Competition at the 2008 ISSF World Cup USA for Shotgun began Sunday with the United States sweeping the medals in the Women’s Skeet event. Haley Dunn claimed the gold, while Kim Rhode took home the silver and Connie Smotek captured the bronze.

Dunn (Eddyville, Iowa), who is coming off a bronze medal win at the “Good Luck Beijing” 2008 ISSF World Cup Beijing claimed the gold medal finishing with a total score of 97 targets. Three-time Olympic medalist (1996 and 2004 gold medalist, 2000 bronze medalist) and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team member Rhode (El Monte, California) finished right behind Dunn with 96 targets to claim the silver medal. Two-time Olympian Smotek (Bryan, Texas) and Italy’s Katiuscia Spada were tied at 92 targets at the conclusion of the final, with Smotek earning the bronze after an exciting shoot-off, hitting seven additional targets to Spada’s six.

After the first day of the Men’s Skeet event, Germany’s Tino Wenzel is leading the way with 50 targets. Ariel Mauricio Flores (Mexico), Mark Weeks (Phenix City, Ala.), Frank Thompson (Alliance, Neb.), Jason Caswell (Canada) and Tore Brovold from Norway are all tied for second place with 49 targets.

Approximately 180 shotgun shooters from 37 different nations are participating in the 2008 ISSF World Cup USA at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center in Kerrville, Texas. Twenty-three athletes from the U.S. are competing for a World Cup title, as well as 35 additional U.S. athletes participating out of competition. Competition continues tomorrow with the Men’s Skeet Final and the World Cup USA will conclude on May 10.

World Cup USA Competition Schedule:

Monday, May 5
Skeet Men Match – Day 2
Final Skeet Men

Tuesday, May 6
Double Trap Official Training

Wednesday, May 7
Double Trap Men Match
Final Double Trap Men

Thursday, May 8
Trap Official Training

Friday, May 9
Trap Women Match
Trap Men – Day 1
Final Trap Women

Saturday, May 10
Trap Men Match – Day 2
Final Trap Men
Closing Ceremony

Ben Avery Shooting Facility I-17 & Carefree Hwy.

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility Main Range, archery ranges, and Clay Target Center will switch to summer hours of operation for the public beginning Monday, May 12. The new hours will be:

• Monday - CLOSED 
• Tuesday - CLOSED 
•  Wednesday - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 
•  Thursday - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 
•  Friday - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
•  Saturday - 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 
•  Sunday - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The summer hours are designed for the facility to be open during the coolest parts of the day and still give the recreational shooting community the most quality shooting times on weekends even during the hotter days of the summer months,” says Ben Avery Range Manager Marty Hererra.

For more information on the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf or contact (623) 582-8313. For more information on the Ben Avery Clay Target Center, visit www.azgfd.gov/ctc or contact (623) 434-8119.

Teams Qualify for Upcoming National Championships

NEWTON, CONNECTICUT - Young sporting clay shooters from across Arizona earned state titles – with many qualifying to represent Arizona at upcoming national championships – at last weekend’s Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Commissioner’s Cup Sporting Clays State Championship.

The competition was held March 29 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility and featured some of Arizona’s top young shooters in five divisions: varsity, junior varsity, intermediate advanced, intermediate entry and rookie.

SCTP, for youths in grades 12 and under, is a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, managed in partnership with the national governing bodies for shooting sports: USA Shooting, Amateur Trapshooting Association, National Skeet Shooting Association and National Sporting Clays Association.

With remarkable growth over the past eight years, the program is considered “the Little League of shooting sports.” Some 8,000 to 9,000 students from over 45 states are expected to compete this year.

Arizona teams participating in the state title shoot qualified for the SCTP National Championships, July 31-Aug. 5 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill.

The best of these young shooters could be selected to attend an Olympic development camp in Colorado Springs, and some will go on to compete at the collegiate level.

For more information, visit www.nssf.org/sctp.

RESULTS

SCTP Arizona Sporting Clays State Championship
(held March 29 at Ben Avery Shooting Facility, Phoenix)

Varsity (grades 9 to 12)
1st Place—Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 227 out of 300 targets (Nicholas Warren of Cave Creek, Lucas Feringa of Glendale, Beau Bonner of Cave Creek).
2nd Place—Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 217 (Brett Hoeppner of Cave Creek, Kimberly Peters of Surprise, Lane Shank of Phoenix).
3rd Place—Red Mountain Target Terminators, 215 (Kyle Wandelear of Queen Creek, Correy Schultz of Gilbert, Kaitlyn Borie of Phoenix).

Junior Varsity (grades 9 to 12)
1st Place—Red Mountain Target Terminators, 248 out of 300 targets (Wesley Borie of Phoenix, Kyle Johnson of Phoenix, Luke McCabe-O’Donnell of Phoenix).
2nd Place—Red Mountain Target Terminators, 230 (Quinton Moore of Gilbert, Kyle Sutter of Apache Junction, Christopher Vansickle of Glendale).
3rd Place—Tucson SCTP Shooting Stars, 208 (Gregory Moffett of Oro Valley, Jacob Roussard of Tucson, Aaron White of Tucson).

