Spirit of the Sportsman

R&S Precision Sports, LLC

Remember the ol’ reliable Ruger 10/22 you passed your hunter’s safety class with so many years ago? Well, you’ll never recognize it after Russ and Sheba Bunting’s R&S Precision Sports get done with it. How about a Volquartsen match barrel with compensator and unique snake flutes? How about a custom red stock with a purple barrel? Easily the most visually enticing display at the show. This ain’t your father’s 10/22.

According to Sheba, the shows are going great this year. Says Sheba, “Do the right thing and walk the right path, God takes care of everybody.” The tactical solutions barrel seems to be the hot seller. Colored barrels are moving quickly–pink sells out at the shows. If you’re ordering from the website, Russ and Sheba try to get everything out the same or next day. That’s the kind of stimulus we need.

Grizzly Mike’s Outdoor Outfitters

Mike’s son, Ted, says working the shows these days is like running around like a chicken with your head cut off. Grizzly Mike’s is on the road at shows 40 out of 52 weekends a year. Sales are up 50-75% across the board. “Everything is hot, everything is going crazy,” says Ted. When asked about changes over past shows, Ted indicates that customers are getting better and better educated. Downside is that they can do a lot of price comparisons and you might have to compete with a really cheap web site promotion price. Upside is that because customers know more about what they want and are more informed, scams are down. Customers are making purchases this year they might not have made last year. For example, customers are buying sears reasoning that they should buy it now before prices get any higher, before it gets banned, or before they quit making them. Ted says some of the most difficult items to get are .308 mags by FN and DPMS. He’s seen prices from $120-300 for them on online auctions.

Fuzzy Bunny Movie Guns, Inc.

“And the award for the best name for a gun company in the history of the universe goes to…Fuzzy Bunny Movie Guns!” One of the busiest booths at the show, FBMG also had one of the most professional looking set-ups in the expo center. Their shop in Draper, Utah is the same. Not some guy selling ammo out of his “van down by the river.” These guys know what they are doing. In my search for a carry firearm, I stopped by FBMG where John happily obliged. He broke the guns down, showed me construction and handling differences.

According to Oly, concealable handguns are the hot sellers. Anything small sells. Ammunition for handguns is moving so fast, it’s hard to keep in stock, as is 223 and AK ammo.

Lichtenberg Research

Lichtenberg Research was a surprise find at the Crossroads show. Full disclosure: Eric Lichtenberg, the owner, worked for my agent for many years so I know him well. I had lost track of him and was surprised to be looking at a display of holsters and then to recognize him as the manufacturer. Lichtenberg manufactures a series of neoprene concealment holsters; 5 sizes of ankle holster, two sizes of inside the pants holster, and an interesting under arm holster perfect for those activities when you’re out in just a t-shirt (hiking, running, etc.). They also have some simple inexpensive pocket holsters. A “suede” treatment to the outside of the holster grips your pocket so that all it takes is your support hand applying a little pressure to the holster from outside your pocket and your gun presents quickly and easily.

Lichtenberg supplies holsters and accessories to multiple domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies. He also sells and transfers firearms in addition to teaching firearms safety, conceal carry, etc. Eric says he is teaching five or six times as many CCW classes since the election. Sales at the show cleaned him out. Most interesting, however, are the AK47 “build parties” that the shop organizes. This isn’t an “assemble” party…you bring raw materials—sheet steel, they supply the 20-ton shop press and the parkerizing tanks. You fold, press, and parkerize—you literally make your own AK. Eric tells the story of sitting next Jesse Jackson on a flight and showing him all the pictures from an AK build party. Eric even offered to build a custom “rainbow push coalition” AK for the Reverend. Oddly enough, Mr. Jackson declined the offer (go figure?). I made sure to get an invite to the next party. Looking for a unique, durable, carry holster or a DIY from scratch AK, contact Lichtenberg Research.

Other SOTS favs

Black Gun Stuff

Tactical Accessories

Miwall Corporation Wholesale Ammo

Buy

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Crossroads of the West Gun Show

Nothing gives a quicker view of the diversity of “gun culture” like a visit to a gun show. Whether it’s looking for a collectible or the cutting edge, a gun show is the place to start. Spirit of the Sportsman visited a recent Crossroads of the West Gun Show in Draper, Utah.

Bob Templeton the creator and director of the Crossroads of the West Gun Show has been in the “gun show biz” for 34 years. Crossroads of the West Gun Show does 52 shows every year in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. It sounds like 2009 has proved to be a banner year. “Shows are up 50% nationally and we’re up 60% in terms of gate and table rentals,” says Bob. The big sellers? Ammo. “Ammo is number one on everybody’s list. Of the first 100 people in the door, 99 head for ammo.” Bob says the big dealers are bringing two or three semi trucks fully loaded and that those trucks leave completely empty after the two-day events.

