Junior Shooters

Posted By admin on February 10, 2011

By: Terry Bowers

Swarovski Optik is a name that makes any serious shooter or hunter sigh like an expectant mother looking at a new baby.

(Right: Closeup of Swarovski Z61 1-6×24 scope mounted on a LAR Manufacturing upper with an ATI Stocks forearm, a WARNE mount, a Viking Tactics sling and lower parts kit from Brownells, and a Cavalry Arms lower (lower is no longer made.)

The Swarovski Z6i 1-6×24 caught my attention last year at the Shot Show. This compact power house of optical bliss was mounted on a stock so it could be shouldered and appreciated. I was looking for a small, low to medium power scope for the upcoming MGM Ironman. In this match, where I know speed and accuracy are very important, I wanted something with a good field of view, meaning very low power.
(Above: Corey Shaw (17) practicing for the 2010 MGM Ironman shooting a FNH SCAR with a Swarovski Z6i mounted on top.)

However, I wanted to be able to engage targets at greater distances as well, say out to 200 to 500 yards. With that in mind, I was looking for between one and two power on the low end to as much as I could get on the high end without extra bulk or complex controls that were difficult to operate.

(Above: Terry’s custom AR-15 with Cavalry Arms Cav-15 MKII lower with Brownells lower parts kit and Viking Tactics sling, LAR Grizzly OPS-4 upper, Krieger 20-inch 1-7.7 twist match barrel, ATI Stocks forearm with a Warne RAMP mount make the perfect platform for the Swarovski Z6i.)

What I chose was the Swarovski Z6i 1-6×24 with the CD reticle. The rifle I wanted to put this scope on would be a custom AR built on a Cavalry Arms (now Cavalry manufacturing) Cav-15 MKII lower with a Brownells lower parts kit. The upper would be an LAR Grizzly OPS-4 with a fully chromed bolt carrier and to top off this package a Krieger 20-inch 1-7.7 twist barrel with a satin bead blast exterior finish. Wow, and the Swarovski became the crown jewel for this custom package set perfectly in the Warne RAMP (Rapid Acquisition Multisight Platform) mount.

Technical information about the Z6i: I consider the fine center crosshairs and center dot of the CD reticle to be better that any of the other reticles offered. The dot isn’t too large to obscure the targets I would be shooting, and the fine crosshairs naturally bring your eye to the center of the field of view. As well, the circle can be used for some on-the-fly range finding. I found with simply shooting a group at 100 yards and using the outside edge to the circle that I was four MOA in any direction. Using SMOA or shooters minute of angle, I could quickly adjust for wind and distance effects during the MGM Ironman.

(Right: Reticle of Z6i scope.)

I didn’t see myself needing the reticle illumination prior to the MGM, so I didn’t spend much time learning how to use it. I was wrong – I needed it.

It is, however, very well-designed and straightforward in its function. For instance,  the three-position switch with off in the center, day to the right and night to the left switch allows the user to choose brightness with preset user settings using the plus + minus – buttons on either side of the on/off switch. Any additional change to either setting is easily done with the plus of minus buttons. The scope is also designed with an automatic off after three hours of on time with on brightness adjustment for daytime operation and five hours with no adjustment for nighttime operation.

(Above: Notice the illumination control on the top of the scope to the rear. This time it was mounted on a AR with a .22 LR conversion kit from Brownells.)

During the MGM, I did find myself on two stages where I was very happy that I had this illumination feature. The first time was on the surprise stage. This stage began with the shooter breaching a door with his shotgun and entering a blacked-out shoot-house. We were allowed to carry any SureFire light that was brought with us or one that SureFire provided. What I found very quickly was that the illuminated reticle found the “bad guys” targets fast and accurately. Luckily I had set the twilight illumination at a level that didn’t wash out the targets and the daytime setting to about the same level, each being fully adjustable with a soft push pad (-) minus or (+) plus on each side of the three-position switch which selects day to the right center off and night to the left. This made it bright enough, but not too bright, for the extreme lowlight the shoot-house put me in. But before the stage was over, we transitioned to an outside scenario where the lighted reticle wasn’t needed. The reticle was illuminated but not overly bright. Swarovski’s two-brightness, fully adjustable reticle illumination made the dark shoot-house easier by far for me.

(Above: This time we mounted the Z6i on a Tactical Solutions AR-22 dedicated upper using the WARNE RAMP mount, Brownells lower parts kit, and a Cavalry Arms lower. This becomes a great combination for practice, plinking, and varmints.)

The second time I was happy to have the illuminated reticle was a stage we shot very late the same day. The sun had already set off behind our right shoulder, and the twilight hue made the steel targets more difficult to see with the dark Parma moondust behind them. In case you have never heard about Parma moondust, it is the fine talcum powder dirt found in everything that shoots on the Parma, Idaho, range. With the reticle illumination on the Twilight mode and all the adjustment a piano tuner could ever want, I was able to see my sights and center on my target just fine, allbeit that in my rush from the transition from rifle to shotgun, I ran so fast that I left my shotgun sitting on the staging table. Other than that, everything else went just fine.