Intermediate Advanced (grades 6 to
1st Place—Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 245 out of 300 targets (Tanner Bissell of Desert Hills, Holden Huff of Scottsdale, Perry Miller of Goodyear).
2nd Place—Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 229 (Austin Elbert of Waddell, John Heim of Glendale, Shelby Shank of Phoenix).
3rd Place—Tucson SCTP Shooting Stars, 205 (Louis “Taz” Gloria of Tucson, Perry Kurker-Mraz of Tucson, Daniel McCloskey of Tucson).

Intermediate Entry (grades 6 to
1st Place—Red Mountain Target Terminators, 209 out of 300 targets (Stephen Fuller of Phoenix, Kent Thomas of Mesa, Zachary McBee of Gilbert).
2nd Place—Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 171 (Van Brophy of Phoenix, Andre Guzman of Peoria, Lynnsee Starr of Glendale).
3rd Place—Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 142 (Dylan Karvanek of Anthem, Taylor Saunders of New River, Paysen Unger of Phoenix).

Rookie (grades 5 and under)
1st Place—Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 167 out of 300 targets (Casey Coleman of Peoria, Mitchell Jones of Glendale, Tyler Sims of Dewey).
2nd Place—Tucson SCTP Shooting Stars, 135 (Ben Garrett of Tucson, Gunnar Johnson of Sahuarita, Ausin Keene of Tucson).
3rd Place—White Mountain Clay Crushers, 129 (Logan Barton of Pinetop, Austin Moore of Heber, Luke Hughes of Lakeside).

This week the Master of Handguns and the newest development in magnum rifle cartridges.

ShootingUSA - The Masters Championship

To win you must master three disciplines of pistol shooting: Olympic Pistol, Handgun Silhouette, and Action Pistol Shooting. For those who can compete in all three sports, the best will be the Masters Champion. Plus Todd Jarrett’s shooting up cars in his Tactical Pro Tip for Law Enforcement Officers. And Byron Ferguson is swinging into an Impossible Shot with his Longbow.

Sighting In with Shooting USA - The .338 Federal Cartridge

We’re starting with the inside story of the first rifle cartridge ever to carry the Federal name, the new .338 Federal round that produces belted magnum performance from the 308 case. Then the exclusive debut of the new AR-10 rifle from Armalite that chambers the hot new .338 Federal round. Plus Julie Goloski has suggestions for women on how a lady carries her concealed handgun.

See it in the Shooting USA Hour Block Wednesday on Outdoor Channel.

* Eastern Time - 8:30 PM and 12:30 AM
* Central Time - 7:30 PM and 11:30 PM
* Mountain Time - 6:30 PM and 10:30 PM
* Pacific Time - 5:30 PM and 9:30 PM

Honors From Our Peers:

Shooting USA has received two Emmy Award Nominations for Sports Coverage and Photography from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. We work hard to provide you with quality programming, but it’s very nice to have our colleagues in the Television Industry single out the work for recognition.

Colorado Springs, Colorado - The 2007 USA Shooting Three Times Airgun Match came to a close with 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Emmons, Katy Emmons, Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Libby Callahan and Sgt. 1st Class Daryl L. Szarenski of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit of Fort Benning, Ga., claiming titles on the final day of competition.

In Men’s Air Rifle, Emmons of Browns Mills, N.J., took the title for the third day in a row shooting a 599, then a 103.1 in the finals for a total score of 702.1. Matt Rawlings of Wharton, Texas, also shot a 103.1 in the finals, finishing in second place with a total score of 700.1.

Thomas Csenge of Keene, N.H., captured third place as well as first place for the junior men with a total score of 697.3. Bryant Wallizer of Little Orleans, Md., took second for the junior men with 693.1 and Michael Kulbacki of DuBois, Pa., took third with 689.2. Paralympic shooter Michael Dickey of Trafford, Ala., shot a perfect score of 600.

Szarenski, a two-time Olympian, took the top spot in Men’s Air Pistol today, finishing with a total score of 676.5. Cody Owsley of Tonganoxie, Kan., finished in second place with 675.1 and 2004 Olympian Jason Turner of Rochester, N.Y., finished right behind Owsley in third place with a score of 675.0.

Owsley took the top spot in Junior Men’s Air Pistol, while Anthony Lutz of Tonganoxie, Kan., took second again today with 663.7 and Nicholas Budnella of Colorado Springs, Colo., the day one and two champion, took third with 660.2.

In Women’s Air Rifle, 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist for the Czech Republic, Katy Emmons, took the title for the third day in a row, shooting a match score of 399 and a final of 105.1 for a total score of 504.1. Marie Gigon of France finished second with 501.9 and Emmons’ Czech teammate Pavla Kalna took third place with a total score of 500.3.

