American Shooting Journal - April 2023

A Unique Big Game Hunting Ranch

Nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Missouri, High Adventure Ranch offers all of the excitement of western big game hunting without the costs and hassles.

Be prepared for a fair chase hunt! With over 3 square miles of prime natural habitat, our ranch provides challenges to even the most seasoned hunter, but our experienced guides and “No Game, No Pay” policy practically ensure that you won’t go home empty handed. In addition, High Adventure’s hunting season is year-round, allowing ample time to fit the most demanding schedule.

While our whitetail, elk, wild boar and red stag hunts top our hunter’s most popular lists, hunters from around the world have visited our ranch, hunting everything from American bison, black buck, fallow deer to Spanish goats and African game.

So, whether you desire a 10-point whitetail mount for your trophy room or simply the thrill and challenge of taking down one of our many elusive big game animals, High Adventure Ranch guarantees memories of an unparalleled hunting experience that will bring you back again and again.

Red Stag

Wild Boar

Whitetail

THE PREMIER SPORTING GOODS STORE ON PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND

FOR ALL YOUR FISHING, HUNTING, AND CAMPING NEEDS! KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF WILL LET YOU KNOW WHERE, WHEN AND HOW!

AMERICAN

SHOOTING JOURNAL

Volume 12 // Issue 7 // April 2023

PUBLISHER

James R. Baker

GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andy Walgamott

OFFICE MANAGER / COPY EDITOR

Katie Aumann

LEAD CONTRIBUTOR

Frank Jardim

CONTRIBUTORS

Larry Case, Scott Haugen, Phil Massaro, Mike Nesbitt, Paul Pawela, Nick Perna

SALES MANAGER

Paul Yarnold

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Mike Smith

DESIGNER

Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker

WEBMASTER / INBOUND MARKETING

Jon Hines

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@americanshootingjournal.com

ON THE COVER

Doreen Williams is the chairwoman of the board of directors of Otis Technology, a very successful family-owned gun cleaning and maintenance company she founded over 35 years ago, and it all began with a clogged rifle barrel during an upstate New York whitetail hunt. (OTIS TECHNOLOGY)

Website: AmericanShootingJournal.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/AmericanShootingJournal

Twitter: @AmShootingJourn

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THE KIT, CABOODLE & DOREEN

Meet Doreen Williams, who as a high school girl showed sportsmen and soldiers a better way to clean their guns and along the way founded and still oversees a very successful multi-million-dollar family business. Frank Jardim sits down for a Q&A with the Otis Technology dynamo.

FEATURES

49 ROAD HUNTER: BIG TOMS IN BIG TIMBER

True, wild turkeys are pretty wary critters, but the gobblers that live in and stick to thick woods are super sneaky and a very challenging quarry. If you’re ready to take your spring tom hunting to the next level, Scott Haugen has some advice for bagging one of the stealthiest of all birds.

61 BULLE T BULLETIN: MAKING AN IMPACT

“Whether you are a handloader or someone who relies on factory-loaded ammo, the Speer Impact just might be the bullet for you.” So writes Phil Massaro as he traces the history of this bonded-core and polymer-tipped hunting bullet that is now available in Remington’s Premier Long Range line.

74 SC ATTERGUN ALLEY: THOUGHTS ON THE DEFENSIVE SHOTGUN

To protect your family, a weapon that puts out lots of lead fast and works well in tight spaces could be a lifesaver, counsels shotgun advocate Larry Case, who details Mossberg’s short-barreled, eight-shot 940 Pro Tactical.

87 SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING: TRAINING WITH TACTICIAN CONCEPTS’ ALLEN ELISHEWITZ, PART ONE

With deep backgrounds in martial arts, the Marine Corps and knife-making, Allen Elishewitz is one of the self-defense circuit’s “best all-around trainers,” according to our Paul Pawela. He recently attended Elishewitz’s multi-discipline, multi-day course in Florida and shares some takeaways in this first of a two-part series.

99 L AW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: READY FOR EVERYTHING

Delaware cop Jack Kane leapt into action not once, but twice the evening of April 20, 2022, to help save the lives of seven people. Nick Perna details the heroic deeds that earned Kane recognition from his state’s governor for more than meeting “the challenges in front of him.”

113 BL ACK POWDER: ENJOYING EARLY .45-70 LOADS

What happened when Mike Nesbitt mixed a Lyman mold, 385-grain alloy bullet, 55 grains of Swiss powder and a lightweight 28-inch-barreled rifle? Some “Sharps” shooting, you might say.

ALSO INSIDE

DEPARTMENTS

C&E

Florida

Real Texas Gun Shows

April

April 22-23

Tanner Gun Shows

April 21-23

Wes Knodel Gun Shows

To have your event highlighted here, send an email to kaumann@media-inc.com.

usashooting.org

COMPETITION CALENDAR

April 7-20

Rifle Junior Olympic National Championship

Colorado Springs, Colo.

April 15-16

Team Shooting Stars

April PTO Carrollton, Texas

April 7-9

Outland Empire Puyallup, Wash.

April 14-16

Michigan Sectional Brooklyn, Mich.

April 28-30

Delmarva Section Championship Montpelier, Va.

April 15-16

Old Dominion Glock Challenge

Hurt, Va.

April 15-16

Gem State Classic Nampa, Idaho

April 22-23

Homestead Glock Challenge

Homestead, Fla.

April 5-8

The CMSA Extravaganza

Shelbyville, Tenn.

April 29

Oklahoma State Championship

Cherokee, Okla.

April 14-15

TN State IDPA Championship

Daisy, Tenn.

April 14-16

Virginia Indoor Regional

Chesapeake, Va.

April 16 International Air Gun Milford, Mass.

April 20-28

Pistol Junior Olympic National Championship

Colorado Springs, Colo.

April 28-30

Texas State Open Championship Wallis, Texas

April 28-30

11th Annual Doc Welt Memorial Match

Clearwater, Fla.

May 4-7

Ohio State Buckeye Blast

Morengo, Ohio

April 22-23

Western Wisconsin Glock Classic Holmen, Wis.

April 29-30

Annual Glock Challenge at Summit Point Summit Point, W.V.

May 23-27

300 Meter Nationals/Selection Match

Elk River, Minn.

May 11-14

2023 USPSA Area 6 Championship Salisbury, N.C.

May 19-21

Northern Illinois Sectional Muskego, Wis.

May 20-21

Inland Empire Sectional Benton City, Wash.

April 29-30

“This is Sparta” Challenge

Sparta, Ill.

May 6-7

Foothills GSSF Match

Cherryville, N.C.

May 13-14

Gunsite Glock Classic

Paulden, Ariz.

April 29-30

South Pacific Regional Championships

Acton, Calif.

April 29-30

Missouri State Championship Festus, Mo.

April 22

Western Washington Regional IDPA Championship

South Hill, Wash.

May 4-7

Western IDPA Regional Championship Sloughhouse, Calif.

To have your event highlighted here, send an email to kaumann@media-inc.com.

May 5-6

Utah State Shoot

Ogden, Utah

May 25-28

CMSA National Championship

Lincoln, Neb.