Swarovski has provided the scope some great extras. The see-through protective lens caps were practical and easy to remove. They stay in place when casing and uncasing the rifle. Also, since they are clear, the rifle can be shot with the caps on if needed. This is a plus to a guy like me that likes to protect my equipment as much as possible. I really like the extended eye relief. The light transferred on the Z6i is 90%, and on the Z6i EE, it is 91%, which is outstanding. (Above right: Terry’s custom AR also had a Trijicon RMR dot mounted next to the Swarovski Z6i.)

(Above: One of the other Swarovski scopes we received is the Z5 5-24×52 which is an outstanding long-range scope for hunting or precision shooting. Corey Shaw (17) has it mounted on a FNH SPR ,308 which makes for an outstanding combination of long-range accuracy. Bipod provided by Brownells. More information on the Z5 is forthcoming. Shown with Black Hills Ammunition match grade .308.)

Although I had plans to use the Z6 for hunting this year, I was not able to. As usual, my expectations run into the reality of other more important issues. However, as you can see in some of the photos, I did manage to dress up my rifle and the Swarovski for a coyote hunt. So, my opinion is that this scope is a winner on the range or in the field.

One thing that I am sure of: If you can’t see the target, you can’t reliably and accurately hit it. Everything else is just the diligent work one must do to get to that point when you pull the trigger so you know that your bullet will hit the center of your target. That is the first and the last thing that you will see in this scope – maybe all that you’ve been missing in scopes that can’t transfer that much light. The Swarovski OPTIK motto is “See the unseen.” That sums it up for me. Boy, do I like this scope.

• Swarovski: www.swarovskioptik.com
• ATI Stocks: www.atigunstocks.com
• Black Hills Ammunition: www.black-hills.com
• Brownells: www.brownells.com
• Cavalry Arms (Cavalry Manufacturing): www.cavalrymanufacturing.com
• FNH: www.fnhusa.com
• Krieger Barrels: www.kriegerbarrels.com
• LAR Grizzly: www.largrizzly.com
• MGM Ironman: www.mgmtargets.com
• Tactical Solutions: www.tacticalsol.com
• Trijicon: www.trijicon.com
• Warne mounts: www.warnescopemounts.com

Category: Guns & Acc., High Power, Hunting, Modern 3 Gun, precision shooting, Rifle | No Comments »
Tags: 3 gun, 4-gun, competitive shooting, ironman, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, MGM Ironman, Modern 3 Gun, multi-gun, Olympics, plinking, rifle scopes, scopes, shooting, shooting sports, three gun, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on February 7, 2011

NEWS RELEASE
Pachmayr • TacStar • Uni-Dot • Trius Traps • Butch’s • A-Zoom
Lyman 2011 Catalog & On-Target Sweepstakes
Lyman Products • 475 Smith Street • Middletown,

January 2011
Lyman’s new 2011 catalog continues the popular “On Target” Sweepstakes with
our new Sharps “Ideal Model” Rifle as the Grand Prize.
Lyman – the innovation leader for serious shooting enthusiasts – has announced their latest “On Target” Sweepstakes with the publishing of the 2011 Full Line Catalog. In addition to Sweepstakes outlined below, the catalog presents the broad array of Lyman products, as well as Pachmayr recoil pads, grips, and tools, TacStar tactical products, Trius Traps, A-Zoom Snap Caps, Uni-Dot Sights and Butch’s Gun Care Products . The 2011 Catalog is also available on CD in an interactive, searchable format, with direct links to our website for easy shopping. Over the past two decades, the Lyman “On Target” Sweepstakes has awarded over $100,000 in prizes to shooters and reloaders. This year, over 100 prizes and $5000 in merchandise is guaranteed and Lyman is offering four of their newest products as valuable grand prizes.

Grand Prize #1:
Lyman Ideal Model Sharps Rifle
Ideal Model Exclusive Premium Features:
• Lyman Specification Bore Dimensions
• Custom Lyman Tang Sight With Target
And Hunting Apertures
• Precision Lyman Globe Front Sight
With Inserts
• Distinctive Receiver Profile featuring
original Lyman Stylized Engraving
• Bright Finish Receiver
• Vintage Look Laser Engraving

Grand Prize #2: Master Reloading Kit
A complete selection of the best reloading tools in one package. Includes Lyman’s
1000XP Digital Scale and the T-Mag II, America’s favorite high speed turret press.

Grand Prize #3: Case Prep Xpress
Lyman’s latest innovation in Case Prep Tools. The Case Prep Express is the only “All-
Inclusive” System offering all the most popular case prep accessories driven by a
high torque gear motor which allows the user to simultaneously do 5 different case
prep operations.