Lisa Kunzelman of Constantia, N.Y., captured the title for the third day in a row for the Junior Air Rifle women with a total score of 499.8. Sarah Scherer of Billerica, Mass., finished close behind Kunzelman in second with 499.0, while Taylor Beard of Parker, Colo., took third with 493.7.

In Women’s Air Pistol, Callahan, a three-time Olympian from Columbia, S.C., captured the title with a score of 468.1. Heather Deppe of Monument, Colo., took second with 467.3 and Navy Reserve Petty Officer 2nd Class Sandra Uptagrafft of Firestone, Colo., finished in third place with 463.4.

Deppe claimed first place for the junior women, while Courtney Anthony of Lexington, Neb., took second with 458.3 and Kelsey Imig of Westminster, Mass., finished third with 450.7.

More than 200 rifle and pistol airgun shooters from across the United States as well as Canada, the Czech Republic, France and Puerto Rico competed at the U.S. Olympic Shooting Center Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 in the 2007 USA Shooting Three Times Air Match. This three-day event served as a qualifier for the Bavarian Airgun Match, which will be conducted in Munich, Germany, in January.

Complete results from the competition can be found by visiting USA Shooting’s website at www.usashooting.org.

(Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit is assigned to the Accessions Support Brigade of the U.S. Army Accessions Command. The Marksmanship Unit trains its Soldiers to win competitions and enhances combat readiness through train-the-trainer clinics, research and development. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, paula.j.randall@us.army.mil or www.usamu.com. USA Shooting is recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Shooting Sport Federation as the national governing body for the Olympic and international shooting sports in the United States. For more information on USA Shooting, contact Public Relations Manager Mary Beth Vorwerk at (719) 866-4896, marybeth.vorwerk@usashooting.org or http://www.usashooting.com.)

For the fifth consecutive year, Del-Tone/Luth Gun Club in St. Cloud, Minn., hosted one of the nation’s most prestigious three-gun competitions, the Tri-Gun Challenge, with Brownells® and DPMS® as the major sponsors.

The event drew many of the most recognizable names in shooting. Jerry Miculek bested Tony Holmes, last year’s open class winner, with a match total of 753.823. Carl Carbon topped the tactical optics division with a match total of 731.502, Kurt Miller’s 757.884 won the tactical iron category and Pat Kelley repeated as winner of the heavy metal title scoring a 774.419.

The 2007 competition featured a new event, Tactical Optics Heavy. Participants were required to use .308 caliber rifles, pump shotguns and 8-round capacity, .45 caliber handguns. Benny Hill was the inaugural winner of the category.

Both DPMS and Brownells had groups participating in the team competition, but Robert Right, Robert Johnson and Carl Carbon (a.k.a. R&R Racing) won the team competition with a time of 38.47 seconds.

“Brownells has been an avid supporter of the Tri-Gun Challenges, and will continue to support the event for years to come,” said Pete Brownell, vice president of Brownells. “The Tri-Gun Challenge has grown exponentially over the years, and we look forward to partnering with DPMS for the 2008 event.”

“The competition continues to grow since beginning the Tri-Gun Challenge in 2003,” said CEO/DPMS President Randy Luth. “We’ve already begun making preparations for next year’s competition. With each year being more successful than the one before, we’re excited to set more records with the 2008 match.”

A complete results list from the 2007 Tri-Gun Challenge and information about the 2008 competition is available on the Tri-Gun Challenge website at http://www.trigunchallenge.com.

DPMS is an industry leader in providing quality AR-style rifles, components and accessories. No other company offers more styles or configurations of AR rifles. DPMS also provides choices for high-power and small-bore shooters by offering several rifles chambered in .22LR, .204 Ruger, .223 Remington, 5.56×45 NATO, .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 6.8×43 SPC, 7.62×39, .308 Winchester, .300 Remington SAUM and .338 Federal.

Brownells is the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, tools, equipment and accessories. Stocking more than 30,000 items, the company services gunsmiths, armorers and shooters worldwide. For more information or to place an order, call (800) 741-0015, Dept. #PBE, or visit http://www.brownells.com.

With his Beretta DT10 Trident Skeet 28″ barreled shotgun straight out of the box, Vincent Hancock has dominated the circuit all year. Vincent has been chosen by USA Shooting asMale Shotgun Shooter of the Year.

A solider with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit based in Fort Banning, GA, Hancock has had an unbelievably successful year. He captured the World Cup in Italy and set a finals World Record in Men’s Skeet at the same time. He also seized the Gold Medal at the 2007 Pan-American Games and won the Bronze Medal at the 2007 World Clay Target Championships. He shoots all competition with his unmodified Beretta DT10 shotgun. He is currently competing for a spot on the Men’s Olympic Skeet Team. He is currently leading in the selection process by winning the first Shotgun match.

