with Online Reservations
The Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) in Arizona will soon be open for business again. However some key operational changes will affect customers. To ensure public health and safety, only online reservations will be accepted and shooters must observe social distancing rules and special range guidelines. BASF will at 7:00 am Wednesday, May 13, 2020. Reservations canbe made online now at Bookben.azgfd.com. Ammunition and safety gear can be reserved online, as well. NOTE: Reservations cannot be canceled or rescheduled.
At this time, the shooting facility is unable to accommodate walk-in customers on its rifle and pistol ranges, as well as the Clay Target Center (CTC). Any changes will be based on gradual reopening guidelines for businesses and customers, as outlined by the Governor’s Office.
“BASF’s implementation of a new online reservation system is two-fold: We want to maximize the shooting opportunities that this world-class facility has to offer, while maintaining common sense health practices,” said Mike Raum, shooting sports branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, BASF is one of the nation’s largest publicly operated shooting facilities. A City of Phoenix “Point of Pride,” the facility has received a five-star rating from the National Association of Shooting Ranges.
Firing Line at Berger SW Nationals. Click to Zoom Image:
We learned last week that the CMP had closed the Camp Perry CMP Championship Matches. Now the NRA has followed suit, cancelling the Pistol, Smallbore, and High Power National Championships slated for summer 2020 at Camp Perry (Pistol) and Camp Atterbury (Rifle). We know readers will be disappointed. The NRA High Power Championships were slated for mid-August — over three months away. Many shooters were hoping some normalcy would be restored by then. However the potential health risks of having hundreds of shooters in close proximity lead to the cancellation decision. On 4/29/2020, the NRA stated:
Due to the current state of affairs surrounding COVID-19, the uncertainties associated with this pandemic at present, and shutdowns across our country that have impeded vital preparatory work, the National Rifle Association has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 NRA Precision Pistol Championships scheduled for July 1-5, 2020), 2020 NRA High Power Championships scheduled for August 9-25, 2020, and the 2020 NRA Smallbore Championships scheduled for July 23-August 4, 2020.
We are trying to make the best of the current situation by moving forward with range construction and other improvements as we look towards the 2021 NRA National Championships season. The NRA is also exploring the feasibility of hosting a variety of new NRA events at Camp Atterbury (if conditions are favorable) [in] the state of Indiana later this year.
We share your disappointment that we had to cancel these competitions. The NRA wishes everyone good health and the best of luck. Stay safe and healthy. For more information, visit Competitions.NRA.org.
The NRA had previously cancelled all sanctioned matches through April 30, 2020. Read story HERE.
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With so many Americans stuck at home under governmental lockdown orders, we’re offering a visual escape from the stay-at-home pandemic doldrums. Here are some great rifle-centric outdoor photos courtesy of Nightforce Optics. Perhaps these “gunscapes” will encourage you to grab your rifle and head out into the wilderness when Americans’ freedom of mobility/travel is finally restored. The good news is the same states are opening ranges again.
These fine photographs remind us of the lure of the great outdoors for a rifleman. We hope that soon our readers will once again be able to experience the grandeur of America’s mountains and wild backcountry. These images are part of an ongoing series of rifle photos posted on the Nightforce Facebook page. Can you identify the optics, and any of the locations?
Story based on Report by Dean Weingarten
The NICS numbers for March 2020 established new, all-time records for both the number of projected guns sales as well as the numbers of NICS background checks done in one month. In March 2020, 3,740,688 NICS checks were done, according to official FBI statistics.
The previous one-month NICS record was set in December of 2015, when 3,314,594 NICS background checks were done. In March of 2020, the FBI recorded 3,740,688 NICS background checks, 12% higher than the previous record. The number of NICS checks always exceeds that actual number of gun sales, because some checks are done for other purposes. The estimated number of recorded long gun, handgun, and other gun sales totaled 2,373,193 in March 2020, 7% higher than the previous sales record in December of 2015.
Guns Sales Driven by Pandemic Fears
According to MSN News, “With most of the nation in isolation to halt the spread of coronavirus … the FBI has seen a 41% increase in background checks compared to this time last year.”
Click Image to Go to MSN to Watch Video (then Click Speaker icon for audio).
Most Background Checks Were for Handguns
In March 2020, most of the purchases were for handguns instead of long guns. The numbers for March were: Handguns, 1,392,677 NICS checks, long guns, 758,073 NICS checks, other (mostly receivers, which could be made into either handguns or long guns) 79,129, and multiple 57,328. Multiple checks are multiplied by 2.5 to approximate the number of gun sales. Carry Permit NICS Checks Rising Faster
Notably, there has been significant growth in the number of NICS checks associated with CCW Carry Permit applications. NICS checks for carry permits and carry permit rechecks have been increasing much faster than checks for firearm sales. While states maintain their own databases for Carry Permits, NICS checks are done in connection with permit applications and renewals.