Grand Prize #4: Turbo® Sonic Ultrasonic Cleaner
The fastest way to clean brass cases and lots more, the new Turbo® Sonic delivers
ultrasonic cleaning that allows the reloader to clean cases inside and out in less than
10 minutes. The heated tank and Lyman’s specially formulated case cleaning solution
deliver superior cleaning of cases and primer pockets. The ultrasonic cavitation lifts and
dissolves carbon, dirt and any residue left on fired cases!
Other top prizes include many other popular Lyman items. A sweepstakes sign-up
card is located in the back of the catalog. For more information or to request a
catalog online visit www.lymanproducts.com or contact:
Lyman Products Corp. 475 Smith St, Middletown CT 06457 • 860-632-2020

Category: Guns & Acc. | No Comments »
Tags: competitive shooting, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, lyman, lyman equipment, lyman products, Olympics, plinking, reload, reloading, reloading equipment, shooting, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on January 31, 2011

2011-2012 CMP COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

FOR JROTC AND ROTC RIFLE SHOOTERS

Applications must be postmarked no later than 5 March 2011

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will provide scholarship assistance to encourage and reward outstanding and deserving students in JROTC/ROTC programs who also excel in rifle team programs at their schools. The CMP seeks applications from high school seniors who will enroll in a four-year college or university or from college students who are already in pursuit of a four-year degree.

The CMP will award a combined maximum of 75 $1000 one-year ROTC scholarships on the basis of merit to selected Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force JROTC, and Army and Navy ROTC applicants during the current school year for undergraduate college or university study. Scholarships are one-year awards, but scholarship recipients may reapply for scholarships in subsequent years if they remain enrolled in ROTC, maintain a 2.5 GPA, continue to excel in ROTC or college rifle team activities and continue to meet other scholarship eligibility criteria.

The scholarships are paid to the scholarship recipient through the financial aid office of the college or university where the student is enrolled. Scholarship checks will be forwarded to the PMS of the college or university where the student is enrolled.

Eligibility requirements for CMP ROTC scholarships are:

•    Be a U.S. Citizen.
•    Be of good moral character.
•    Have achieved a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
•    Be starting or pursuing a four-year degree.
•    Be a high school senior in JROTC who will attend a college or university and enroll in an Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC program or
•    Be in college (Freshman, Sophomore or Junior) and enrolled in ROTC.
•    Have demonstrated excellence as a current member of a JROTC, high school, ROTC or college club or college varsity rifle team and plan to continue as a member of the ROTC or College Rifle Team.
•    Have demonstrated the motivation to complete a college education and the potential to serve as an Officer in the Armed Services of the United States.
• Scholarships are not awarded to those attending United States Military Academy at West Point, United States Naval Academy or the United States Air Force Academy.

To obtain specific scholarship program regulations and application forms for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps programs, click on the appropriate heading below. Application Forms are available in PDF format and may be printed for completion and submission. 2011-2012 CMP College Scholarships Information and Application forms are posted below.
2011-2012 JROTC/ROTC Scholarship Selection Procedures

2011-2012 JRTOC/ROTC Scholarship Application

The Civilian Marksmanship Program is proud to provide this scholarship program for JROTC and ROTC cadets who excel in rifle marksmanship. If you have questions, please contact the CMP at 419-635-2141, ext. 1109, email programs@odcmp.com or the appropriate Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Air Force cadet command.

Winners of CMP Scholarships: To see the names and schools of past CMP ROTC Scholarship winners, click on CMP SCHOLARSHIP HONOR ROLL.

Category: Associations, Clubs & Teams, Scholarships | No Comments »
Tags: civilian marksmanship program, cmp, competitive shooting, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, Olympics, plinking, scholarships, shooting, shooting scholarships, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on January 5, 2011

Yes, Junior Shooters get 30% off! WOW!

Rudy Project’s award winning products are available to you for a limited time at 30% OFF so you can see for yourself the difference our product makes! Our Italian craftsman have created innovative and technically superior sport eyewear for 25 years in the fields of cycling, running, golf, tennis, skiing and hiking just to name a few. Now we’ve set our sights on the shooting industry to provide you the very best eyewear that money can buy!

CHECK IT OUT – Click on the ad above!

Also check out the article from Volume 8 Winter 2010 of Juniors Shooters magazine below.

Rudy Project

By: Dallin Hixson (16)

My Rudy Project sunglasses are the best set of glasses I have ever put on my face. They rest perfectly on my nose, and the sleek design makes it even more comfortable when I am wearing them. The nose piece is made of non-fatigue copper beryllium and can be molded to your nose for both a perfect fit and to allow for airflow. This is important to reduce fogging.

(Right: Dallin, author, wearing his new Rudy Project glasses.)

