KNOM, the Alaska Radio Mission, sent a reporter to  a recent Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinic -- and not just any clinic. This particular clinic focused on personal protection of a very specific kind: bear defense.

KNOM Profiles features an in-depth interview with Women On Target volunteer Alexandra Brown, an NRA Certified Instructor and Training Counselor. 

“Women On Target is for any woman anywhere who’d like a fun, safe introduction to various shooting sports,” Brown explains in the interview. “It allows the local people to choose a program to fit their needs.”

“So, bear safety for Alaska.”

Brown and her volunteers tailored the day's lessons to the very real possibility of a bear encounter. Above, Brown leads her participants through the safety briefing and range exercises. 

Women On Target National Coordinator Diane Danielson was thrilled to see the creativity in making the range exercises as real as possible. "They did a great job of simulating a bear, with a target on movable skids," Danielson said. "They would start the target moving, with it making a path to the shooter, giving each participant the chance to actually shoot at a charging target rather than a stationary one." More...

If you're not receiving Shooting Sports USA in your inbox for free each month, now's the time to sign up!

The September 2010 issue is hot off the press -- er, the Internet -- and here are some of its highlights:

• Camp Perry exclusive: National Pistol Matches coverage. Check out champ Brian Zins' rapid-fire target, at right.
• Meet a few more of the NRA Competitive Shooting Division staff. 
• Offhand Rifle Shooting, an article recycled from a 1941 issue of American Rifleman.

Check out the September issue now, and watch this accompanying video of the 2010 National Pistol Matches. Stay tuned to NRAblog for the latest on the NRA's Competitive Shooting Journal, manned by our very own Chip Lohman.

From Illinois' TribLocal.com, we learn about two youth groups who recently received generous NRA Foundation grants.

The area's Shooting Sports Committee Chair Tom Petrik says the $5000 grant is making a big difference for the youth: "Every grant we get is a step in the right direction for being able to provide all the program materials for all the age groups,” Petrik said.

Local Youth Receive Grants to Help Them Teach Shooting Sports

Two Venturing Crews of the Northwest Suburban Council in Mt. Prospect, IL, have each received a grant from the Friends of NRA state grant fund for Illinois. Both Crews of youth and their adult leaders will use the equipment to increase their ability to teach shooting sports at the Boy Scout camps they serve.

Venturing is the newest program of the Boy Scouts of America, and provides programs of citizenship, leadership, service, community & family, outdoors, and fitness. Each Crew decides whether they want to be all female, all male, or co-ed. The youth who make up these Venturing Crews are 14 to 21 years old, adult leaders over 21. Venturing participants learn the skills for their specialty through leadership, group activities, adult association, recognition, high adventure and by teaching others.

Crew 477, composed of the staff at Camp Napowan in Wild Rose, WI, received a $5000 grant that will allow them to purchase some new firearms and archery equipment for their rifle, archery, and shotgun ranges at the camp. Crew 478, comprised of the staff for Camp Lakota, Woodstock, IL, also received a $5000 grant that will allow them to purchase some pellet guns for older Scouts to use, gun vaults for equipment storage and a lockable ammunition cabinet. In addition, they will receive both youth and adult bows and assorted archery equipment to use at their camp, equipment that is also loaned out to local scout districts to hold Day Camp programs for Cub Scouts.

Read the entire story.

If you're in the northern Illinois area, check out the upcoming Friends of NRA banquet, set for September 30 at Atlantis Banquets in Arlington Heights.

NRANews Executive Producer John Popp and his band of audio/technical wizards stopped by headquarters today to shoot segments for the show. They left with a little more than originally planned.

"Taping at NRA Headquarters accomplishes two things," explained Popp. "First, shooting here provides our viewers with an actual view of the building. We tape our interviews at the museum, in the hallways, on the range - where ever we can find a free space.

"Second is the wild cards. Today, for example, we ran into Competitive Shooting's H.Q. Moody. That impromptu meeting turned into two separate interviews. They wouldn't have happened if we weren't here at headquarters."

In addition to the Moody interviews, Popp and his crew had the opportunity to sit down with Ruthann Sprague from NRA Women's Programs, J.R. Robbins from NRAHuntersRights.org, and (pictured above) National Firearms Museum's Phil Schreier. All of which are scheduled air on NRANews.com somewhere between 9pm and midnight Eastern Time over the next few days.

