NEWS

Public shooting ranges receive grant fundsfrom the Arizona Game and Fish Commission

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has awarded $87,550 to six grant applicants for the construction, improvement, enhancement, or expansion of public shooting ranges located throughout the state. The Shooting Range Grants Program, administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, was established in 1996 to encourage the development and improvement of shooting ranges in Arizona. Public shooting ranges offer important venues for safe target shooting (recreational and scholastic), teaching firearm safety, hunter education, as well as law enforcement training.

Alpen introduces exquisite quality Rainier™ Spotting Scope family for 2008

Alpen Optics announces a pair of high-end Rainier spotting scopes into their product line for 2008. The new models feature adjustable collars that allow the eyepiece to be repositioned with a simple twist of the barrel for ease of viewing while sitting or standing.

Team GLOCK Wins Winchester World Challenge and American Handgunner World Shoot-Off

Team GLOCK member Dave Sevigny won the Winchester World Challenge. Randi Rogers, a Colorado native, shot consistently to finish 4 overall in the Stock division and took top honors in the Stock Lady and IDPA category with a time of 239.74 with her GLOCK 34 in 9mm. and Randi Rogers, a Colorado native, shot consistently to finish 4 overall in the Stock division and took top honors in the Stock Lady and IDPA category with a time of 239.74 with her GLOCK 34 in 9mm.

Jamie Beyerle Captures Women's 3 Position National Title

Lebanon, Pennsylvania's Jamie Beyerle has taken the national title for Women's 3-Position Rifle during the 2008 USA Shooting National Championships with Amy Sowash of Richmond, Kentucky finishing second and USAMU Member Nicole Cooper taking the third place-finish.

Ruger Announces Rapid Retail Rewards For Sales Staff

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE:RGR) is pleased to announce the launch of the Ruger® Rapid Retail Rewards ProgramSM ("4R Program"). The program will reward retail sales professionals for selling new Ruger products between July 1, 2008 and October 31, 2008.

Nebraska Crowns Youth Trap Champions

Young trap shooters from across Nebraska earned state titles-with many qualifying to represent Nebraska at upcoming national championships-at the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Nebraska Trap State Championship held at NTA Homegrounds, Doniphan, Nebraska.

Emmons Claims Men's 3 Position National Championship Title

The 2008 USA Shooting National Championships for Rifle/Pistol came to a close Saturday with Matt Emmons earning his third national title of the competition, taking first place in the Men's 3 Position Rifle event. Emmons (Browns Mills, New Jersey), a 2004 Olympian and 2008 Olympic team member finished on top with final of 101.1 and a total score of 2455.1. Earlier in the competition, Emmons also claimed the Men's Air Rifle and Men's 3 Position Rifle titles.

FEATURE

First Shot Opens Camp Perry Today

Later this morning, the traditional First Shot ceremonies will open the 2008 National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio. These matches have been a tradition at Camp Perry since 1907, justifiably qualifying as the "World Series of the Shooting Sports." For the next five weeks, the nation's finest military and civilian and military marksmen and women will compete in a variety of formats for rifle and pistol.

NRA President John C. Sigler says the National Rifle and Pistol Matches "hold a special place in the sports arena… a venue where anyone, regardless of age, gender, or physical condition can compete in one of the world's most exciting sports."

There are several changes in the 2008 edition of the National Matches.

For one, $200,000 in awards will be at stake, determined by a new award schedule. That new schedule marks the beginning of the phase-out of award points previously given to winners.

The new plan will use the now-ubiquitous Visa gift cards for a number of awards in the Grand Aggregate Championships in lieu of award points.

There will also be a new team match during the August 4-8 High Power Long Range phase. The team match, composed of four-person teams will be on a Palma course of fire. According to NRA officials, the field for that new match is full- and includes some of the younger shooters in the long-range disciplines.

The National Smallbore Rifle Championships will see a new target used for individual three-position competitors, and there will be an opportunity for shooters to view their targets and results this year as well.

But perhaps the biggest changes will be more evident to the spectators than the competitors. Camp Perry itself has seen significant improvements to ranges, roads and competitor housing, courtesy of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio's Adjutant General, Major General Gregory L. Wayt.

Tomorrow, competition gets underway with the Harry Reeves Memorial Pistol Match, the Revolver Distinguished Match, the NRA .22 Championship and the NRA Centerfire Championship.

The Pistol competition runs through July 12.

We'll keep you posted.

DATES FOR 2008

Jul 7-8
Pistol SAFS

Jul 8-12
NRA Pistol Matches

Jul 13
National Trophy Pistol Matches

Jul 16-19
SBR 3-Position Matches

Jul 20-24
SBR Prone Matches

Jly 26-27
High Power Rifle SAFS

Jly 28 - Aug 2
CMP Rifle Matches

Jly 30
Whistler Boy High Power Rifle Match

Aug 3
NRA/Springfield Match

Aug 4-8
NRA National High Power Rifle Matches

Aug 9-13
NRA Long Range Matches