The temple arms (black, back portion of the arms on each side) are also made of non-fatigue copper beryllium allowing them to be bent 360 degrees. This ensures a fit that is both comfortable and completely adjustable. They can bend back around the ear to fit any head shape. Rudy Project says they have a 99 percent fit factor. The temple arms are also so thin they won’t interfere with earmuffs. The frames have a no-questions-asked, three-year guarantee. The lenses are guaranteed for life.

The lenses are hydrophobic coated, non porous, and are created at a high pressure so the lens doesn’t have an open weave. It is very tight so moisture slides off due to the higher tensile density of the lens. It is so tight that is hard to scratch. The lenses are NXT impact photochromic and polarized photochromic technology exclusively formulated for Rudy Project.

Junior Shooters magazine received two pair of Rudy Project shooting glasses: the RYDON Hunting/Shooting set with three lenses and a Genetyk Shooting Kit also provided with three lenses. I got the latter, and boy, are they cool!

I have used different kinds of sunglasses such as ESS, Oakleys and many others, but I still feel like these are the best. I use my Rudy Project sunglasses while I shoot, and I feel like they improve my performance much better because they reduce the glare and allows me to see my targets better than I ever could have before! If you get the set with the extra lenses, then you can adjust to different light conditions. They never get in the way of the gun when I am resting it on my cheek, I rarely need to clean the lenses, and they never scratch. These sunglasses have been through long shooting days both in training and at matches like USPSA and 3-Gun events, and they still have come out unscratched and unbroken.

These sunglasses don’t only work for shooting – you can also use them whenever you do any outdoor hobbies, or even just to go out and relax. They are very stylish, too. I have received many compliments while wearing them. They are some of the best sunglasses I have ever used, and I would recommend them to everyone.

(Above right: Julie Golob IPSC champion and captain of S&W shooting team wears Rudy Project glasses and is sponsored by Rudy Project.)

All of Rudy Project’s glasses are hand-assembled, and are of the highest quality. They also manufacture goggles and high-impact bike helmets, as well as glasses.

Rudy Project: www.e-rudy.com

Category: Guns & Acc. | No Comments »
Tags: competitive shooting, glasses, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, Olympics, plinking, rudy, rudy project, shooting, shooting glasses, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on December 29, 2010

By: Andy Fink

Lead wipes? Why do I need those? Why do I need to be concerned about lead when I am shooting, cleaning firearms, or reloading? Lead particles adhere to skin and long term exposure can be dangerous. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH,) firing a handgun can deposit over 1,000 micrograms of Lead on the skin with each firing, which if ingested, can cause high Blood Lead Levels that can affect health in a variety of ways. Lead particles can also get on the skin from cleaning firearms, and reloading.

Though dangerous levels of lead content normally occur only after prolonged exposure in a shooting environment, there are a variety of ways of protecting yourself and your loved ones. The most basic is to wash your hands. Yes, always wash your hands after shooting, breaking down your firearm and cleaning it, and even after reloading. Washing your face is also a good idea, though I must admit I usually don’t do that. Another good idea is to use medical gloves. I have a box of SAFEskin latex exam gloves on my reloading bench. They are cheap, easy to put on and take off, and when finished just throw them away. I use them when I am cleaning firearms or reloading. I also usually have a package of antiseptic wipes I carry in my truck or range bag.

Hygenall has come out with wipes specifically designed to remove lead. Lead particles, so small that they are nearly invisible, stick to skin and surfaces through an electrical bond that is difficult to disrupt. Soaps, wipes and gels, including specialty and industrial products that claim to remove Lead are not as effective because they are based on chemicals that are good for removing dirt but not for breaking the electromagnetic bond that makes Lead stick to skin and surfaces. The patented technology in Hygenall products is designed specifically to safely disrupt the Lead bond, and has shown to be highly effective even at microgram levels.

“The CDC recommendation for Hygenall products will help bring to light the serious threat of microscopic quantities of Lead on the firing range and improve safety for both gun enthusiasts and workers,” said Michael McKinnon, CEO of Hygenall Corporation.

Hygeanll has a variety of different containers including bench and wall mount containers. The one I like is the new FieldWipes. Contained in a black and brown plastic tube you just through it in your range bag and it is ready for use after a day on the range.

Hygenall does everything soap does, plus one more thing: Hygenall breaks the electromagnetic bond between skin and Lead, and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to clean off lead after using firearms.

Hygenall Field brand products were developed specifically for firearms users and military personnel to remove microscopic quantities of Lead and other heavy metals such as Antimony, Hexavalent Chromium, Depleted Uranium Oxide, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, and others that accumulate on skin and surfaces. “Using science that targets the removal of Lead will keep firearms users safer,” said Dr. Michael Baran, PhD., retired Air Force Colonel. “Firing range workers, firing range users, government, and military personnel in battlefield and training environments can experience more exposure to dangerous quantities of Lead dust than workers in the Lead industry.”