NRAblog is excited to introduce Jessica Blanks, a new member of the NRA Headquarters Shooting Range staff. As the Range's new "Customer Service Specialist,” she's responsible for a variety of tasks. Her main focus is on customer service, keeping the lines of communication open between the Range and its customers.

Blanks assists NRA Range Manager Greg Wodack and his staff of 33 Range Safety Officers, providing administrative support. She's also responsible for cash receipts, inventory management and electronically filing and maintaining the customer the data base.

"I think Jessica's a perfect fit for the Range," Wodack told NRAblog. "I'm looking forward to our continued growth and success, and we welcome her to our team."

Blanks was born in Louisiana and grew up in a military family. At one time she lived in Texas – and she's still a big Dallas Cowboys fan.

Blanks says she grew up shooting guns and hunting with her father. She attributes her love for the outdoors to her father, a retired Army Colonel. Blanks has always admired the NRA and its fight to defend the Second Amendment. "It's a privilege to work for the NRA,” Blanks told NRAblog. In addition to firearms, she enjoys cooking, painting, drawing, and music. She holds a second degree black belt Tae Kwon Do.

Blanks received her Associates degree from Northern Virginia Community College and is working on her bachelors degree. She plans to continue her education with a post graduate degree in Art Therapy.

More...

Here are your Friends of NRA events for the coming week, courtesy of Nicole McMahon. Banquet season is beginning to wind down and Labor Day Weekend will see many people squeezing in a vacation before summer ends, but there are still plenty of events ahead.

The piece of Friends of NRA merchandise we're highlighting this week is the U.S. Military Cartridge Board.

Spanning military campaigns that shaped the American nation; from the civil war up to modern-day conflicts, this set is an asset to any history and firearm fan's collection. Cartridges ranging from the smallest 5.56 x 35 Air Force Survival up to 50BMG and solid brass 12GA shell are beautifully laid on a tan background with an NRA gold foil logo.

09/02/2010
Batesville, Arkansas
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Le Sueur, Minnesota
Morgantown, West Virginia

09/07/2010
Harrison, Arkansas

Andrew Chamberlain's goal has always been to provide a solid understanding of cartridge performance – a true, unbiased education for anyone interested in shooting. As a corporate partner of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, or POMA, Chamberlain met with a variety of writers and photographers interested in his product, including NRAblog. (We first noticed his shirt.)

While Chamberlain is the mastermind of the Cartridge Comparison Guide, the inspiration came from active-duty military members.

"My younger brother and his buddies are active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. "They were all excited talking about this veteran hunt, and one guy said, 'I’m going to get this great big magnum,' and it got me talking about ballistics and perfomances."

Chamberlain is a project manager who spends his days planning government health facilities. He and his wife have moved many times in the past decade, from Mexico to Alaska to Colorado. They're currently in Utah and are awaiting the birth of their first child in early 2011.

"I started putting together these spreadsheets, focusing on what was popular and hot at the time," he said. Chamberlain was sharing the information with several soldiers, and figures he had about half the cartridges covered.

Inspiration hit, and he decided to made an official project of the task. Now available as a spiral-bound book, the Cartridge Comparison Guide is gaining steam as a top resource for hunters and shooters. If you prefer, pay a $10.00 membership fee for complete online access.

"I began comparing cartridge performance, versatility, bullet availability, bullet selection, powder efficiency, recoil generation vs. energy produced , standing ballistic data for different environments, overall comfort in shooting, ability to adapt to the cartridge and how proficiently and predictable I could adjust my point of aim, hold over, or doping," he writes. "I wanted to find the holy grail, and if I couldn't find it, I wanted to find the best all around performing cartridge and rifle that a guy on a budget could shoot."

More...

NRA Clubs & Associations has opened registration for the year's final NRA Club University September 25 at the Albuquerque Grand Airport Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Register online now to save $5 dollars off the $40 registration fee.

Take the afternoon and learn how to improve your club's operations, increase membership, and become a part of the public. It's a a unique one-day forum where NRA Club University covers everything from marketing, to grant application, and business planning. The event is open to anyone with an interest in the shooting sports.

“You have to be on top of your game in today's economy,” said Clubs & Associations Marketing Manager Son Nguyen. “Whether you’re a range, a club, or a store, we can give you tips on gathering information, making facility improvements, and communicating with the public. Come learn!”