“We are very proud of Vincent and his many accomplishments with his out-of-the-box Beretta DT10. He is an extremely talented shooter and we are pleased that he continues to shoot and win with a Beretta firearm,” stated Rebecca Etchen, Marketing Manager, Victory Shooter.

Beretta, established in 1526, is the oldest industrial dynasty in the world tracing its roots through 16 generations of continuous family ownership. Firearms bearing the Beretta name have been sold for almost 500 years. Beretta USA Corp. was founded in 1977 and supplies the standard sidearm to the U.S. Armed Forces. Today Beretta manufactures, distributes and markets a complete line of firearms, accessories and apparel. Beretta also owns and operates six retail Beretta Gallery stores worldwide. For additional information visit www.berettausa.com.

With his Beretta DT10 Trident Skeet 28″ barreled shotgun straight out of the box, Vincent Hancock has dominated the circuit all year. Vincent has been chosen by USA Shooting asMale Shotgun Shooter of the Year.

A solider with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit based in Fort Banning, GA, Hancock has had an unbelievably successful year. He captured the World Cup in Italy and set a finals World Record in Men’s Skeet at the same time. He also seized the Gold Medal at the 2007 Pan-American Games and won the Bronze Medal at the 2007 World Clay Target Championships. He shoots all competition with his unmodified Beretta DT10 shotgun. He is currently competing for a spot on the Men’s Olympic Skeet Team. He is currently leading in the selection process by winning the first Shotgun match.

“We are very proud of Vincent and his many accomplishments with his out-of-the-box Beretta DT10. He is an extremely talented shooter and we are pleased that he continues to shoot and win with a Beretta firearm,” stated Rebecca Etchen, Marketing Manager, Victory Shooter.

Beretta, established in 1526, is the oldest industrial dynasty in the world tracing its roots through 16 generations of continuous family ownership. Firearms bearing the Beretta name have been sold for almost 500 years. Beretta USA Corp. was founded in 1977 and supplies the standard sidearm to the U.S. Armed Forces. Today Beretta manufactures, distributes and markets a complete line of firearms, accessories and apparel. Beretta also owns and operates six retail Beretta Gallery stores worldwide. For additional information visit www.berettausa.com.

Colorado Springs, Colorado - The first day of competition at the 2007 USA Shooting Three Times Airgun Match took place Saturday with Olympians Matt Emmons, Jason Turner, Katy Emmons and Becky Synder claiming first place in their respective categories.

In Men’s Air Rifle Emmons of Browns Mills, N.J., a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, shot a perfect score of 600 and a final of 104.4 for a total of 704.4 to take first place. His score of 600 tied a national record held by Matt Rawlings. Valerian Sauveplane from France took second place with a total score of 697.3 and Ryan Tanoue of Honolulu, Hawaii, took third with 696.8.

For the Junior Air Rifle men, Ethan Settlemires of Walnut, Miss., shot a final score of 689.7 taking first place, while Bryant Wallizer of New Orleans, Md., finished in second place with a total score of 688.5 and Michael Kulbacki of DuBois, Pa., took third with 686.2.

Turner of Rochester, N.Y., a 2004 Olympian, took first place for Men’s Air Pistol with a score of 679.0. Two-time Olympian Sgt. 1st Class Daryl L. Szarenski of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit of Fort Benning, Ga., took second with 675.3 and Martin Tenk of the Czech Republic captured the third spot with 674.6.

For the Junior Air Pistol men, Nicholas Budnella of Colorado Springs, Colo., won the title with a total score of 662.0, while Cody Owsley of Tonganoxie, Kan., took second with 657.6 and Anthony Lutz, also of Tonganoxie, finished in third place with 652.9.

Katy Emmons, a 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist for the Czech Republic captured first place with a score of 501.9 for Women’s Air Rifle. Emily Caruso of Fairfield, Conn., a 2004 Olympian, grabbed second with 498.9 and Marrie Gigon of France took third with 496.7.

Lisa Kunzelman of Constantia, N.Y., finished in first place for the Junior Air Rifle women with a total score 496.0, while Emily Holsopple of Wilcox, Pa., took second with 495.3 and Taylor Beard of Parker, Colo., grabbed the third spot with a total score of 495.1.

In Women’s Air Pistol, Becky Snyder of Colorado Springs, Colo., took first place with a total score of 473.5. Brenda Shinn of Riverside, Calif., captured second with 467.6 and Erdenetuya Baasandamba finished in third place with 465.3.

Courtney Anthony of Lexington, Neb., finished in fifth place for the senior women and took first for the Junior Air Pistol women with a total score of 462.0. Heather Deppe of Monument, Colo., took second with 458.3 and Kelsey Imig of Westminster, Mass., finished third with 452.7.

More than 200 rifle and pistol airgun shooters from across the United States as well as Canada, the Czech Republic, France and Puerto Rico are competing at the U.S. Olympic Shooting Center Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 in the 2007 USA Shooting Three Times Air Match. This three-day event will serve as a qualifier for the Bavarian Airgun Match, which will be conducted in Munich, Germany, in January.