So remember the after shooting safety items:

• Wash your hands and face
• Use latex gloves when cleaning firearms and reloading
• Try out Hygenall wipes

You can read more about them at www.hygenall.com

Hygenall products are available through Galls, an ARAMARK Company and supplier of military and police equipment and supplies, ArgenTech Solutions, Emerging Technology Specialists, and IMMI.

Category: Guns & Acc. | No Comments »
Tags: competitive shooting, hygenall, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, lead wipes, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, Olympics, plinking, removing lead, Safety, shooting, shooting & safety, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on December 29, 2010

By: Andy Fink

An unusual name for a gun product but, Royal Purple specializes not only in oil related products in a variety of industries such as the automotive, marine, motorcycle, racing, snowmobile but the shooting industry as well. We received a case of Royal Purple gun oil to test out and gave a can to each of the five juniors Junior Shooters sponsored at the MGM Ironman this year.

(Royal Purple gun oil shown here with a custom Ruger Vaquero in .45 Colt.)

I also started using it extensively in cleaning firearms, knives, and metal tools. The kids said it worked great for them and it did for me too. I liked the fact it didn’t smell like some gun oils do.

Check it out at www.royalepurple.com

Royal Purple’s Synthetic Gun Oil is specifically formulated to provide exceptional protection against wear, rust and saltwater corrosion and fouling. It works well in a variety of temperatures and will not thicken in cold weather.

Its performance advantages come from Synerlec, Royal Purple’s proprietary chemical technology that strengthens the oil for unmatched performance and protection.

World Champion Sporting Clay Shooter and Elite Shooting School Instructor Bobby Fowler, Jr. said, “I’ve tried every gun lube out there. None of them compare to Royal Purple.”

Category: Guns & Acc. | No Comments »
Tags: competitive shooting, gun cleaning, gun oil, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, Olympics, plinking, royal purple, shooting, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on December 24, 2010

38 Colleges Receive NSSF Grants
To Build Target Shooting Programs

NEWTOWN, Conn.—The National Shooting Sports Foundation has awarded 38 grants—a record number—totaling $190,000 to help both new and existing collegiate target shooting programs flourish.

Only two years old, NSSF’s Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative has helped establish competition and club shooting opportunities at colleges across the country—from Harvard to Clemson and the University of Vermont to Montana Tech. This latest round of grants will support programs in 36 schools.

"It’s gratifying to see collegiate shooting and the Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative growing at such a fast rate," said Zach Snow, NSSF’s manager of shooting promotions. "That tells us NSSF is on the right track in providing funding that makes it possible for men and women to continue target shooting during their college years."

Following are several Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative success stories:

• The Clemson University Shotgun Club was founded four years ago by a small group that enjoyed getting together to target shoot. Today the club has more than 95 registered members and a website and puts on "fun shoots" and learn-about-us barbecues. Demand for shooting sports education at the school—Clemson offers for-credit "shotgun sports" classes—has led to construction of three world-class trap/skeet fields and a 100-yard rifle range. "I know that without support from the National Shooting Sports Foundation and an overwhelming sense of pride by the club’s members, we would not be where we are today," said student organizer Wake Fickey, who as a high school student competed in the NSSF-developed Scholastic Clay Target Program and now has helped his university build a premier program.
• New England has become a hotbed of collegiate target shooting. There are growing programs at Harvard, Harvard Law, Tufts, Northeastern, MIT, Yale and Brown. The New England Collegiate Clay Target Championships are an exciting highlight to the season.
• New programs debuted this fall at Stetson College and Colby College. Formed with encouragement from the Flagler Gun Club plus the school’s athletic director and several enthusiastic students, Stetson now has 40 students participating, about half on the varsity team and half at the club level. "We like having these young men and women at the club," said Tom Wolfe, a Flagler Gun Club official. "Our members, who are largely older, say these students have brought a terrific spirit to the club." Stetson, located in Deland, Fla., wasted no time hosting the area’s first intercollegiate shoot with Jacksonville University, the University of North Florida and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. An eight-to-10-school competition is being planned for March. "This program is contagious, and NSSF is right there providing assistance and intelligent counsel," Wolfe added.

Stetson’s success is a good example of how gun clubs work with nearby colleges to support their target shooting programs. Flagler Gun Club even created a special low-cost student membership rate so that students could participate at this members-only facility.

NSSF has long supported youth shooting programs for the Boy Scouts of America and 4-H and through the Scholastic Clay Target Program. The Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative works to provide a seamless "next step" for those who want to continue participating in the shooting sports, just as student-athletes do in other sports.

"It’s only natural than students who have enjoyed target shooting in junior high and high school will want to participate and introduce their new friends to the shooting sports at college," said Snow. "Whether it’s competing in intercollegiate matches or spending an evening with friends at the range, students can enjoy the type of target shooting they’re comfortable with and learn about firearm safety through these programs."

For assistance on getting a collegiate target shooting program started or for information on applying for a future NSSF grant, visit www.nssf.org/college.