Members of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association and operation experts are joining NRA staff for the seminar. And as a special edition to the Albuquerque Club U, we're bringing in finance and promotions expert Tom Shay to share the promotional techniques and management schemes he developed while simultaneously running three family businesses. 

Sound like a good way to spend the day? Then sign up now at https://www.nrahq.org/clubs/club_university/registration.asp. Still not sold? Then contact NRA Clubs & Associations at (800) NRA-CLUB (672-2582) or clubs@nrahq.org. They'll have all the answers you need.

NRAblog cruises the websites of the National Rifle Association and brings you the information you need -- and, in this case, the chance to save some dough on special NRAstore™ merchandise.

Hop over to NRAstore.com for your chance to purchase several NRA items at a steep discount. NRAblog's Danielle Sturgis is a fan of this NRA Life Member Lap Blanket, pictured below. It's on sale for $15 -- that's 50% off its normal retail of $29.95.

"It's just the right thickness, and it brings a bit of NRA cheer to any room," Sturgis said. "I own one, and at this price, I'm purchasing a few as Christmas gifts for the NRA Life Members in my life."

This blanket is made in the United States, made entirely of cotton, and measures 40" by 50". "If you're buying one to give to someone, go ahead and order one for yourself, because when you see how sharp this blanket looks, you'll want one," Sturgis added.

Other NRAblog picks:

• NRA Pub Clock on sale for $30 (originally $69.95)
• American Rifleman long sleeve T-shirt on sale for $8 (originally $16.95)
• NRA Trunk Organizer on sale for $15 (originally $28.95)

NRA National Firearms Museum Senior Curator Phil Schreier was recently in Newark, Ohio, for The American Thompson Association’s 19th Annual All Thompson Show and Shoot. He provided us with these photos and told us a little about his trip.

“I’ve been to five,” Schreier said of the annual gathering. The Association, an NRA affiliated collector’s club, was awarded the NRA Gun Collectors Committee Trophy at the 2010 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Charlotte. Read more about the 2010 NRA National Gun Collecting Awards.

What do the Tommy Gun enthusiasts do at their show? The purpose of these meetings, their website says, is to gather and share experiences andinformation on the Thompson. Mixed with a good deal of fun, of course.

“It’s a two stage shoot,” Schreier explained. “The first stage you shoot your firearm on full automatic for five different stages, at 20 rounds each, with the focus on accuracy.”

“The second stage is a steel falling plate contest. That’s for speed.”

Given the chance, Schreier could hardly observe the event – he brought his Thompson and joined the competitors on the firing line. How'd he fare?

“Well, the guy that knocked me out of the first round won the overall competition,” he said with a smile, “so if I had to get beat by someone, at least I got beat by the guy who won it all.”

In addition to his time on the firing line, Schreier provided interviews for a few episodes of American Rifleman TV. 

“Anyone interested in joining the Association should check out their website,” Schreier said. Download an application here. Annual dues are $30. “They are a great group and a wonderful extension of the NRA’s commitment to gun collecting.”

More...

From Justin McDaniel at www.NRAhuntersrights.org:

If you’ve ever been frustrated by your current riflescope’s inability to perform well in low-light conditions, visit www.NRAhuntersrights.org during the month of September for a chance to win a Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40 riflescope.

Trijicon’s AccuPoint line features a battery-free, self-illuminating reticle for a vivid aiming point in any light, be it dusk, dawn, or sometime in between. The AccuPoint is the only variable-power riflescope that combines both fiber optics and a built-in self-luminous Tritium Phosphor Lamp, meaning the aiming point automatically glows in low-light conditions—without the need for batteries. The model we’re giving away comes with a standard crosshair and green dot aiming point.

Other great features include easy-focus eyepieces, multi-coated lenses that gather loads of light with zero distortion, long eye-relief, and a manual brightness override that allows you to easily adjust the brightness of your aiming point. An aircraft-grade aluminum body and matte-black finish ensures this scope is durable and perfectly suited for any hunting situation. A set of lens caps, Trijicon LensPen cleaning tool, and Trijicon’s lifetime warranty are included.

Free to one entrant, this scope retails for $815. For more information on Trijicon’s AccuPoint line of riflescopes, visit www.trijicon.com.

To submit your name for the Trijicon giveaway, visit www.NRAhuntersrights.org and scroll down to “Gift Giveaway” for simple entry instructions. Entries will be accepted Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, and a winner will be announced on Oct. 1.