May 5-6

OK State IDPA Championship

Tulsa, Okla.

May 12-13

Maryland State Match

Lexington Park, Md.

SCHEDULE

Pro Bolt Gun Series

April 1 B&T Ind. LLC Box Canyon Showdown

April 15 Koenig-Ruger PRC – AG Qualifier

April 22 2023 A-Team PRC

April 29 2023 Leupold Best in Texas

May 6 Vortex Vengeance

May 6 Okie Showdown AG Cup Qualifier

May 13

May 20

May 27

Federal King of Coal Canyon

Parma Precision Rifle Rumble

K&M Kahles Precision Rifle Competition

June 3 Pigg River Precision H.A.M.

June 10 The Lead Farm Barrel Burner 2.0

June 23 Hornady Precision Rifle Challenge

Medicine Lodge, Kansas

Grand Junction, Colorado

Carbon Hill, Alabama

Navasota, Texas

Kennerdell, Pennsylvania

Ninnekah, Oklahoma

Raton, New Mexico

Parma, Idaho

Finger, Tennessee

Rocky Mount, Virginia

Prosser, Washington

Evanston, Wyoming

For more information visit www.precisionrifleseries.com

RECENT RESULTS

RECENT RESULTS (continued)

CENTRAL

VPRC RIFLEMAN’S

A 20-year-old Doreen Williams inside Otis Technology’s converted horse barn factory showing off the company’s top-of-the-line Otis Elite gun cleaning kits. Always stressing top quality, Otis broke new ground by successfully marketing the first $100 cleaning kit. At that previously unheard of price, consumers responded positively, proving that the value of quality sells itself.

THE KIT, CABOODLE & DOREEN

How a high school girl showed sportsmen and soldiers a better way to clean their guns and along the way founded and still oversees a very successful family business, Otis Technology.

STORY BY FRANK JARDIM PHOTOS COURTESY OF OTIS TECHNOLOGY

Nothing demonstrates the idiom “good things come in small packages” better than the compact, lightweight, pull-through cleaning kits invented and patented by Otis Technology. The kits have a lifetime free replacement warranty should any component break, but, when handling one, it is immediately apparent that they are of such high quality that the likelihood of anything breaking in your lifetime is too remote to measure. An Otis kit is the last cleaning kit you will ever need.

Otis is a family-owned business, named after the father of founder Doreen Williams. Its single, laser-focused goal is being the world leader in gun cleaning and maintenance products, and the argument can be made that they have already succeeded. Otis singlehandedly reeducated millions of civilian and military shooters on the subject of the proper gun barrel cleaning technique, which is, and has always been, unidirectional; breech-to-muzzle strokes are best. Cleaning barrels from the muzzle with solid rods, square patches and forwardand-back strokes remains popular despite being an inferior method because of ignorance and the mistaken belief that it is faster.

It was surely faster until Otis reinvented the pull-through, the cleaning patch, the slotted tip and the bore brush to maximize their cleaning efficiency. For typical cleaning, the Otis pull-through system ultimately saves time over solidrod systems because it is more effective overall.

At Otis, no aspect of the cleaning process escaped scrutiny to make it better. For example, they discovered caliber-specific brushes worked more efficiently than the traditional one-size-fits-most model, so they made caliber-specific brushes and even marked the caliber on them so you could immediately tell the difference between the .223, .243 and .270. (The older I get, the worse my eyesight gets and the harder it is to tell them apart.)

The lowly square patch, long cut at home from worn-out undershirts by budgetminded shooters, was really costing us more in time than we knew. Otis designed a patching method that allowed them to use one 3-inch-diameter, laser-cut cotton patch for all calibers from .30 to 10-gauge, and a 2-inch-diameter patch for all smaller calibers. What’s more, each patch was good for six passes through the barrel and remained in full contact around the entire inside diameter of the bore

for complete 360-degree cleaning. Traditional square patches and slotted tips always missed the areas of the barrel on either side of the slotted tip.

Even the most recent developments in gun cleaning have been deconstructed and improved by Otis. Their one-pass Ripcord is notably more effective and versatile than the Bore Snake because it has a rubber core that presses the Nomex cloth sleeve into full contact with the barrel’s lands and grooves. Nomex was selected because its fire-resistant characteristic permitted immediate use in hot barrels that would melt the covering on the competitor.

This month, I got to talk to Doreen

Williams about the multi-milliondollar company she started before she could even get into the theater by herself to see an R-rated movie.

American Shooting Journal Did you dream of being a gun-cleaning magnate when you were a kid?

Doreen Williams No. In high school, like most of the kids, I didn’t exactly know what I wanted to be when I grew up. My father (Jerry Williams) owned and operated a successful screw machine shop. It was a family business and I worked there with my mom (Lori Williams) and dad when I wasn’t at school. I guess I wasn’t your typical

high school girl because I thought manufacturing and engineering was very interesting. My dad really encouraged me to learn everything I could absorb. I think he hoped I might join him in the business. In the early 1980s, running those big Swiss screw machines turning out thousands and thousands of pieces a day was a man’s job. The idea of working around oily, noisy machines doesn’t appeal to most women, and it didn’t appeal to me either … but it was interesting. Strange for the times, my dad had a woman engineer who drafted the blueprints for the parts they made. It was good for a school girl of my generation to

The Otis-perfected breech-to-muzzle cleaning method is based on a semi-rigid nylon-sheathed cable and a highly efficient patch design.

What is Otis Technology most proud of? It’s the cleaning kits they make for our military. Here, siblings Larry, Doreen, Denise and Nick accept an award from the Department of Defense for “Outstanding Support” during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Listening to your customers pays off. Otis’s first kits came packed in a watertight metal can, but hunters said it made too much noise, so the company changed to a nylon case and sales doubled.

Otis’s contemporary Tactical Cleaning Kit ($56) is the descendant of the original Whole Kit & Caboodle. It’s their most popular universal gun cleaning kit. Packed in a round nylon case only 4 inches by 2 inches, it comes with their unique 2- and 3-inch cotton patches that create swabs for 360-degree coverage. The kit also includes six bronze bore brushes (.22/.223; .270; .30/.308/.30-06/.30-30; .38/9mm; .45; and 12-gauge), three Memory-Flex cables in 8-, 30- and 34-inch lengths, screw-on small and large obstruction removers and slotted patch holders, T-handle, a fiber optic chamber flag, and a ½-ounce bottle of Shooter’s Choice FP-10 CLP.

see a woman professional working in industry. If she could do it, so could I. I had a good head for engineering and got the idea that it might be fun to become a patent attorney. I’m the oldest of four siblings and my parents raised all of us to pursue our dreams, and not let anyone, including ourselves, be an obstacle to achieving them.

ASJ So why aren’t you a patent attorney?

DW As the world leader in firearms cleaning and maintenance products, Otis Technology actually holds 26 design and utility patents. But as things played out for me and my family, it turned out to be more economical for me to hire the services of patent attorneys than become one myself. In 1984, my sophomore year of high school, a spoiled father-daughter deer hunting trip set the wheels in motion that changed the course of all our lives. Not just mine, but the whole family’s.