Colorado Springs, Colorado - More than 200 rifle and pistol airgun shooters from across the United States as well as Canada, the Czech Republic, France and Puerto Rico will gather at the U.S. Olympic Shooting Center Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 to compete at the 2007 USA Shooting Three Times Air Match. This three-day event will serve as a qualifier for the Bavarian Airgun Match, which will be conducted in Munich, Germany, in January.

Among the athletes competing are 2004 Rifle Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Emmons of Browns Mills, N.J., as well as rifle Olympians Emily Caruso of Fairfield, Conn., two-time Olympian Sgt. 1st Class Jason A. Parker of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit of Fort Benning, Ga., 1996 Olympian Navy Reserve Lt. Eric Uptagrafft of Firestone, Colo., and pistol Olympians Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Callahan of Columbia, S.C., Rebecca Snyder of Grand Junction, Colo., and two-time Olympian Sgt. 1st Class Daryl L. Szarenski of the Army Marksmanship Unit.

A full match schedule as well as complete results throughout the competition can be found by visiting USA Shooting’s website at www.usashooting.org.

(Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit is assigned to the Accessions Support Brigade of the U.S. Army Accessions Command. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, paula.j.randall@us.army.mil or www.usamu.com. USA Shooting is the national governing body for Olympic shooting sports. For more information on USA Shooting, contact Public Relations Manager Mary Beth Vorwerk at (719) 866-4896, marybeth.vorwerk@usashooting.org or http://www.usashooting.com.)

Media Contact:
Paula Randall ((706) 545-5436 paula.j.randall@us.army.mil or Mary Beth Vorwerk (719) 866-4896 marybeth.vorwerk@usashooting.org

FAIRFAX, Va. – The National Rifle Association has selected three of its top Junior Members to receive the 2007 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award, recognizing them for their active participation in the community, the classroom, and the shooting sports.  Overall, $10,000 in scholarship money was awarded to the winners thanks to a generous donation from Brownells, Inc., the world’s largest supplier of firearms accessories and gunsmithing tools.

A $5,000 scholarship was awarded to first-place winner Juliann Terry, 18, of Newcastle, Wyo.  A member of the Rapid City Rifle Club, Terry placed first in .22 rifle at the 2006 Wyoming 4-H Shooting Sports competition and later represented the state of Wyoming at the 2006 4-H Nationals, placing fifth in the country in smallbore competition.  In addition to being a fine shooter, Terry is also active in her community, having presented the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program to local elementary school students and volunteering as a teen leader at 4-H workshops and summer camps in her home county.  She excels in the classroom as well, sporting a 4.0 grade point average while playing clarinet in the Newcastle High School Band.    

“Juliann exemplifies all of the qualities that we look for in awarding the Outstanding Achievement Youth Award,” said NRA Youth Programs Manager Larry Quandahl.  “She is an exceptional young person, one who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership qualities, complete dedication in the classroom, and an unwavering commitment to the shooting sports.”

The second-place award and its accompanying $3,000 scholarship went to eighteen-year-old Scott Thomas of Poca, W.Va.  Thomas, an NRA Life Member, is a member of the Putnam County Gun Club Junior Smallbore Team.  He is a three-time smallbore competitor in the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, and he has served as a volunteer at numerous shooting camps.  Thomas was selected to attend the 2006 Youth Education Summit (YES) in Washington, D.C., earning a hunting trip for his exceptional performance at the event.  He hopes to one day shoot on the West Virginia University rifle team. 

Jonathan Warhol, 16, of Leonardo, N.J., was the third-place winner, earning a $2,000 scholarship.  Warhol is an apprentice NRA Certified Shotgun Instructor and has achieved the rating of Distinguished Expert in the shotgun course of fire of the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program.  Warhol has distinguished himself on the skeet field, becoming the 2006 New Jersey Junior Champion in 28 gauge.  An honor student at New Jersey’s Mater Dei High School, Warhol teaches others the joys of shotgun shooting through the Women On Target® Program, youth day events, and the junior shooting program at the Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club. 

All NRA Junior Members (or NRA Regular or Life Members under age 18) who are current members of an NRA-affiliated club or state association and who have completed one NRA Basic Firearm Training Course are eligible for the award.  Applicants must also have earned at least one rating through the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program and submitted three letters of recommendation, a copy of their school transcript, and a 1,000-word essay entitled, “What the Shooting Sports has Taught Me.”

Aside from these core requirements, applicants must have participated in at least five NRA-sponsored programs.  These elective requirements include presenting the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program, attending the Youth Education Summit, competing in the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC), entering the NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest, or participating in the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, among others.

Applications for next year’s Outstanding Achievement Youth Award are due at NRA Headquarters no later than May 1, 2008.  To learn more about the program or how to apply, please contact NRA’s Youth Programs Department at (703) 267-1505 or visit www.nrahq.org/youth/achievement.asp.  To learn more about Brownells, Inc., visit www.brownells.com.