Total Guns in USA Close to 450,000,000
Using the figures available, there were about 430 million private firearms in the United States at the end of 2018. About 18.6 million have been added since then, putting the USA close to 450 million at this point. According to Dean Weingarten, the United States is on track to reach 500 million privately owned firearms by the end of 2024.
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With all the grim Pandemic news these days, here’s something to take your mind off the Coronavirus. We offer some some mighty impressive trick shooting by a very talented young lady. In this video, Kirsten performs a classic Annie Oakley trick shot, cutting a playing card in half with a bullet. We hope this display of marksmanship brings a smile to our readers on this Easter Sunday 2020.
Kirsten Joy Weiss is a phenomenal off-hand rifle shooter. Splitting a playing card would be hard enough with a scoped rifle shot from the bench. But Kirsten makes this amazing shot from standing position, shooting over iron sights, with an inexpensive rimfire lever gun. Trust us, that’s not easy. It did take Kirsten three tries, but we’re still impressed.
To accomplish this trick shot, Kirsten’s horizontal aim had to be ultra-precise. A playing card is only 0.25mm thick (about 1/100th of an inch). That leaves almost no room for error.
GIF Animation Shows Bullet Slicing Card in Half:
We know top benchresters can put five shots in one ragged hole at 100 yards, used a scoped rifle sitting on a stable rest. But make those folks stand on their hind legs, hold the rifle, and aim over primitive iron sights, and some of those benchrest aces would be lucky to hit a dinner plate at 100 yards. Kudos to Kirsten for making this great shot.
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In response to the growing number of first-time gun buyers during the Coronavirus outbreak, the NRA’s Education & Training Division is offering four new Online Gun Safety Courses that can be done online at home. The Four New NRA Online Gun Safety Courses ARE:
1. Gun Safety Seminar
2. NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course — Distance Learning
3. NRA Basic Rifle Shooting Course — Distance Learning
4. NRA Basic Personal Protection In The Home Course — Distance Learning
Each course, lasting from one to eight hours, is available online at NRAInstructors.org. To Access the 0nline training options, first CLICK HERE. Then under the Heading “DISTANCE LEARNING”, you will see options. CLICK the small gray box at the left of the title to select the course. IMPORTANT — Next you MUST SCROLL to the bottom of the NRA webpage to SEARCH. Select your state or Zip code, then you will get a list of the moderated online courses in your area.
Here is the Procedure to Follow:
1. CLICK HERE to Access ALL Course Listings
2. Select a “Distance Learning” Course.
3. Scroll Down and SEARCH for your State or Zip Code.
4. Review Course Dates and Times.
For example, here are the listed NRA online safety courses for California only. Elsewhere (in other states), YOUR list will be different!
“These courses will provide an option for first-time gun owners who don’t have the ability to take an NRA certified instructor-led class at their local shooting range at this time,” said Joe DeBergalis, Exec. Dir. of NRA General Operations. “While there is no replacement for in-person, instructor-led training, our new online classes do provide the basics of firearm safety training for those self-isolating at home.”
Though range time is an important part of the classes, there is still a wealth of knowledge available in the online programs. “The NRA recommends that all new gun owners seek professional training at the range, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a head start on learning the basics of firearm safety at home. Taking one of these classes moderated by a certified NRA instructor, can only make you safer…” DeBergalis added.
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Fort Scott Munitions produces 9mm Luger ammo with lead-free solid copper bullets. Shown here is specialized subsonic ammo designed to be used with a suppressor. See FortScottMunitions.com.
The 9mm Luger, aka 9x19mm, is the most popular ammunition type for semi-automatic handguns. As such, with panic buying caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, 9mm ammo is becoming harder to find — or the ammo vendors have jacked up their prices. We found most of the bulk 9mm FMJ out of stock. However, you can still find defensive hollowpoint ammo.
Thankfully, many large vendors such as Brownells, Natchez, and MidwayUSA still have 9mm pistol ammo in stock at reasonable prices. If you can’t find what you need from these vendors, you can source many other ammo retailers via AmmoSeek.com. In addition, Sportsman’s Warehouse has limited 9mm ammo for in-store pick-up in some stores (search online for particular store availablity).
Here are three leading sources for 9mm Luger (9x19mm pistol) ammo. Natchez still has bulk, lower cost lead-core FMJ ammo. Elsewhere cheap 9mm FMJ is mostly sold out, but you can still get 20- or 25-round boxes of defensive ammunition. This stuff is expensive for target practice, to be sure, but at least it can be found.