ASJ A watershed moment? I am intrigued.

DW Well, it’s actually not all that dramatic, but if I hadn’t been in a family of entrepreneurs and hunters, I probably would be a patent attorney. To set the stage for you, understand that we lived in rural upstate New York. We grew vegetables, raised chickens for eggs and some livestock for meat, and canned the extra up for winter. We didn’t need to do that to survive. We weren’t poor. That’s just what country people did. Rural life cultivates self-sufficiency and enjoying the outdoors and hunting were our main recreational activities. By the time I was old enough to hunt, I was using a gun that was already in the family two generations before me. By the time of that spoiled hunting trip, I was 16 years old and experienced as a hunter. We spent the morning stalking a particularly smart deer, with him eventually leading us

The humble beginnings of Otis Technology was this living room assembly line, a nucleus of entrepreneurship in the home of a family of six.

Proud father Jerry Williams with Doreen at her high school graduation in 1986.

The rarest of creatures is an industrious teenager. Doreen worked after school pulling orders in the living room of the family home, which her mom and dad agreed to adapt to her business endeavor.

Still in high school, Doreen represented her fledgling enterprise at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show. She had to sneak into SHOT because she was only 16 at the time.

into a swamp. We were knee-deep in mud when a root or something caught my boot and I fell, rifle and all, into that cold, wet swamp. I was not happy about being muddier, but worse than that, the muzzle of my rifle got clogged with mud too. Neither Dad or I had a cleaning rod, so I tried to dislodge the mud by shaking the gun. That didn’t work. Then I picked up a stick off the ground thinking I might dig the mud out. Naturally, that broke off in the bore. At that point, depressed, wet, cold and getting colder, with a mud-and-stick-clogged barrel, I trudged the 2 miles back to our hunting cabin. It took a long time to warm that old cabin up with a wood fire, and as I sat there cold and miserable, I thought about possible solutions to my clogged-barrel dilemma. By the time I warmed up, I’d come up with a concept. What I needed was a very compact and portable clearing rod and cleaning kit. By the way, my initial concept was not original. I didn’t know about the kits the military used.

My grandfather was in 10th Mountain Division in World War II and his old army stuff was up in our attic. When I got back home, I looked through it and discovered his G.I.-issue pull-through. The troops called it a thong. It was basically a barrel-length string with a weight on one end and a threaded brass tip on the other so you could screw on a bore brush or slotted patch holding tip. Gravity was used to get the string down the bore. The little thing took up less space than a kid’s crayon, and my grandfather had successfully used the weighted end to clear snow from the muzzle of his M1 rifle during the war. I realized pretty fast that I needed something sturdier that would function to clear an obstruction without fail. All that was on the retail market at the time were clumsy

An early print advertisement for The Whole Kit & Caboodle showing the unique patch configuration and semi-rigid sheathed cable that made it so fast and effective to use.

By 1990, Otis had grown to the point that it needed its own building.

Otis was a family business from the start. Here, Doreen’s mother Lori assembles kits and her 2-year-old brother Nick stamps packages.

rods. Even the three-part sectional ones had foot-long pieces, which I found difficult to manage in the field.

My father later pointed out the pull-through had more merit as a cleaning tool than the rod. When you use a rod, you have an in-and-out stroke through the barrel. Think about that spray of dirty solvent you feel on your hand when you pull the cleaning brush out the muzzle on the out-stroke. On the instroke the brush is doing the same thing, but it’s spraying that contaminated solvent inside the gun, making it more dirty.

The old steel military cleaning rods, sectional or solid, were murder on a rifle’s crown and throat if they weren’t perfectly centered in the barrel in use. Even if used with a homemade guide, they were inclined to flex sideways under compression and scrape the rifling. Also, many were designed for muzzle-to-breech cleaning, which is not ideal.

The best way to clean a barrel is breech to muzzle. You want to take out the fouling and carbon the same way it was put in during shooting. The military knew this, and that the sectional steel rod was not the best tool for preserving the accuracy of the barrel. They issued the steel rods anyway because they made quick work of cleaning out the old-fashioned corrosive priming salts that would rust a barrel if left overnight. The trade-off was some damage to the crown and a loss of accuracy, but they reasoned that was better than a rusty bore.

Now by comparison to the rod, the pull-through was incredibly light and compact, great for protecting the bore from mechanical damage while cleaning, and could be used for breech-to-muzzle cleaning on any gun, regardless of the action type. Even in the 1980s, you could buy military surplus pull-throughs all day long for a buck each, but few civilian

shooters used them. The reason was they were more timeconsuming to use than rods. For each pass of the brush or patch, you had to thread the string down the barrel and that could be like pushing a rope. Face it, most people don’t want to spend any more time cleaning guns than they have to.

The advantages of the pull-through got me thinking about how to overcome its drawbacks. The key to it all was replacing the string with steel cable, sheathed in barrelprotecting nylon. Cable threaded down the barrel fast and easy. It would also never break trying to pull through a tight patch like the old strings or chains did. Steel cable is flexible along its width, allowing it to be wound into a compact loop, just like you would roll up a garden hose. The magic happens when you thread the cable down a narrow tube, like a barrel. The surrounding walls of the tube limit the sideways flex of the cable and essentially make it act like a solid rod. It proved perfectly capable of pushing out a sand, dirt, mud or snow plug. It could even dislodge detached bullet jackets and some stuck cases with repeated taps using our domed obstruction removers, but it was not designed for pushing out bullets stuck in the bore from squib loads, or seriously stuck cases from overpressure loads. If your ammunition is behaving that way, you need to stop your shooting activity to step back and figure out the cause before you continue.

To protect the crown, bore and throat from steel-onsteel abrasion, the cable has a durable, smooth nylon sheath bonded to the outside. This sheath also protects the cable itself from deterioration and that’s important for a tool that will be carried and used in the field.

A place for everything, and everything in its

place. The present-day Otis Elite universal gun cleaning kit ($160) is for all rifles, pistols, shotguns and inline muzzleloaders and features over 60 components, including the full tactical cleaning kit, packed neatly in a 15.25-inch by 8.75-inch by 4.5-inch nylon bag with carry handle. There are 16 caliber-specific bronze bore brushes with the size marked on brush stem (.17; .22 limited breech; .22/.223; .243-.260; .270/7mm; .30-06/.300/.30-30/.308; .338-.35; .357-.38/9mm; .40/10mm; .44/.45; .50; .410-gauge; 28-gauge; 20-gauge; 16-gauge; 12-/10-gauge). Other items include a .223/5.56mm chamber brush, pin punch, end brush, straight pick, locking lug scraper, scraper, short AP brush, double end AP brush, male and female rod for more precise cleaning, a microfiber gun cloth, chamber flag, and two ½-ounce bottles of Shooter’s Choice FP-10 Lubricant Elite CLP. For optics care, there’s lens cleaning spray and tissue, and lens brush and cloth.

Technical drawing of the Otis Tactical Kit adapted to military service. Note the military belt hangers and NSN, or National Stock Number.