-30-

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

NSSF celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011. Learn about the Foundation’s history here.

Category: Clubs & Teams, Scholarships | No Comments »
Tags: colleges, colleges and shooting, collegiate shooting, competitive shooting, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, NSSF, Olympics, plinking, scholarships, shooting, shooting scholarships, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on December 19, 2010

Bird Dog Foundation’s Scholarship Essay Contest for high school seniors who reside in Tennessee, Mississippi or Arkansas.

There are NO fees or charges whatsoever to the entrant who is considering submitting an essay to our contest.

The Bird Dog Foundation, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization with a designation as an educational and charitable corporation. We are coming up on our 20^th anniversary of existence. Our headquarters are located in the town of Grand Junction, TN (West TN). Our educational focus includes this essay contest and other student programs and opportunities that help fulfill our mission purposes and keeps us designated as a non-profit organization.

Below is a brief description of our contest opportunity and we would be very grateful if you could please pass this (or your edited version of this) information along to your readers:

The annual Bird Dog Foundation, Inc.  College Scholarship Essay Contest has a First and Second Place award of $1,500.00 and $1,000.00, respectively for college bound high school senior level students who reside in TN, MS or AR. There are no charges or fees required to enter this annual contest. The entry deadline for student essay submissions is by midnight of April 15^th each year. Complete Contest Rules and suggested Essay Topics can be found and downloaded from our website at: www.birddogfoundation.com

The Bird Dog Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, was established in 1991 to preserve and promote the tradition of bird dogs, field trials, and shooting sports. It has rapidly expanded its scope in approximately 20 years since its inception.  Its museum complex, which includes the National Bird Dog Museum, Field Trial Halls of Fame, Wm. F. Brown Memorial Library, Wildlife Heritage Center, etc. is located in Grand Junction, Tennessee. The complex includes a vast display of art, photography, artifacts, and memorabilia related to bird dog pursuits. The Wildlife Heritage Center, which is the educational arm of the Bird Dog Foundation, is an innovative vehicle for instilling conservation interests and environmental awareness among our young citizens and future sportsmen. It is through the Wildlife Heritage Center that the annual College Scholarship Essay Contests are offered to high school seniors.

Category: Clubs & Teams, Events, Scholarships | No Comments »
Tags: colleges, collegiate shooting, competitive shooting, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, Olympics, plinking, scholarships, shooting, shooting scholarships, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on December 18, 2010

Bird Dog Foundation’s Scholarship Essay Contest for high school seniors who reside in Tennessee, Mississippi or Arkansas.

There are NO fees or charges whatsoever to the entrant who is considering submitting an essay to our contest.

The Bird Dog Foundation, Inc., is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization with a designation as an educational and charitable corporation. We are coming up on our 20^th anniversary of existence. Our headquarters are located in the town of Grand Junction, TN (West TN). Our educational focus includes this essay contest and other student programs and opportunities that help fulfill our mission purposes and keeps us designated as a non-profit organization.

Below is a brief description of our contest opportunity and we would be very grateful if you could please pass this (or your edited version of this) information along to your readers:

The annual Bird Dog Foundation, Inc.  College Scholarship Essay Contest has a First and Second Place award of $1,500.00 and $1,000.00, respectively for college bound high school senior level students who reside in TN, MS or AR. There are no charges or fees required to enter this annual contest. The entry deadline for student essay submissions is by midnight of April 15^th each year. Complete Contest Rules and suggested Essay Topics can be found and downloaded from our website at: www.birddogfoundation.com

The Bird Dog Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, was established in 1991 to preserve and promote the tradition of bird dogs, field trials, and shooting sports. It has rapidly expanded its scope in approximately 20 years since its inception.  Its museum complex, which includes the National Bird Dog Museum, Field Trial Halls of Fame, Wm. F. Brown Memorial Library, Wildlife Heritage Center, etc. is located in Grand Junction, Tennessee. The complex includes a vast display of art, photography, artifacts, and memorabilia related to bird dog pursuits. The Wildlife Heritage Center, which is the educational arm of the Bird Dog Foundation, is an innovative vehicle for instilling conservation interests and environmental awareness among our young citizens and future sportsmen. It is through the Wildlife Heritage Center that the annual College Scholarship Essay Contests are offered to high school seniors.

Category: Associations, Clubs & Teams, Scholarships | No Comments »
Tags: competitive shooting, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, Olympics, plinking, schoalrship eassay contest, scholarships, shooting, shooting scholarships, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on December 18, 2010

By: Bill Brice

Grackles (a taller and longer tailed blackbird) can be a nuisance. They can also be the catalyst that causes unforeseen events. When grackles became a nuisance inhabiting the large oleanders in my back yard, I naturally sought a way to scare them away.

A BB gun seemed to provide the desired solution, so off to Wal-Mart I went and bought myself a Red Ryder. It worked as intended, and soon I got rid of my grackle problem (by the way, no grackles were harmed in the application of my remedy).