1. MidwayUSA 9mm Ammo in Stock
Midway USA has quite a bit of hollow-point 9mm luger defensive ammo Available. CLICK HERE to see items in stock, or go to the Midway USA home page and search for “9mm Luger Ammunition”.
2. Natchez Shooters Supplies 9mm Ammo in Stock
As of the time of publication, Natchez Shooters Supplies still has large 1000-round boxes of 9mm FMJ ammunition from CCI and Fiocchi. If you want big quanities of target practice ammo — grab these while you can. In addition, Natchez has NovX defensive ammo.
3. Brownells 9mm Ammo in Stock
Brownells still has a limited selection of 9mm Luger ammunition in stock. Most of the cheaper bulk 9mm is sold out, but here are a few of the brands available on April 10, 2020 at time of publication.
Need a 9mm Pistol? Consider the Walther Creed — Great Value
Need a 9mm carry pistol? The Walther Creed offers excellent ergonomics, good accuracy, and well-designed controls at a killer price — $269.99 at CDNN Sports. This gun, designed to be a value-leader, emulates Walther’s more expensive PPQ model (MSRP $649.00) at a much lower price. The Creed’s frame size and shape is the same as the PPQ, but the Creed lacks interchangeable backstraps. Slide and trigger are very similar. The Creed features a snag-free bobbed hammer. Testers have praised the new Creed, saying that, despite the bargain price, it “sacrifices little to nothing in… ergonomics, accuracy, and reliability.”
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Sadly, this year the “Zombie Pandemic” 3-Gun match in Nebraska has been replaced with a true health pandemic, one of the greatest challenges facing the United States since WWII. Due to the public health measures in response to the spread of the Coronavirus. The event organizers issued this statement:
“The Hornady 2020 Zombies in the Heartland 3-Gun Match has been canceled due to the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19. Although the match wouldn’t have taken place until May 28-31 at the Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, current health and safety protocols would have precluded preparing the range for the event. Hornady and the Heartland Public Shooting Park plan to resume the battle against the zombie scourge in 2021.
Refunds will be issued by the City of Grand Island to all registered shooters, but please be patient as this will take some time. Hornady is also working with companies to return prizes and cash sponsorships. Should there be any questions, please contact the shooting park directly.”
About the Zombies in the Heartland Match
For many years, Hornady has hosted the popular Zombies in the Heartland event. This “Pandemic” 3-Gun fun match, one of the biggest three-gun shoots in the nation, was to be held at the Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Nebraska. The Pandemic traditionally has a rich prize table worth over $150,000. Prizes included pistols, rifles, shotguns, scopes, AR uppers, gun parts, and gear of all kinds.
The Pandemic was a veritable theme park for shootists, with many fun stages and innovative targets. Many unique, reactive zombie targets were developed specifically for this match. The use of paper targets was minimized — so it was mostly “bang and clang”.
Shotguns, rifles, and handguns were used on most stages, which feature handgun targets from 1-15 yards, shotgun targets from 10-20 yards, and rifle targets from 1-200 yards. There were also side matches with full-auto demo firearms, exploding targets, specialty targets.
This video from 2017 offers a Shooter’s POV views of many stages including full auto:
Operated by the Grand Island Parks and Recreation Department, the Heartland Public Shooting Park is the largest and most complete public shooting facility in the Midwest. For more information, call 308-385-5048.
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In these challenging times, with the specter of the Coronavirus pandemic, it can be difficult to see positive developments. Here we’re pleased to report how one gun industry manufacturer, holster-maker Versacarry, is doing its part to provide vitally-needed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Versacarry is converting its production line to make masks and face shields for our health care workers, the brave men and women who put their lives at risk every day.
Versacarry is known for its quality leather handgun holsters, belts, and other firearm related products. In an effort to help with the fight against the COVID-19 virus that continues to affect thousands of people across the United States, Versacarry is converting its production facility from building holsters to producing face shields and face masks.
Justin Sitz, CEO/Owner of Versacarry told us: “When I saw and heard numerous reports that there was a critical shortage of face shields and face masks for medical and emergency workers, I knew that was something we could help with. I redirected our development engineers from working on new products for the gun industry to develop products and production methods… for the health care and emergency response workers.”
Remarkably, Versacarry was able to switch production in less than one week. The company will begin shipping face masks and face shields shortly. With weekly output expected at 20,000+ of each item, these will be sent to hospital personnel, EMTs, police officers, firefighters and others facing the COVID-19 virus on a daily basis.
For Health Care Workers — If you work for an organization that needs face masks and face shields, please contact Versacarry via this link: Versacarry.com/covid19.