The cleaning accessories had to be strong too, so plastic slotted tips were out. My father turned them from solid brass in his shop. Brass is corrosion-resistant, strong enough for the threads not to rip off, but softer than barrel steel to prevent damage.

ASJ I can’t tell you how many times I had the cheapo plastic cleaning jags and slotted tips break off at the thread. I had so many broken ones, I shaved them down on the bottom and rethreaded them. At least that way I get to break them twice at the most inopportune moments.

DW That illustrates what I saw as the common problem with gun-cleaning gear for the civilian sportsman. With a few exceptions, when it came to quality, the manufacturers seemed to be in a race for the bottom. Plastic tips are one of the most exasperating examples. I bet you also broke quite a few of those aluminum sectional rods too.

ASJ I did. I had so many of them, I ended up rethreading them on the broken ends too. I’m kind of a tight wad about stuff like that. I was raised by my grandparents who grew up in the Great Depression and never threw anything away. DW Aluminum rods bend so easily, you might suspect they’re just made to break. We only use brass. It’s stronger than aluminum but still soft enough that it won’t scratch steel. Also, it doesn’t corrode like aluminum. When aluminum turns white, the surface has oxidized. That corrosion is an abrasive. A corroded aluminum rod can end up damaging your crown. So why do so many big-name companies use aluminum and plastic rather than brass? It’s cheaper. They don’t care if you break the tips and rods. There’s a lot of money to be made selling you more. Their plan is to nickel and dime you over the long haul.

ASJ That always rubbed me the wrong way, but I can’t blame them for choosing the business model they expected to maximize profits.

DW That approach never appealed to us. Otis Technology is successful because we realized there were a lot of unserved consumers looking for better quality, durability and, ultimately, value from their gun cleaning tools. Not only did we make the components from the best materials for the job, but we gave the consumer a lifetime free replacement warranty. Of course, when you make something to be the best, you don’t have to do much warranty replacement because it doesn’t break. I should clarify that bronze brushes aren’t covered by that lifetime guarantee because those are a consumable and will eventually wear out with use. That being said, we make those brushes in-house on special German machines with a higher twist rate that allow us to get more bristles per centimeter. Our brushes are brushier, clean better, and last longer than other types. The best material, best product design and the most efficient manufacturing process is our formula to deliver the best value to the customer. Otis Technology makes the Rolex watches of gun cleaning and maintenance gear. Thanks to us demonstrating there was a market for high quality gun care products, we inspired some competitors, but cheap, essentially disposable

Otis moved all operations to a state-of-the-art 43,000-square-foot facility in 2004 and vastly increased their efficiency. “A lot of people are surprised at our pricing when they realize our products are top-quality and entirely made in the USA,” states Doreen. “We’re able to keep prices low because we continuously adapt and refine our operations to remove everything the customer doesn’t want to pay for. The only way to compete with cheap foreign labor is to work smarter and take the waste out of the production line so it runs leaner and faster.”

Doreen and her dad Jerry working the gun show circuit, educating consumers and retailers about the Otis system. Before the internet, the grassroots in-person approach to advertising was expected. It was also exhausting.

Nick with the company’s first CNC machine. Speed and efficiency dictated the adoption of computer numerical controlled manufacturing machinery.

products still dominate.

ASJ When did you know you were onto something big with a top-quality cable pull-through gun cleaning kit?

DW I was 16 and still in high school at the time The Whole Kit & Caboodle pocket-sized multi-caliber cleaning kit was ready to test the waters at SHOT Show. That was then, and still is, the biggest show in the shooting sports industry. It’s attended by manufacturers and retailers alike. My dad thought of it as a research trip. We thought we’d made a great product, but what the buyers think is more important. They’ll tell you what you’ve done right or wrong. Seeking and acting on customer feedback was in our company culture at the very start and it’s one of the reasons we’ve been successful.

ASJ I wasn’t at that Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show. How did it go?

DW My mom and I set up our 10-by-10 booth to display the 50 shrink-wrapped The Whole Kit & Caboodle kits in their waterproof metal cans. It didn’t take long because we didn’t have much. We’d assembled all the kits in the living room of our house before we left. We went back to the hotel and the next morning, when we tried to enter the show, the guard at the door stopped us and asked me, “Where do you think you’re going, little lady?” I said, “To my booth.” Then he asked me how old I was and I honestly answered that I was 16. He told me he couldn’t let me in because the rules were you had to be 18 to attend SHOT Show. My mom and I went back to the hotel, where the hair went higher – it was the ’80s – she did my makeup, and I put on her clothes and high heels. I must have looked at least a little older, because when we went back to the show, I entered unchallenged.

At that first SHOT Show, alone in the booth, I got two 500-unit orders from Faber Brothers and Outdoor Sports, both of them big and well-known distributors. That’s when

we knew we were onto something.

ASJ Is that when the whole family got involved? I notice that you don’t take much credit for yourself.

DW I didn’t make Otis Technology what it is by myself. It was a family business almost immediately. It had to be. When I started the company, my mom and dad had to drive me around

The Defender Series cleaning system ($95) contains everything you need for a quick, one-pass clean to a full breakdown, all in a 10-inch by 4-inch by 2-inch soft case. The dual caliber cleaning system cleans and maintains all .223/5.56mm rifles and 9mm pistols with three different cleaning methods, including the Ripcord for a quick, one-pass clean, solid rods, and everything you need for a breech-to-muzzle clean with their Memory-Flex cables.

The family accepts one of many Certificates of Appreciation from their military customers. On the left side is Nick, Denise and Doreen. On the right is father Jerry holding the citation, next to Larry.

because I was too young to get a license. They supported me from the start and mortgaged their house so I could start the company. Later, my three younger siblings, Denise, Larry and Nick, contributed their talents to Otis and then became official employees when they were old enough to keep me from being charged with violations of child labor laws. The timing worked out pretty well. As sales increased and we grew, there was more work to do and real opportunities to make a living. Nobody was pressured to be part of Otis. They were there because they wanted to be and we shared a vision. That vision was to make the best gun cleaning and maintenance products right here in America, and create a company we could be proud of. A company that not only made great things, but also fostered an environment where our employees did their best because they felt valued by it and vested in it.

ASJ Who did what?

DW In the beginning it was just our household, working out of our house and Dad’s shop. We did everything: product research and development, raw materials sourcing,

manufacturing, packaging, advertising, sales, shipping and all the accounting and administrative work that accompanies those tasks. I recently found a picture of my brother Nick when he was 2 years old helping out by stamping the outbound UPS packages in our living room.

In addition to everything else I did, I formally became the CEO-CFO in 1990 when I incorporated Otis Technology in the state of New York. I held that post until I retired from direct management to be the chairwoman of the company board of directors 30 years later. 1990 was a big year in my life. I’d gotten my diploma after completing a two-year program in business administration at SUNY (State University of New York) and we moved the company out of my parents’ home into an old horse barn with money I got from a Small Business Administration loan. In addition to the family, there were three actual employees. Every year, as we grew, my job got bigger and more difficult, but I also got smarter and better at it. At the start, running the business felt like that arcade game Whac-AMole. One problem would be solved and immediately another popped up. The reality is, that’s business.