Beretta is pleased to announce its team shooters, Dan Carlisle and Diane Sorantino recently clinched the 19th NSCA National Championships at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, TX.  The competition this year was the largest in NSCA history with over 1350 competitors shooting it out for the title.

When the shooting was finished, Team Beretta shooter Dan Carlisle and his Beretta DT10 topped the entire Main Event field with a final score of 283/300.  World F.I.T.A.S.C. Woman’s Champion Diane Sorantino, continued her winning streak using her Beretta Teknys Gold to best the ladies field in the Main Event with a 245/300. In addition to these two Beretta victories, Team Beretta shooter, Janet Tausch fired a 75/100 in the Five-Stand to take the ladies title in this event as well.

“We are very pleased with the performance of Team Beretta at the NSCA event,” stated Rebecca Etchen, Marketing Manager, Victory Shooter.  “Both our team and our products continue to prove their superior performance when it counts most.”

Beretta established in 1526, is the oldest industrial dynasty in the world tracing its roots through 16 generations of continuous family ownership.  Firearms bearing the Beretta name have been sold for almost 500 years.  Beretta USA Corp. was founded in 1977 and supplies the standard sidearm to the U.S. Armed Forces.  Today Beretta manufactures, distributes and markets a complete line of firearms, accessories and apparel.  Beretta also owns and operates six retail Beretta Gallery stores worldwide.  For additional information visit www.berettausa.com.

Overland Park, Kansas — Bushnell Outdoor Products has sued Non-Typical, Inc. for false and misleading advertising. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas and alleges that Non-Typical, Inc.’s advertisements for its Cuddeback® trail cameras are false and misleading. The lawsuit seeks an injunction against further false and misleading statements and monetary damages.

Bushnell, Inc. manufactures and sells trail cameras under the Bushnell® trademark. Non-Typical, Inc., located in Wisconsin, manufactures and sells trail cameras under the Cuddeback® brand name.

“Bushnell repeatedly tried to convince Non-Typical to remove its false and misleading advertisements, but they refused,” said Phil Gyori, Vice President of Marketing at Bushnell. “While we much prefer to compete in the market—as we have been doing for years—true competition is difficult when faced with false and misleading advertising. Because Non-Typical refused to remove their false advertising, our management decided that this lawsuit was the only course of action left to us,” concluded Gyori.

Information about the Bushnell line of trail cameras can be found at:

http://www.bushnell.com/trailcameras/trailcameras.cfm?section=#cSection%23

A comparison between Bushnell and Cuddeback cameras can be seen by clicking on “Trigger Time Truth”.

Dave Sevigny of the Team GLOCK Shooting Squad completed a string of victories using GLOCK’s newest model, the G21 SF in .45 ACP. After winning the High Industry title at the IDPA Nationals last September, the Team GLOCK captain won the IDPA Georgia State championship, USPSA Area 3 championship and the Inaugural TSA “Street Gun” Nationals in October.

The Tactical Shooting Association (TSA) Street Gun Nationals took place at the Tactical Shooting Academy home range in Surry, Virginia on October 19-21, 2007. The Association is a new practical shooting sport which promotes the use of guns designed for concealed carry. It was determined by the TSA match officials that 63% of the competitors in the match used a GLOCK pistol.

The national championship stages featured shooting challenges one might encounter in the real world along with other standard shooting tests such as plate rack drills. TSA targets, knock down steel and shot timers were used to score competitors. Realistic props such as motor vehicles, household appliances, street signs, cash registers and common items found in a store were all part of the national championship stages. “The details in some of the stages were nice to see. It gave the competitors a sense of being outside of a controlled shooting range,” said Dave Sevigny.

When asked about the G21 SF Sevigny added, “I’ve enjoyed firing the new pistol in our recent tournaments. It was easy to deliver fast and accurate hits just the same as other GLOCK models we’ve run in the past. For those who prefer a .45 ACP, you’ll love the 21 SF. The pistol ran 100% through each competition and practice session.”

GLOCK, Inc. Director of Marketing Stephanie Plumecocq added, “The G21 SF is our newest addition to the GLOCK family of pistols. Dave continues to impress us with his ability to transition from the various GLOCK pistol platforms. His success with the short frame .45 ACP in this competition solidifies David as being one of the most multi-faceted shooters in the world. Congratulations to Team GLOCK Shooting Squad for a successful 2007 season.”

About GLOCK
Utilizing advanced technological methods, GLOCK has a leading position in the world market as a pistol and accessories designer and manufacturer. With their commitment to uncompromised quality, GLOCK uses high-tech engineering to provide the international benchmark for safety, reliability and ease of maintenance. GLOCK’s remarkable knowledge and experience from their applications and processing of steel and polymer are being used to design revolutionary products. These products meet and exceed the ongoing demands of law enforcement, military and civilian customers for firearms that demonstrate the very best in reliability, durability and safety of use. Their high-tech engineering and construction create a handgun that can stand up to punishment that even the most unforgiving conditions can generate.