So after the problem got solved, the Red Ryder took up residence in a closet for a long time. That is, until my grandchildren got old enough for me to teach them how to shoot. Once again, the Red Ryder proved to be the perfect tool to start with. So we set up a little range in the back yard and the instruction began, both for my 8 year old grandson and my 9 year old granddaughter.

The first few sessions went well, until I got the idea that mounting a scope on the Red Ryder would be the ideal enhancement to the gun, and it would make shooting a lot more instructive and let’s face it, a lot more fun. So I got out a piece of aluminum in the garage and started to work. Well, the aluminum proved to be a lot less cooperative than I hoped. With my hacksaw in hand, I got out a piece of PVC plastic pipe. Things moved along a lot faster after that. Within one afternoon, using a hacksaw to cut two parallel groves in a short length of PVC cut in half lengthwise, I fashioned a working prototype. The two groves were 3/8” apart, the same as standard dovetails I was familiar with, and these enabled me to mount a telescopic sight on the BB gun.

It worked well enough that after a few modifications, I decided to take my PVC prototype to a local machine shop and see what could be done with my model. The proprietor was receptive, and although he said he preferred to work from drawings and specifications, he agreed to produce for me a couple of mounts from aluminum. In a few days I picked up my new prototypes. These were really nice pieces, done professionally and fully workable. However, after some further testing at the Brice Backyard BB gun range, which by now had become a much larger and semi-permanent facility, additional modifications to the mount became necessary. With the help of the machine shop owner, these were accomplished as well, and further testing went on.

At this point I applied for, and received, approval for a provisional patent on the mount. After extensive market research to find any party who might be interested in my mount, I was advised to contact Chief AJ in Illinois. I was told that the Chief is a BB gun aficionado and expert. He has had a line of adult BB guns produced under his aegis by Daisy Manufacturing, one of which is called the Chief AJ Model. So I wrote to him and sent him one of my mounts and hoped for the best. Soon afterward I called him to get his reaction. He was very enthusiastic about my mount. He told me that upon receiving it, he installed it on one of his own guns and spent 4 hours shooting with it in his backyard. So I now had a great ally who saw merit in my mount and he was willing to market it. The Chief went on to find a manufacturer in Illinois to produce the mount in quantity, and we ordered up an initial run. They came out exceedingly well, and the Chief featured the new mount on his website.

The mount enables the Red Ryder, and the Chief AJ Model BB guns, to be equipped with any 3/8” dovetail mounted sighting device. I have one of each of these guns; one equipped with a scope and the other has both a red dot and a laser sight mounted in tandem at the same time on the same gun. Using the BB guns equipped with these sights enables the shooter to engage targets effectively out to 50 feet. The user manual accompanying the Red Ryder recommends targets be engaged at 15 feet, of course using the open sights. Installing the mount can be accomplished without any modifications to the gun. It is installed by first removing the elevation ramp from the rear sight, then slipping the mount under the rear sight and anchoring it with a small machine screw facing upward through the slot. A brass acorn nut anchors the front of the mount and provides a nice accent to the gun, in my opinion. The rear of the mount is anchored using the rear stock screw through a hole in the mount. A pair of pliers and a Phillips head screwdriver are all the tools needed to make the installation. And if one desires to return the gun to open sight configuration, just reverse the process. It’s that simple.

I also ordered up a couple of M-16 bipod attachments that work as a dandy platform to steady the gun in shooting. These also aid in increasing the number of hits and getting better groupings. I have given several mounts to friends and acquaintances and they all seem to enjoy this new way of shooting their BB guns.

My grandchildren have become familiar with proper shooting techniques, and my granddaughter has shown exceptional skill. I’ve built a larger and more elaborate BB gun range in my backyard, featuring bull’s eye targets, hanging targets and moving targets (stuffed toys hanging from a ceiling fan over the backstop). With carpeting I’ve used for backstop and ground cover, recovery of BB’s is possible. I like to think my range incorporates the highest level of care as recommended in the NRA Range Conferences. I find myself shooting more now than ever, and I don’t need to go to the high power range to practice my shooting skills. If I want, I can even recycle my BB’s, although some shooters may not recommend this practice. In any event, recovery of expended BB’s is easy. And with the optic sights enabling the shooter to shoot from the greater range of 50 feet makes it a lot more challenging and yes, a lot more fun!

Chief AJ: www.chiefaj.com

Daisy: www.daisy.com

Category: Guns & Acc. | No Comments »
Tags: BB gun, bb gun scope mounts, competitive shooting, Daisy, daisy red ryder, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, Olympics, plinking, red rider, red ryder, red ryder scope mounts, shooting, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on December 18, 2010

Reprinted from CMP News Release

Four new articles are posted on The First Shot On-Line, the CMP’s electronic newsletter.  Check The First Shot front page at http://www.odcmp.org/1210/default.asp www.odcmp.org/1210/
default.asp to see summaries of all recent articles with links to the full articles.  The First Shot On-Line front page also displays upcoming events and a link to the popular CMP Forum.  The latest articles posted are described below.