Dad made all the metal parts in his screw machine shop and very early on became the main salesman. Without him, I don’t think we would have gotten the US military contracts going into the First Gulf War. Those contracts were huge for us, both in sales and establishing our national and international brand recognition in a positive way. In one of my first interactions with a senior military leader, I realized the messenger was interfering with the message. The tough old battle-hardened officer I was trying to sell on the merits of The Whole Kit & Caboodle really didn’t think there was much a 21-year-old civilian woman could teach him about cleaning a weapon. Oh, and he called it a weapon rather than a firearm like we do in the civilian shooting world. So, in addition to being suspiciously young-looking, I didn’t even know the proper nomenclature. I was not going to close the sale.

Fortunately, my dad was willing to take the lead on developing our military contracts with a maturity and

Otis also was recognized as a Vendor of Excellence by the Defense Logistics Agency in 2005.

Doreen received the Small Business Administration’s Outstanding Woman of the Year award in 2005.

Doreen at her desk. She was CEO-CFO of Otis Technology for over 30 years before retiring to become the chairwoman of the company board of directors.

gravitas that took me decades to grow into. I am still not sure I’m truly pulling it off. With more women rising in the ranks in the armed forces, its civilian leadership, and also serving in combat roles, it’s just as likely that military culture has become more receptive to me.

My sister Denise (Miller) eventually took over managing our national sales reps after Mom and Dad retired. My brothers Larry and Nick worked on the manufacturing side, with Larry being instrumental in creating efficient production lines and our state-of-the-art manufacturing and automated warehousing. He also succeeded me as CEO, running the company during the pandemic. During that time, he improved the company’s vertical integration by acquiring the respected Shooter’s Choice brand, adding their full line of gun cleaning and maintenance chemicals to the Otis product line, and – would you believe it – brass sectional cleaning rods and bore guides too.

Now that we own their proprietary formulas, we can have the chemicals blended to specifications shooters expect from the brand. Shooter’s Choice is much more than just FP-10 CLP and MC-7 bore cleaner. The line included BioDegradable Bore Cleaner, spray Polymer Safe Frame Scrub, spray Quick Scrub, spray Shotgun & Choke Tube Cleaner, spray Foaming Bore Cleaner, Maximum Strength Copper Remover, Lead Remover, Brass Cleaner, Ultrasonic Cleaning Solution, All Weather High Tech Grease, and spray Rust Prevent. If chemicals could improve and expedite your gun cleaning, Shooter’s Choice figured out how to do it.

Otis now employs about 100 people and its offices, production facilities and warehouse are housed in a modern, 43,000-square-foot building in Lyons Falls, New

York. The warehouse is fully automated too. The shipping team calls up a UPC with their scanner gun and the order is pulled robotically. On the production floor, we have three robots to bring raw materials to the assembly lines and CNC machines that make the products, from injection molding and sewing the storage cases, to all the brass turning work my dad used to do on screw machines.

ASJ Are any of you still involved in running the company?  DW In 2007, my mom and dad fully retired and moved to Florida. Over the next 10 years, my brothers and sister all moved out of day-to-day business operations into strategic guidance roles on the board of directors. With a familyowned and -operated business, there’s always the danger of the business outgrowing the talents of the family members. To survive and thrive, we replaced ourselves with more experienced people that could allow our long-term employees to grow bench strength for the organization. When we were wrapped up in the day-to-day work, we often couldn’t see the forest for the trees. As board members, we can focus all our combined talents on strategic planning the way ahead.

ASJ Of all the things you achieved with Otis, what are you most proud of?

DW We’ve got a lot to be proud of, but for me, the role we play in national defense makes me feel I’ve done my part as an American to support my country. Our military men and women are staking their lives on the quality of the cleaning kits we make for them. The sense of moral responsibility we got from this realization heavily influenced the direction we grew the company in. When other companies were rushing

Ripcord ($16) delivers the best one-pass cleaning you can get for your firearm. Run it through from breech to muzzle, with no gravity feed necessary. The rigid, helix-shaped rubber core keeps the cleaning surface pressed against the bore, engaging the rifling for an aggressive clean. The braided Nomex surface can take up to 700-degree heat, so you can clean at the range or in the field while the barrel is still hot. Attach a bore brush to get an even more thorough cleaning. It’s fast, effective and ultra-portable.

Shooter’s Choice Universal Gun Care Pack ($27) has three powerful Shooter’s Choice products to clean and maintain your guns. Bore Cleaner dissolves copper and lead fouling, as well as shotgun wad residue, and removes rust and corrosion. FP-10 Lubricant Elite CLP cuts friction and wear, and withstands breaking down at temperatures up to 500 degrees to keep gun parts moving in the most extreme operating conditions. Rust Prevent Corrosion Inhibitor displaces water and creates an ultra-thin film on the metal that protects against rust, fingerprints, skin acids, pitting and salt air.

Shooter’s Choice .22-caliber Rifle Cleaning Kit ($36) is a traditional sectional rod cleaning kit with quality brass components that won’t damage your firearm while cleaning. Everything you need to clean your .22-.223/5.56 rifles in one compact case.

government contracts with maximum profits, we doubled down on Made in America. We did that because we believed our Armed Forces personnel should only have the best, and they are too important to keep waiting. If a military unit gets orders for immediate deployment overseas and needs cleaning kits, how can we tell them, “Oh, it will take us six to eight weeks to get the components in from our subs”? That felt immensely irresponsible and disrespectful to our military personnel. We expanded our in-house production capabilities to be self-sufficient to the extent that we could rev up the engine whenever needed to meet urgent military orders.

Currently serving troops and veterans have told us how much they appreciate their Otis cleaning kit. Our kits changed the way the military thought about cleaning kits. Before Otis, cleaning kits were just another commodity procured as needed by the government from the lowest bidder. Branding a product is hard enough in the civilian world. Those cleaning kits earned us brand awareness in the military.

ASJ How much hunting did you have to give up to make Otis what it is today?

DW A lot! Probably too much, but there were rewards. I love the friendships I’ve made with the people in the outdoor industry. It is full of genuine salt-of-the-earth types you can sit around the campfire and just enjoy shooting the sh*t with. By the way, I’ve been catching up on my hunting since I retired as CEO. Years ago, my siblings and I started to worry that New York would ban hunting on public land, so we bought a 2,000-acre ranch in Chaumont, on the edge of Lake

and I can hunt whenever I want because I have a New York State game breeders deer management license. The ranch is called the Lucky Star. It has a 100-acre lake stocked with smallmouth bass, crappie and pike, a six-bay pistol range, and sporting clays range. For no other reason than I like to look at them, I raise red stags and Pere David deer there too. The Pere David is a Chinese deer that’s extinct in the wild. They are big like an elk, and their antlers point backwards.

ASJ How eccentric of you.