When it comes to class, Chip Lohman has more than his fair share. What else would one expect from the Editor of our very own Shooting Sports USA and a former Marine? But last week, he got a little more.

After his performance at the National Rifle & Pistol Shooting Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio, Lohman is now the proud holder of a Sharpshooter classification card. On hand to deliver Lohman’s card (pictured right) was Competitive Shooting’s John Parker.

“That was quick,” said Lohman. “You guys are on the ball up there.”

Classification cards are a measurement of your proficiency on the range. The better you shoot, the higher your classification. While classification has no bearing on your course of fire, it does have a bearing when it comes to the scheduling of awards. For Lohman, his classification rose from Marksman to Sharpshooter.

“It really comes down to experience,” explained Lohman. “2009 was my first time at Camp Perry in a number of years. I left a few things, like the mat placement and hydration, off my list. With a year under my belt, I had a better understanding of what to expect, how to practice, and how to prepare for the line.”

After receiving his card, Lohman can now purchase the corresponding Competitive Shooting Decal. Perfect for your car, office, or gun box, Competitive Shooting Decals are a great way to let others know you're moving up the ladder.

"With any luck, I'll have an Expert card and decal soon enough."

Doug Wicklund, Senior Curator at the National Firearms Museum, provides NRAblog with a brief history on a true rarity on loan from Mr. Ellis Joubert.

The Isaiah Jennings All-Metal Breechloading Flintlock Rifle

One of the most unusual repeating firearms ever to be manufactured in the United States was Isaiah Jennings’ repeating flintlock rifle of 1821.

Built with a detachable skeleton-type shoulder stock as well as a removable 21-inch octagonal barrel, the Jennings rifle was capable of firing twelve shots without reloading. This multi-shot arm was loaded with a dozen superimposed bullets and alternating powder charges, each placed one on top on another down the bore, and was fitted with twelve individual touchholes, each also being equipped with a swivel cover.

In firing, the first charge towards the barrel was discharged first, and then the movable lockplate was pulled back to the next swivel cover position. The .44 caliber and reduced powder space in this rifle may have meant it was intended to utilize hollowed-out projectiles with the powder charge placed inside the bullet itself.

This intriguing transitional rifle, bridging technology from muzzleloading arms to cartridge repeaters, bears serial number 1.

Thanks to NRAStore™ Merchandise Buyer Brian Evans for the following report:

Travel with peace of mind knowing that you’ll never be locked out again and your valuables will always be there when needed. The durable, all-metal NRA HitchSafe™ converts your vehicle’s receiver into a vault that can store spare keys, cash and up to 2 credit cards. This safe is great for outdoor activities where keys can be cumbersome or prone to loss. Patented hitch pins secure the HitchSafe™ inside the receiver via two sliding bars that can only be accessed through a locked drawer with over 10,000 possible combinations.

The HitchSafe™ easily installs/uninstalls in seconds with no tools required! An attractive, fitted NRA dust cover conceals and protects the combination dials. An embedded metal clip inside the cover adds extra strength and security. We’ve even included an extra blank, black dust cover (a $10 value) for free! Fits standard 2” receivers (2005-current Toyota Tacoma's and the 07-current Tundra hitch receivers require optional longer pins contact manufacturer for the pins).

The NRA HitchSafe™ is available at the NRAstore™ for $69.95. For more information, visit www.nrastore.com or call 1-888-607-6007. Be sure to request you free copy of the NRAstore™ catalog!

2010 Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) attendee Reed Hubbell had the chance to talk to the Delta County Independent about his experience in Washington D.C. An excerpt from DeltaCountyIndependent.com:

NRA youth summit a great learning experience, Hubbell reports

... But his favorite part of the trip was meeting the “intelligent, kind” students who attended the summit.

“They were brought in from all over the country, from California to Maine, but I found myself wishing they went to my high school,” Hubbell said. “Simply put, they were cool people. Even if you attend the summit and don’t win a single scholarship, you’ll leave Washington a lot more educated, with some great memories and 44 new friends.”

Although Hubbell had to pay his own airfare, he said the trip was top notch.

“I’d encourage anyone who’s interested in government, the Second Amendment, or just a truly educational experience to attend YES. It’s an unforgettable event.”

Hubbell joined the NRA after he returned from Washington. “I turned 16 and decided it’s about time I stand up for the Second Amendment rights I believe in.”

Read Reed's entire story.