Deer Creek Sporting Clays of Tampa Bay has been awarded a 4-Star Rating from NSSF’s range division, the National Association of Shooting Ranges (NASR). Deer Creek’s success is the result of paying attention to the details, but there’s an overriding focus on making sure visitors have fun.

The facility is set on nearly 300 acres in Land O’Lakes, Fla., and features three sporting clays courses with more than 30 different target presentations, wobble trap and 5 Stand. Deer Creek provides lessons from U.S. and British coaches, free clinics for women and children and shotgun and golf-cart rentals.

Its pro shop sells clothing, accessories and ammunition.

Military, police seek training from industry-sponsored competitors

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Firearm industry leaders say more corporate money than ever before is flowing into sponsorship of pro competition shooters, creating an unprecedented class of marksmen now sought as trainers for U.S. military and police.

It’s a trend that could turn a familiar sports marketing strategy into an unexpected boon for national security, says Chris Dolnack of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

“Companies that make sports equipment, from golf clubs to tennis rackets to fishing rods to shotguns, are constantly improving their products. The best way to market these products is by getting them into the hands of professional competitors with a knack for winning tournaments as well as brand loyalty among fans,” explained Dolnack.

He added, “Across shooting sports, guns and gear have never been better. Ammunition is better. Training tactics are better. Purses and endorsements are more lucrative. All the commercial interests are working together to develop the finest shooters who ever lived.”

Many industry-sponsored pros now moonlight as trainers for military and police, budget-strapped professions where marksmanship skills may be trending the opposite direction.

Police are required to periodically “qualify,” proving that their shooting skills meet or exceed local standards. But how big is the gap between average qualifying skills versus average competition skills?

“It’s really not even a gap — it’s more like a canyon. Today’s competition shooter is a far superior marksman,” said Dave Lauck, a Gillette, Wyo., law enforcement officer and shooting pro. Lauck also operates a training academy. Last year, he received a U.S. Army Special Forces Certificate of Appreciation for his work teaching competition shooting skills to soldiers.

Dave Sevigny, a pro shooter-turned-trainer sponsored by Glock, agrees.

He said, “The difference in average skill levels is off the charts. Law enforcement qualifying skills, in most cases, require an understanding of how to line up the sights and deliver a good trigger press. To be a top practical shooter, on the other hand, requires shooting on the move, shooting at moving targets, strong- and support-hand shooting, and, above all, speed and accuracy.”

Learn more about competitive shooting today by reading “Firearm Industry Builds Pro Shooters, and Vice Versa” online at www.nssf.org.

FAIRFAX, Va. - Through the generosity of numerous donors and a matching challenge from the Schumann Foundation, the NRA’s Disabled Shooting Services Endowment has reached the $500,000 threshold required for program funding.
“This is a major milestone for a very important NRA program that benefits thousands, including many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. An active endowment ensures that every year there will now be a reliable source of funding for critical activities for our nation’s disabled,” commented Allan Cors, President, Board of Trustees of The NRA Foundation.
NRA Disabled Shooting Services guides more Americans with physical disabilities into hunting and outdoor activities than all other shooting sports organizations in the nation. Since its inception in 1994, NRA’s Disabled Shooting Services Program has offered services that have enabled thousands of Americans with physical disabilities to enjoy a variety of shooting activities, including competitive events and hunting. The Program also ensures that many shooting facilities are wheelchair-accessible, and provides information on how organizations can include sportsmen with disabilities in their programs. These programs are already making a difference in so many lives:
Each year, over 5,000 people with disabilities are provided with free guidance and expertise on participating in shooting activities;
16 rehabilitative shooting units have been established in both civilian and veterans’ hospitals in the United States;
Thousands of people have attended NRA Shooting Sports Disability Awareness workshops; and,
Many people have taken advantage of the technological advances in equipment that enable people with any type or level of disability to participate in shooting and hunting activities.
Thanks to programs like NRA’s Disabled Shooting Services, more than 700,000 sportsmen with disabilities were able to participate in shooting and hunting activities last year alone. This program helps people with disabilities achieve dreams of hunting and shooting, when they thought it was impossible.
For information on NRA’s Disabled Shooting Services Endowment or other ways of giving to the NRA, call 1-877-NRA GIVE. For more information on The NRA Foundation, visit: www.nrafoundation.org. To learn more about NRA’s Disabled Shooting Services Program, call 703-267-1495.