DW I think they are beautiful. Besides, the visitors enjoy them too. We rent the facilities out for weddings, but more often my daughter Ondraya (Walker) uses the ranch to host equine therapy programs for local soldiers at Fort Drum being treated for PTSD. My daughter studied equine management in college, has a master’s degree in social work and became certified at PATH, where she studied therapeutic horseback riding. In 2020 she started the non-profit HEAL (Horses Encourage Adventure Leadership). Visiting soldiers spend the day enjoying the outdoors, riding horses and fishing while they meet with their mental health providers.

ASJ Have you done any hunting abroad now that you’re retired?  DW Oh, I haven’t retired. I just stopped being the CEO of Otis Technology. I have started other entrepreneurial endeavors.

To answer your question, over the last few years I’ve done some spectacular hunts in Africa. I also did a month-long bear hunt in the Alaskan islands with my dad for his 70th birthday. On the Alaska hunt, we traveled between remote and mostly

Shooting Bundle ($100) includes the essentials for gun, eye and ear protection that every new gun owner needs on the range: safety glasses, 26-decibel Ear Shield Ranger passive earmuffs, 10-pack of targets, gun cleaning mat and a Tactical Cleaning kit.

uninhabited islands by tugboat and saw lots of whales. On the island, the scenery reminded me of the Adirondack Mountains back home. We used a small motorboat to get from the tug to the island and back. The black and brown bear on the islands are not as big or aggressive as grizzly bears, but can become very aggressive when they think their cubs are threatened. The one time we saw a sow and cub, we got out of there fast. On the motorboat ride back to the tug, I got to wondering what was more dangerous, the bears or the huge whales accidentally tipping over our little boat. I don’t mind an adrenaline rush. We both harvested bears on the trip.

In Africa, I have hunted in Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, shooting kudu, sable, impala, gemsbok, Cape buffalo, and even an ancient giraffe that had to be culled from the herd. I went on a hippo hunt, but I personally didn’t shoot one. Hippo is actually one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. They kill more people than any other animal. I got the sense we were in danger when the government official they assigned us got behind a bush to hide. This hippo was being killed to use as bait for a lion-leopard hunt. Rather than risk being bit in half stalking an angry hippo in the water, the safer play is to shoot them in water from dry land. If the shot was lethal, the dead hippo will be floating on the surface the next day. I got to eat some hippo. It was delicious. If McDonald’s found out how good it tastes, they’d have a hippo burger.

The most adrenaline-pumping hunt I ever did was in

Botswana going after Cape buffalo. Imagine stalking an animal known for its bad disposition, that can crush you to death at will, in grass so tall you can’t see over it. I’m only 5-foot-2. Our guide was thoughtful and brought a stool for me to stand on to see over the grass. The hunt took two weeks because each time we got near the herd, they got spooked and moved on. When I finally got to make my shot, the animal dropped in place like a stone. My first and only shot was fired from a custom shop .375 Remington. It broke the huge animal’s spine. The guides were worried the smell of the blood would draw lions in and couldn’t get us out of there fast enough. They cut the buffalo in half to make it more manageable, loaded it on the back of our Land Rover, and hurried back to our camp.

The lions showed up at camp after dark. Hearing them roar close by in the night was the first time I’d felt primal fear. My tent was close to a watering hole and I could hear them lapping up the water to quench their thirst after what I guessed was a pretty long walk. Our wall tents were built on wooden platforms and one of the lions decided to hang out under mine for a while. I could actually hear its breathing and the purr-like noise they make. We were told that we would be safe in our tents because, to lions, a wall is a wall. Lions don’t realize that they can easily tear the cloth to shreds to gain entry to the tasty tourist hunters inside. It was a long but memorable night. The guides do their best to keep you from getting hurt or killed, but hunting dangerous game in Africa is not a Disney ride. To enjoy it, you have to have a higher than normal tolerance for risk.

PARTS+ACCESSORIES

ULTIMAK ultimak.com

Lyle at UltiMAK designed the first practical AK optic mount in the 1990s, and has been adding to the product line ever since. Supported platforms now include a host of AK variants, including AK pistols, plus the M1 Garand rifle, M-14/M1A, Mini-14 and the M1 .30 Carbine.

Starting out in a musical instrument shop, Lyle has applied his unique perspective on mechanics and ergonomics to the field of firearms. Since then, UltiMAK has been making and selling optic mounts and rail systems for over 20 years, and has become the name in mounting systems for the above rifle platforms.

UltiMAK’s latest product is a forward optic mount for the KP-9 pistol made by Kalashnikov USA. For the rest of the product line, check out their website or call 208-8834734. Avail yourself of the UltiMAK system, and let your rifle sing!

CDNN SPORTS

cdnnsports.com

CDNN Sports carries a wide range of firearms, parts and accessories like the Bushnell 4-12X40AO Sharpshooter scope and rings.

The focus and parallax will always be dead-on accurate thanks to the adjustable objective that adjusts from 10 yards out to infinity. Adjustable parallax makes it great for airguns, rimfire and high-power bolt-action rifles.

The Sharpshooter also includes Weaver-style aluminum rings in the box that will work on both Weaver and Picatinny rails to get you mounted up and on the range fast and without the additional cost.

Bushnell riflescopes are constructed of a one-piece tube made of aircraft-grade aluminum, and are watertight and nitrogen-purged so you won’t have to worry about fogged-up glass or failed seals when you’re out at the deer stand.

Bushnell’s turrets are a simple ¼ MOA per click for easy sight-in and the low-profile caps protect your zero from moving on you while out in the field or in storage for the season.

An improved optical design with multi-coated surfaces improves on the already great image quality that makes a Bushnell Banner scope the go-to optic for your next hunt.

Visit CDNN Sports’ website for more details and to see what else they have to offer.

DIVERSIFIED INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS, INC.

diproductsinc.com

As the owner of the company and an avid shooter and hunter, Bob Bland of Diversified Innovative Products, Inc. was tired of the plastic parts continually breaking. He knew that other shooters and hunters had the same frustration as well. So, he sat down with a cup of coffee, a napkin and a pencil and drew out a couple of parts. He then searched locally for different machinists to make his designs. That was just the beginning! DIP Inc. now has 500-plus parts all made of aluminum or steel – no plastic! – and they are continually designing new products. Everything is manufactured locally in the Pacific Northwest, United States of America.

DIP Inc. is currently designing new steel trigger guards for the Steyr .22 LR. They have great products for the S&W .22 Victory Pistol. And one of their newest designs is the Howa Mini Action Trigger Guard/Magazine Well, a great improvement.

Parts+Accessories

LUTH-AR

luth-ar.com

Introducing the MCA-22 Rimfire Chassis, the ultimate platform for casual plinking and precision shooters alike. Designed to fit popular Ruger 10/22 actions, this lightweight and durable chassis boasts a sleek design with a variety of customization options.

The MCA-22 is crafted from high-strength glass-filled nylon and 6061 aluminum, and features an adjustable cheek rest and adjustable length-of-pull to ensure a perfect fit for any shooter. With M-Lok slots on the forend sides and along the bottom, this chassis provides plenty of options for mounting accessories. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just starting out, the Luth-AR MCA-22 Rimfire Chassis is a must-have.