The reasons for the increases are obvious, says Bob. “People are concerned about the future of firearms.” And with good reason. President Obama, AG Holder, and the leadership of the House and Senate, all have clear anti-gun records and goals. Of particular concern to Bob and (gun show participants everywhere), is the recently introduced Lautenberg-Reed bill SN 843 that is an attempt to close the “gun show loophole.” Similar stipulations already apply in California, and Bob has seen and deals with the complications. Passing such legislation means more gov’t intrusions. It makes show promoters responsible for background checks at shows for individuals. This creates a huge burden for sponsors and promoters. The legislation, as it is drafted now, makes the promoters liable civilly and criminally for occurrences both at the show and after. If that provision isn’t removed, shows like Bob’s Crossroads of the West, will go out of business. In a recent visit with the new director of the ATF, Bob told the director that SN 843 would be the end of gun shows in America. Bob would not be surprised if such restrictions spread. There is talk of extending these restrictions to all private party transactions.

But Bob and the National Association of Arms Shows are being very proactive.

Presently, California is looking at increased restrictions on gun shows. Bob is closely involved in drafting of California legislation to negotiate more reasonable compromises in order to stay in business and keep the Cow Palace Gun Show going. Introduced by CA State Senator Mark Leno, the bill would prohibit the sale of guns or ammunition on the grounds of the Cow Palace effecting killing the 5 shows slated there every year. Originally, the reasons behind the bill were that neighborhood gang members had told politicians that they were getting guns from the shows and then using and selling them in the neighborhood. According to Bob, after extensive research, they could find no evidence of any kind at any level, state or local, that Cow Palace gun sales were finding their way into the neighborhood.

Yet, Templeton is hopeful. He refers to the possibility that, since the Heller decision in June of last year, guns are becoming even more mainstream. More importantly, recent political winds have stirred formerly dormant gun owners to take action. Templeton says the NRA is signing up as many as 100,000 new members a month. Business is so good, Templeton told SOTS that they have scheduled additional shows this year.

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Most people know ‘Gunny’ from the film ‘Full Metal Jacket’.

More recently, R. Lee Ermey has worked on television projects where his compelling personality and colorful language has added emphasis to a serious topic.

Guns are a serious topic.

R. Lee Ermey in FMJ *warning: profanity*

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Baseball…not fishing.

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American invented bowfishing just like we invented apple pie and the automobile!

We are modern men. We innovate. We invent new and exciting forms of fishing. Attaching a line to the end of an arrow and shooting fish is new right?

Wait a minute.

Well I would like to see these natives put together a highlight video with cool music. Take that you savage!
*beats chest and grunts*

Like shooting fish in a…

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Survive

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Here we see an engagement between an attacker with a gun and a victim with a skateboard.

When you watch this ask yourself: ‘How would I respond if a man with a gun menaced me and I was disarmed?’

Would you surrender and put your safety in the hands of the attacker?

Would you flee?

Would you enlist your friends to help you fight the attacker armed only with skateboards?

Ultimately it’s your life so it’s your call.

It is unknown if this was a robbery attempt or a dispute between individuals.

This boy at first seems to surrender or at least resist in a passive-aggressive manner. At some point, the victim grabs the attacker’s gun and strikes him on the face repeatedly then takes him to the ground and using good mixed martial arts techniques delivers strikes to his head and face while maintaining a position of advantage. The victim’s friends helped by striking the attacker with a skateboard.

Notice that other people arrived and separated the victim and attacker. It is these people who will serve as witnesses to the police and/or in court.

I have practiced gun take-away techniques and even after training, I consider it a very risky move to attempt to disarm a man with a gun.

Lessons I learned from this video:

1. Arm yourself.
2. When holding a victim at gunpoint, the attacker does not expect a counter-attack from his victim.
3. Fake surrender followed by surprise counter-attack can be effective.
4. If possible, get help from allies during the fight.
5. Improvised weapons like a skateboard can be effective.
6. During and after the fight, be aware of witnesses. Make sure to communicate that you were the victim, not the attacker.

Be ready.

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It may come as a surprise to some folks but guns have recoil.

If you don’t already know this, you could take my word for it.

Some people prefer to learn the hard way.

Gun Recoil Knockout – Watch more Funny Videos

Recoil Knocks Chick Out – Watch more Funny Videos

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“SPRINGFIELD, IL – Controlled pheasant hunting opportunities will be available at 18 Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) sites this fall, and the 2009-10 season dates and permit reservation information are now available online.

Fourteen of the sites are operated by the IDNR, while four other sites will continue to be operated in a public/private partnership arrangement between the IDNR and concessionaire T. Miller, Inc.”

Bird

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