NEWTOWN, Conn. - A free, all-inclusive guide to the trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearm industry, the National Shooting Sports Foundation , is now available.
The guide contains information on all of NSSF’s programs and services, including its shooting participation programs, hunter recruitment and retention efforts, consumer safety and conservation education programs and member services. It also includes a catalog of educational materials and a complete listing of all NSSF-sponsored Web sites.
“Whether you’re a hunter, a shooter, or just curious, this guide is your resource for getting more acquainted with the wide range of programs and services NSSF has developed to ensure a positive future for our great American traditions,” said Colleen Swain, NSSF manager of publications, safety and education services.
To order a free NSSF Resource Guide, contact NSSF’s Safety and Education Services Department, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470, call 203-426-1320, or e-mail literature@nssf.org.
Formed in 1961, NSSF is the trade association for the firearms, hunting and recreational shooting sports industry. NSSF’s mission is to provide trusted leadership in addressing industry challenges and delivering programs and services to meet the identified needs of its members by measurably advancing participation in and understanding of hunting and the shooting sports. For more information about NSSF, visit www.nssf.org.

FAIRFAX, Va. - The National Rifle Association has selected three of its top Junior members to receive the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award, recognizing them for their active participation in the shooting sports and commitment to educational pursuits. Overall, $10,000 in scholarship money was awarded to the winners thanks to a donation from Brownells, the world’s largest supplier of firearms accessories and gunsmithing tools.
First-place winner Johnathan W. Zimmerer, 17, of Gainesville, Texas, is a member of the Lindsay 4-H Shooting Club and currently serves as president of the 4-H Sharpshooter Club of Cooke County — a club that he helped found. An accomplished shooter, Zimmerer has reached the expert level in indoor and outdoor 3-position smallbore shooting and has competed at USA Shooting’s Junior Olympic Smallbore Championships. Zimmerer, who will receive a $5,000 scholarship as the first-place winner, is also active in his community, having presented the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program to children in his church and served as a volunteer at the Friends of the NRA since 2002.
“Johnathan personifies many of the qualities we look for in the next generation of leaders,” said Matt Szramoski, Manager, NRA Youth Programs. “Through his participation in competitive shooting, hunting, wildlife conservation and safety training, Johnathan has demonstrated leadership, self-discipline and responsibility.”
Second-place finisher Shannon Curtin, 20, of Berwick, Pa., has been shooting competitively since the age of five. She has qualified for and placed at the Pennsylvania 4-H shooting competition on numerous occasions and most recently competed at the New Jersey State Indoor Championships in 2005 as a member of the Nescopech Shooting Stars 4-H team. A founding member of the Berwick High School Rifle Team, Curtin notched the first perfect shooting season in league history during her senior campaign and placed second overall in the state of Pennsylvania. Curtin, who will receive a $3,000 scholarship, has also taught the Eddie Eagle program to second and third graders and participated in the 2003 NRA Youth Education Summit in Washington, D.C.
Jeffrey D. Lambin, 18, of Gardnerville, Nev., took home third-place and its accompanying $2,000 scholarship for his commitment to the shooting sports. Lambin is president of the Douglas County 4-H Sharp Shooters Club and represented the national 4-H shooting sports organization at the Safari Club International convention in Reno, Nev., in 2005. Lambin enjoys teaching shooting to others, and, as an NRA-certified assistant instructor, is authorized to help teach basic rifle and shotgun courses.
All NRA Junior members who are current members of an NRA-affiliated club or State Association and who have completed one NRA Basic Firearm Training Course are eligible for the award. Applicants must also have earned at least one rating through the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program and submitted a 1,000-word essay entitled, “Why I Became Involved in the Shooting Sports.”
Aside from these core requirements, applicants must have participated in at least five NRA-sponsored programs. These elective requirements include presenting the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program, attending the Youth Education Summit, attending the Youth Hunter Education Challenge, entering a submission in the NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest, or participating at the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, among others.
For more information on the Outstanding Achievement Youth Award or how to apply, please contact NRA’s Youth Programs Department at 267-1505 or visit us at www.nrahq.org/youth/.
Learn more about Brownells at www.brownells.com.

Remington Arms Co. employees and their families and friends came out in force Aug. 27 for Remington’s fourth annual STEP OUTSIDE Start at Home event at Ilion Fish and Game Club near the company’s Ilion, N.Y., firearms plant.
A record 500 people — young and old — attended, many of whom said it was their first time shooting. “The STEP OUTSIDE event is a highlight for our employees each year,” said Joe Gross, plant manager for Remington’s Ilion facility. “In fact, our STEP OUTSIDE event is even more popular than our company picnics.”
This year’s event included instruction in firearm safety, opportunities to shoot shotguns and rifles and the opportunity to watch a cowboy action shooting demonstration that included contestants in full costume shooting revolvers, lever action rifles and shotguns.
“We’ve got many volunteers working on the event,” said John Balio, planning manager and the event’s coordinator. “The hard part is setting the date. Once it’s set, the work begins, but that’s also when the fun begins.”
STEP OUTSIDE, a program of NSSF, has helped introduce hundreds of thousands of newcomers to traditional outdoor activities like shooting. For more information about hosting a STEP OUTSIDE Start at Home event for your employees, contact Melissa Schilling at 426-1320.