TACTALOAD

tactaload.com

TactaLoad is a new company providing quality aftermarket accessories. The FLASH-5 is a unique shotgun stock incorporating an internal magazine that offers the shooter instant access to five additional rounds of ammunition. The FLASH-5 protects your spare ammunition and feeds them out the bottom of the stock fast!

HILLBILLY GRIPS

hillbillygrips.com

Hillbilly Grips is run by Travis Hall, a fellow gun nut who is also a grip nut. He is a one-man shop that produces some of the best grips currently made and does this all by hand, without the use of CNC machines. The grips are made from natural materials, including: stag, giraffe bone, mammoth ivory, crosscut mammoth ivory, buffalo horn, Turkish and black walnut, and Dall sheep and ram horn. Some of the services Hall provides are: hand checkering in all natural materials, flush frame fitting to your frame, and nitre bluing.

SKINNER SIGHTS

skinnersights.com

We are not afraid of the dark; we just need to see the things that are in the dark. Introducing the Levergun Flashlight Rail from Skinner Sights.

Many people like their light to be removable so it can be mounted when needed, but not have it in the way. It’s only dark half of the day. This is helpful when used as a home-defense measure and also in the tent when Yogi comes to visit.

The Skinner Lever Light Mount looks like it grew in place on your rifle. It is simple to mount, with no gunsmithing and no alterations to your rifle. The mount is ambidextrous, allowing mounting to either side or adding a light and a laser. Slim at the forend, and weighing only 2.5 ounces, the mount is machined from solid barstock and black anodized. Designed for the Streamlight-type lights and mounting systems, but other manufacturers’ lights will also work.

Visit the website to view the models currently available.

Parts+Accessories

BOONE TRADING COMPANY, INC.

boonetrading.com

Finally, imitation elephant ivory (laboratory-created) that really looks and feels like African elephant ivory! Boone Trading Company has been making genuine elephant and mammoth ivory grips for nearly 50 years and they are so excited about this material to replace the no-longer-available African elephant ivory. Many customers have reported that these grips actually look better than their real ivory grips. Boone Trading Company calls it American Ivory, imitation elephant ivory, and each pair has unique grain just like genuine ivory. Available now in full-size 1911 grips.

EVOLUTION GUN WORKS

egwguns.com

The Picatinny rail mount from EGW allows you to mount your red dots – like Trijicon RMR, Trijicon SRO, Holosun 407c, Holosun 507c, Holosun 508t, and any other red dots with the same footprint – to the 1913 Picatinny rail. It does not work with Weaver rails. EGW’s Picatinny rail is precision CNCmachined from aluminum and hardcoat anodized.

GENTRY CUSTOM LLC

gentrycustom.com

A family-owned business, Gentry

Custom’s motto is “Where guns are not a hobby, but a way of life.” They believe in gun ownership and gun safety.

Gentry Custom is known for the Quiet Muzzle Brake, which will make for a user-friendly rifle. The Quiet Muzzle Brake reduces recoil and muzzle jump so you can get that second shot off if needed, without the large increase of noise to the shooter. Many of the factory rifles have been threaded for a muzzle brake. Gentry Custom offers 5/8 x24 threads and many others.

Call them today and they can provide the proper Quiet Muzzle Brake for your rifle. Gentry Custom also offers a three-position safety for the Remington family of rifles and the Mauser 98.

ALUMAGRIPS

alumagrips.com

AlumaGrips’ Desert Eagle grips have undergone a redesign with improvements that are second to none. First AlumaGrips removed almost .125 inch from the thickness of each grip, and then they enlarged the radius on the back edge of the grip to reduce the overall circumference. Finally, they eliminated the need for two screws as well as the plastic insert that traditionally is needed for mounting the grips. Excellence in design and function – that is the goal of AlumaGrips.

Parts+Accessories

HANDLEITGRIPS

handleitgrips.com

Handleitgrips is a veteran-owned and -operated company that manufactures textured rubber, sandpaper, and their Edge Series grips for firearms. Their products are some of the most innovative, versatile and exciting in the industry. Whether you’re a beginner or a competition shooter, their products will aid in safe handling, increase control and add confidence while using your firearm. At Handleitgrips, they offer a wide variety of grip materials and colors to choose from.

KKM PRECISION

kkmprecision.com

Welcome to the world leader in custom national match-grade pistol barrels. At KKM Precision, they use state-of-the-art robotics and advanced multiaxis CNC machines to produce the most accurate pistol barrels available. They have taken pistol barrel manufacturing to a whole new level of precision with purpose-built robotic systems and advanced in-process measuring probes. They specialize in advancing pistol barrels.

NOWLIN ARMS

nowlinarms.com

Proven reputation. Eight world championships and 22 national titles, all won by competitors using Nowlin. Today, you can elevate your own 1911 to this level of performance with Nowlin’s ECM Match Grade barrels. Made from 416 rifle-quality bar stock, with ultrasmooth ECM rifling, 40 RC hardness and an 8 RMS bore finish, Nowlin 1911 barrels deliver maximum accuracy. Nowlin’s unique precut barrel locking lug design ensures precise engagement, while centering the firing pin on the primer. Under 1 inch at 25 yards and

ACCU-SHOT

accu-shot.com

The BT81 Lil’ Brandi is Accu-Shot’s long-awaited answer to getting a 1913 Picatinny rail mounted on a traditional rifle stock without taking the rifle apart, drilling holes or damaging the stock. Installation utilizes the existing sling stud and provided cross pin, set screw and hex wrench. It features three usable slots for attaching any rail-mounted Atlas Bipod and a sling attachment to utilize a sling if desired. Machined to Picatinny rail standards from 7075-T6 aluminum with Mil-Spec Type III Class 2 finish. No disassembly required. Patent pending. After 15 years of no price increases, Accu-Shot is still improving, innovating and adding to their product line. Proudly designed, engineered, machined and assembled in America.

ROAD HUNTER

BIG TOMS IN BIG TIMBER

How to hunt some of the stealthiest of all spring gobblers.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

In the early season, turkeys can be hesitant to venture into large open areas. Throughout the West, turkeys often find refuge in thick timber, as it offers the most cover and protection from predators this time of year. Such was the case for me on a midApril opener one year.

Forty minutes after hearing a distant gobble, the split-tailed tom finally arrived. It came in silently,

slinking through the timber, weaving in and out of tall ferns and briars. Pausing to study my hen decoy at 20 yards, the tom dropped at the shot. It was opening morning, and the longbeard never strutted or gobbled on its way in.

I first located the mature bird –minus a few tail feathers – two weeks prior, when walking a 40-year-old growth of Douglas firs in search of elk sheds. Though I’d been scouting turkeys for nearly two months, it wasn’t until seeing that tom in the timber

that I changed my scouting approach, because it was the first gobbler I’d actually laid eyes on that year.

Turning my efforts toward finding toms inside the timber rather than in open terrain they typically occupy this time of year, I discovered even more wary toms. As a result, I was able to fill two more spring tags on each of the next two days.

When it comes to locating toms in the timber, understanding why they are there is as important as knowing how to hunt them.

