March Access Ad 2012

Las Vegas – The largest firearms, ammunition, hunting, law enforcement, etc. show in the world. I was in a crowd of over 60,000 participants and 5 miles of walking to all of the exhibits. Two of the areas which are still huge with new product are concealed carry firearms (handguns under 4″) and AR platform firearms, accessories and more accessories. The first is basically of no interest to Canadians because of our laws. The second has very limited appeal because AR platforms are restricted.

Ruger’s big news is the “American Rifle” — a bolt action clip rifle in 243Win, 270Win, 30/06 and 308Win calibers for under $500.00. Remington has a 50th Anniversary Model 700 in 7MMRemMag and a few minor changes in their regular line up. However, right after the show, Remington’s parent company — Freedom Arms — announced that they have acquired Para Ordinance, the once Canadian owned company who is known for their quality 1911 type handguns. Hopefully the change over will be better than when Freedom Arms acquired Marlin Firearms.

Smith and Wesson are making an M&P 22 pistol and 1911 E series pistols which were introduced previously but weren’t available so they are new for 2012. A few more models have been added to the performance centre offering. I am looking forward to shooting a S&W 1911 9MM Luger with target sights. Again, more offerings in new carry pistols but not for us. Colt has very few changes. They have shipped some of the new format 1911′s and say they won’t leave Canada dry for two to three years like they did before.

Kimber has some new 1911′s that have just been announced to the Canadian market. More to come on that. Kimber has a new Mountain Ascent rifle and the Classic Select series has a stainless offering.

Mossberg’s big announcement is the Flex series shotguns — “A whole new concept in modular shotguns and accessories”. Mossberg has a large selection of stocks, forearms and pistol grips for their system. Also, Mossberg has entered the AR15 platform rifle market with the MMR Hunter. Mossberg has also added more models to their 715T AR look alike 22LR semi auto rifle.

Chiappa, one of the Italian manufacturers of all things American, have announced the introduction of a “Spittin’ Image” M-1 carbine in 22LR. It’s a good companion for the old US service 1911 22LR and the current US Beretta 92-22LR that Chiappa also makes.

CZ has new pistols for 2012. P07 Polymer semi autos in different models. New CZ 75 Shadow models in semi auto also. In rifles CZ has 3 new 22LR varmint bolt rifles and a new CZ527 varmint target in 223Rem and 204Ruger.

Winchester has honoured Jack O’Connor with a very limited edition 270Win Pre-64 type Model 70. The rifle is engraved and has beautiful wood. Winchester is also offering a Classic model much the same but ~ $500. cheaper. Jack O’Connor’s original Model 70 was on display and I had a chance to talk to his son. Winchester is also making a Limited Edition Model 92 with a half magazine. There is no fixed delivery time on that as yet.

Browning has introduced their Citori Model 725, the 4th or 5th model change of the old Citori O&U shotgun. Browning also had some T-bolt 22′s with maple stocks. Browning was also offering Infinity camouflage on some of their shotguns and rifles. Like most companies, not a huge number of new products.

Merry Christmas to everyone. Keeping with the festive spirit, like the song says, “These are a few of my favourite things”:

I have a set of Zeiss 8x30B Dialyt rubber armoured binoculars with the original leather case. I took the binoculars on trade 25 years ago. These binocluars are still excellent, small enough to half hitch on your neck and give more light and clarity than most 10x mid range binoculars and are easy on the eyes for long scans.

I have three favourite knives. The first is aRussell Grohman Canadian made Trout & Bird Belt Knife. The second is a 40 year old Puma Hunters Pal with a stag handle. It is German made, with a slightly bolo style blade and a leather sheath. The third is a Remington Gentleman’s lock blade Delrin handle pocket knife for everyday use.

My favourite upland shotgun is an Ithaca Model 100 20ga 3″ Double SxS 26″ IC/Mod manufactured by SKB in Japan. The first Ithaca I bought in about 1971 slightly used for $140.00. I hunted a lot more in those days and shot everything from cottontail and jack rabbits, woodcock, grouse and a huge amount of pheasant.