Advancing JROTC Cadets and Teams Announced for the 2011  JROTC Service Air Rifle Championships – For the past eight years, the Civilian Marksmanship Program has overseen the scoring of JROTC 3×10 three-position air rifle postal competitions. These annual postal matches determine which JROTC unit teams and individual cadets advance to compete in their respective service’s JROTC shoulder-to-shoulder Championship.

More Details

Davis Tops Precision Class and Howald Sets New Sporter Re­cords at 2010 Gary Anderson Invitational 3×20 – ANNISTON, ALABAMA & CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Connor Davis, 17, of Shelbyville, Ken­tucky, cruised to victory in the precision air rifle class and Tessa Howald, 17, of Ozark, Missouri, set two new Army Junior ROTC records en route to winning the sporter air rifle class at the 2010 Gary Anderson Invitational 3×20 tournament. The matches were fired concurrently at identical CMP shooting facilities in Ala­bama and Ohio.

More Details

Category: Airgun, Clubs & Teams, Events, precision shooting, Rifle | No Comments »
Tags: Airgun, civilian marksmanship program, cmp, competitive shooting, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, Olympics, plinking, shooting, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth shooting

Posted By admin on December 14, 2010

By: NSSF
Photos & Introduction By: Andy Fink

Wow! What an opportunity for ranges to acquire Crickett .22 youth rifles from Keystone Sporting Arms. This opportunity could significantly enhance your range’s capability to provide .22 caliber rifles for youth shooters. Contact your range or shooting club and have them check it out. Up to five rifles!

(Right: A happy kid is a 10-year-old with a brand new Crickett .22.)

What’s in the Package? Keystone Sporting Arms Rifles for NSSF First Shots Ranges

NEWTOWN, Conn.—Shooting range managers, think of it as a holiday gift from your friends at Keystone Sporting Arms.

You don’t even have to write a letter to Santa to receive up to five Crickett youth rifles from Keystone, but you do have to agree to present First Shots seminars at your shooting range. First Shots is the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s program designed to help ranges introduce people of all ages to target shooting. In all, Keystone Sporting Arms will provide 1,000 youth rifles to participating First Shots shooting ranges. (Above: Crickett .22 rifles are not only fun, they are great for training.)

This holiday-spirited offer comes from the Milton, Penn.,-based manufacturer of youth-model firearms, including the Crickett and Chipmunk single shot .22 and .17 caliber rifles, a single-shot hunter pistol and Revolution after-market stocks. The company introduced a new shotgun model this year, too. From a modest beginning in the mid-1990s, Keystone Sporting Arms has grown rapidly and now boasts 70 employees working with state-of-the-art equipment in a 45,000-square-foot plant to meet the nationwide demand for its products.

(Left: One happy kid with his new Crickett.)

"Keystone Sporting Arms believes in firearm safety and getting youth started with the right equipment to ensure the best experience," said Bill McNeal, Keystone’s owner. "NSSF’s First Shots program mirrors our goals and works to build a positive future for shooting and hunting. It makes sense for our company to support the program by getting our youth rifles to the front lines at First Shots ranges, where entire families can get started in our sports by having a safe, fun experience."

This donation by Keystone Sporting Arms allows NSSF to offer 200 ranges a set of five rifles each in return for presenting at least two First Shots seminars in 2011. One of these seminars must be specifically for parents and youth. Ranges hosting First Shots for the first time are eligible to receive advertising funds from NSSF to launch this excellent customer-development program.

(Right: The first day at the range was not too shabby.)

"The generosity of Keystone Sporting Arms will help introduce more youth to the shooting sports and safe firearms handling," said Cindy Dalena, manager of the First Shots program. "Keystone’s dedication to providing a great first experience with fun, safe equipment virtually guarantees that a child will want to return to the range to take aim at even more targets. Their offer makes First Shots a stronger program."

(Right: A close up of the Crickett shows the peep sight it comes with.)

To learn more about First Shots and the full details of the Keystone Sporting Arms offer, shooting range owners and managers should visit www.nssf.org/firstshots/RangeOwners. Questions about the program should be directed to NSSF’s Cindy Dalena at cdalena@nssf.org.

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About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

NSSF celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011. Learn about the Foundation’s history here.

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Tags: .22 rifles, 22 rifle, competitive shooting, crickett, jr shooter, jr shooters, junior, junior camps, junior shooter, junior shooters, junior shooting camps, junior writers, juniors, keystone sporting arms, kids, learn to shoot, learning to shoot, NSSF, Olympics, plinking, ranges, Rifle, shooting, shooting sports, usa shooting, youth rifles, youth shooting