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For decades, the Kelbly’s Super Shoot has been one of the premier events for 100/200-yard benchrest shooters. The Super Shoot attracts the top benchrest competitors on the planet, including legends such as Tony Boyer and Wayne Campbell, and many other Hall of Fame PPC pilots. Hundreds of ace shooters from around the world would come to North Lawrence, Ohio each year and compete. There would be a sea of windflags, and scores of top shooters shoulder to shoulder on the long firing line.
Things will be different this year. Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Kelbly family has determined to cancel the 2020 Super Shoot. The next Super Shoot will be held in May 2021. Jim Kelbly issued this statement about the 2020 Event Cancellation:
Super Shoot 2020 Has Been Cancelled — Notice from Kelbly’s
Super Shooters,
After long weekend thinking about the Super Shoot, I have decided to cancel this year’s Super Shoot till May 2021. The new dates will be May 25 through 28, 2021. With COVID-19 turning the world upside down and quite possibly the worst to hit the USA will be in April this year, I think it is best to just cancel for this year. It is very likely that most travel bans both in USA and from foreign countries may still be in place in May. With the last 25 plus years of the Super Shoot being an International event, we would like it to end at Kelbly’s with the foreign shooters being able to attend the last Super Shoot at Kelbly’s.
I do not feel there is a good time this summer or fall to host the event with all other events in Benchrest shooting being postponed to June to October in the United States and in foreign countries as well. If we would hold the event later this year, it could conflict with other postponed matches and I really do not want to affect attendance at other matches. Our sport is struggling these last ten years and we must support all ranges still holding Benchrest matches.
The Next Super Shoot Will Be Held May 25-29, 2021.
I want to thank everyone that has contacted me with their opinions on this situation as it was appreciated and helped in my decision. I know I stated in previous email that I would wait till end of April to make my decision, but I felt a decision now was better for everyone to get travel and hotel arrangements taking care of.
I want to thank Wade Hull for working with me on this decision. Wade has generously decided to wait an extra year before he and his staff will take over Super Shoot. I also want to thank St. Louis Benchrest Club for helping Wade the first few years of hosting the Firearms Industry Super Shoot.
As far as those competitors that are signed up for this year’s event, we will just keep everyone signed up and with the same requests for next year as you had for this year.
As far as the shooters that have equipment here, we will keep your equipment here till end of 2021 if need be. We can help with export or moving the items to St Louis for 2022. For those that are interested in selling your equipment, I would suggest making up flyers for the 2021 Super Shoot to post on the For Sale board with sale pending at end of competition.
We would like to wish everyone a safe shooting season and ask you to support those ranges that are hosting competitions this year as long as you are healthy. Be smart and be safe.
– James A. Kelbly
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The current Coronavirus Pandemic may be the most significant event to impact the United States since World War II. The majority of Americans are now “sheltering at home” under State Executive Orders. Across the nation, schools, shops, restaurants, and countless businesses are closed. The virus continues to spread at an exponential rate in the USA, which now has more confirmed Covid-19 cases than any other country on the planet. Yes, according to official statistics, we have more persons infected than does China, where this scourge originated. (However, there is considerable evidence that China may be deliberately under-reporting COVID-19 infections and deaths).
For obvious reasons, this Pandemic has Americans concerned about their safety and their security. As a result, citizens across the country are purchasing firearms. There are lines outside the doors of some gunshops. The rush to buy guns has led to a historic spike in NICS firearms background checks.
Record Number of FBI Background Checks for Gun Sales
According to MSN News, “With most of the nation in isolation to halt the spread of coronavirus, officials are seeing a spike in gun sales….the FBI has seen a 41% increase in background checks compared to this time last year.” According to the FBI, 3.7 million background check were run by the FBI in March.
Click Image to Go to MSN to Watch Video (then Click Speaker icon for audio).
And Fox News confirms that we are seeing a huge spike in gun sales and background checks: “The FBI ran more than 3.7 million gun background checks on Americans under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) in March, smashing the previous record as Americans armed themselves amid growing fears about the coronavirus pandemic. The NICS system ran 3,740,688 background checks in March, which is 33 percent higher than the previous record of more than 2.8 million, which was set in February. The February numbers were a 34 percent uptick from the same time in 2019. March’s background check numbers marked a 41 percent increase over March 2019.”
About the Numbers — There is NOT a 1:1 correspondence between NICS checks and gun purchases, because not all background checks involve an actual purchases. For example, some States run NICS checks for carry permit applications. It is estimated that at least 2.3 million March 2020 background checks were for firearms transactions.
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Ben Avery Re-Opens with Online Reservations
About the Zombies in the Heartland Match