About 5 years ago we had a used Ithaca 100 exactly like mine in the store and we sold it twice. Both people were good customers so my Ithaca went out West with a local gentleman who was a past President of Ducks Unlimited Canada. My firearm was supposedly used by George W. Bush Senior on a hunt. We had another Ithaca exactly the same come in on trade and it will stay in my vault. The Browning Citori 20ga. Lightning field O&U is a close runner up.

My Browning BT99 12ga single barrel trap gun will remain one of my favourite. It is the original model which I bought the second year I was working in the gun business. My Remington 90T 12ga single trap is the best for score but doesn’t have the warm fuzzy friend feeling.

I suppose I’ve personally owned over 200 22 rifles in my lifetime. One of the last 22′s I would ever get rid of is my Ruger 10/22 walnut stock semi auto carbine. I’ve had that rifle for close to 45 years and it’s shot thousands and thousands of rounds of 22, especially CIL Imperial 22LR which we sold in the General Store. Now I have a Deluxe Voere 22LR clip bolt with a compac Leupold scope. It is a beautiful gun. However, my favourite is my Anshutz 22LR clip Sporter with iron sights. The most accurate open sight rifle I’ve ever owned.

At one time I had a collection of at least 40 22LR rifles. One favourite I have kept was a Winchester Model 63 22LR semi auto tube feed walnut stock rifle. This rifle has a grooved receiver and is the last edition and is in excellent condition.

I have Winchester 94/22 levers which are getting quite collectable. However, my two favourite lever Winchesters are my Model 94 Trapper 30/30 16″ lever and, for nostalgia, my Dad’s Winchester Model 94 32 Winchester Special Pre64 20″ walnut stock lever carbine.

In the last couple of weeks we’ve had many customers buying shotgun slugs for the upcoming deer season in southern Ontario.  Some hunters want the cheapest slug they can buy; others want the newest, fastest and most accurate.  Lets talk about solid shot for shotguns.

Most manufacturers make a “rifled slug” and many consumers are not aware that the lead slug has rifling moulded into it to spin the projectile in a smooth bore to increase accuracy — hence, “rifled slug”.  The Rottweil slug has the more pronounced Benecke lead slug with almost small fins and a heavy base wad to seal in the pressure.  The Challenger slug uses a similar type lead slug and pronounced base wad.  All of the above slugs are recommended for smooth bore shotgun barrels with improved cylinder or modified choke but can also be shot through an open choke or a full choke.

Rifled shotgun barrels have become quite popular in the last 15 years.  The best results for rifled barrels are achieved with a saboted slug which is a lead, copper or combination lead/copper, plastic, hollow alloy, etc. point with a plastic “sabot” surrounding the projectile.  The plastic sabot acts as a wad to give constant pressure in ignition and the plastic sides of the wad are engraved by the rifling of the barrel, spinning the projectile and also protecting the slug at high velocities.

For longer range shooting of a 12 ga. slug, the barrel should be rifled and the barrel should have a cantilever mount system.  This means the scope is attached to the barrel with a mount extending back over the receiver.  The reason for this mount is the receiver and the barrel on a shotgun are not screwed together like in a rifle.  The barrel usually has an extended sleeve which slides into the receiver and is fastened by a threaded cap on the extended mag tube.  This system allows for movement between the barrel and the receiver.  So, if the mount is part of the barrel, the scope is more solidly mounted.  Also, if you have another barrel for your shotgun, you can remove the slug barrel mount and scope as one unit making another site-in unnecessary.

If you are using iron sights or a vent rib, regular Remington or Winchester rifled slugs (the $1. each type) shoot well out of most smooth bore guns.  The Federal Tru Ball rifle slug has proven quite accurate with its floating cup wad.

Go out and buy enough slugs to properly sight in your shotgun.  Very important!