Timber toms can be wary; they thoroughly check out their surroundings before making a move into the smallest of openings.

ROAD HUNTER

PATTERNING TIMBER TOMS

As soon as I found turkeys, I set eight trail cameras on the 1-mile-wide and nearly 3-mile-long ridge. I’d taken many turkeys from it over the years, but that spring marked the fewest toms I’d seen leading up to the opener. That all changed when I headed into the timber.

Not only did I reposition all my trail cameras inside the timber, but I also spent hours scouting it. Due to thick cover, however, trail cameras proved more beneficial compared to what I saw, or failed to see, with my eyes.

I’ve relied on trail cameras for years, but this was the most helpful they’ve been in my more than 36 seasons of turkey hunting. Why? Because they caught birds moving in places and at times I’d not anticipated.

What surprised me most was the number of predators I caught on

camera leading up to the season, from multiple cougars to gray fox, numerous coyotes to skunks, even nest-raiding ravens and crows. One video clip captured three mature coyotes chasing turkeys, while another snippet caught four predator species on the same trail in one night.

With so much predator pressure, toms stuck to the timber for safety. Here, not only could they live in the shadows of towering trees, but the underbrush offered ideal cover and the labyrinth of deer and elk trails made for easy travel.

Interestingly, I was seeing many hens feeding in the open meadows as usual, as well as in logged units and in old burned areas. The toms, however, were more content plucking grass in open spaces within the timber and on the inner edges of the tree line.

Once you know toms are there, patterning their movement is the next step. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years of turkey hunting throughout the West, it’s that toms travel much more in the timber compared to toms that stick to their strutting grounds, gobbling and waiting for hens to come to them.

Timber toms not only cover more ground, but they’re also quieter – not gobbling to every sound you throw out – and they’re very leery. One mistake in a setup or calling can cost you, which is why patterning their movement is important so there’s no doubt as to where to start.

Timber toms cover a lot of ground for three reasons. First, they’ll move to avoid predators, be it through the air or on the ground. Second, food sources aren’t as localized inside the timber,

If cover is thick and toms are covering a lot of ground, moving and calling can be the best approach when hunting the timber.

ROAD HUNTER

meaning they have to cover ground to get more nutrients. And third, toms cover a lot of ground checking openings and timbered fringes for hens they can potentially breed.

Additionally, early in the season the grass growing in meadows and natural openings is short, offering no cover and little food compared to later in spring when growth comes to a head. When predator numbers are high, toms often avoid these open habitats until later in the spring.

ON THE HUNT

Another lesson I’ve learned while hunting toms in timber throughout the West is that they routinely hang in same age-class pairs or small flocks early in the spring. Jakes can also be prevalent in small flocks and are often aggressive to the calls. While toms strutting in the open are often solitary, toms living in the timber find safety in numbers, albeit

small, thereby relying on one another for finding food and detecting danger.

In order to find consistent success in the timber, be mobile and patient. Once toms are patterned working a specific ridge or draw, commit to setting up in

an area where multiple game trails intersect or along trails they commonly travel. Setting up along timbered edges with a few nearby openings is also a good decision. Situate the blind where you feel confident toms will travel.

Timber-dwelling toms can be hunted all day, as shade offers concealment and cool temperatures, which encourages movement. If dry, the forest floor also provides prime dust-bathing locales, something toms routinely do to cool off, clean themselves, and delouse their plumage. Setting up along trails connecting dust baths to roosting sites and openings on the forest fringe can pay off.

Since toms can cover a lot of ground inside the timber, decide if you want to stay put and wait for them to come to you, or go on the move in search of birds. If scouting reveals toms moving along specific trails throughout the day, stay put, occasionally calling, letting the decoy do the work. Last season I tagged my first two timber toms early in the morning, but sat in the blind until late afternoon to fill my third and final tag.

If you’re not one to sit long and the timbered habitat you’re hunting allows for it, moving and calling every couple hours can pay off. When committing to one spot, I like hunting from a popup blind, as it offers 360-degree concealment, making it ideal since toms can approach from anywhere in

Set along game trails inside the timber, ground blinds can be very effective for concealing turkey hunters.

Author Scott Haugen’s hen stuffer decoy and a popup ground blind have been his go-to setup when targeting timberdwelling toms early in the season.

ROAD HUNTER

the timber. Because they’re often silent and only stick their heads above ground cover, seeing toms approaching through the timber is rare; often, you may not even know they’re near until a tom is within shooting range.

Once you know toms are in an area, search for hens. Regardless of predator numbers and forest cover, the goal of toms this time of year is to seek hens. Much of your scouting should be dedicated to locating as many hens as possible, for where there are hens, toms won’t be far.

My early-season decoy of choice in the timber is a lone hen stuffer, one a buddy and I mounted. Skin a hen taken in the fall, dry the skin and sew it on a hen turkey form. Add a fake, prepainted head and Bondo in steel legs and you’re set. I’ve found timber toms to be edgy, and if there’s something they don’t like, they won’t approach.

When calling timber toms, keep it simple and minimal. While toms can be vocal in the timber, early in the season they’re often tight-lipped. I called in that split-tailed tom using a box call. My second tom came to a slate call, while tom number three responded to a diaphragm call. I don’t mix up calls in desperation to convince a tom to come in through the timber early in the season, like I do when hunting open-ground turkeys.

Once you get a gobble, be quiet for up to 15 minutes, then call again. If one call is working – say, a slate – stick with it and try to close the deal with that one call so as not to overstimulate these already edgy toms.

While aggressive calling can bring in eager jakes at any time, it can also put wise toms on alert, often to the point where they won’t approach. These aren’t like hunting toms

gobbling at every sound out there from the comfort of their strutting grounds that offer a commanding view. Timber toms are cautious, moving with reason, not hormone-induced reaction.

Hen yelps and purrs are sounds of choice in the timber; think subtle and calm chatter to lure alert toms. Avoid gobbles and aggressive cackles, as they can turn toms the other way.

If your early-season hunting area has a solid number of hens, yet high predator activity, head to the timber in search of toms. In early spring, wherever hens are, toms won’t be far – you just might have to dive into the forest to find them. 

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book, Turkey Hunting the West: Strategies for All Levels, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

Haugen (left) and buddy Austin Crowson worked the timber and called in these two toms at once last spring. Both toms came to subtle yelp calls and a hen stuffer decoy.

Adventure

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB

biggame.org

DSC’s mission is to ensure the conservation of wildlife through public engagement, education and advocacy for well-regulated hunting and sustainable use.

Along with DSC, DSC Foundation funds grants from revenue from the DSC Convention, funds raised from events conducted by the foundation and the DSC chapters, and from direct contributions from individuals and entities that support and passionately believe in the mission of DSC.

DSC will be hosting its Annual Convention and Sporting Expo January 1114, 2024, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. Tickets are available now at biggame.org.

A member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), DSC is a mission-focused conservation organization, funded by hunters from around the world. With a small administrative staff and a volunteer army of 500, DSC hosts its annual convention that raises funds for grants in conservation, education and advocacy. In the past three years, more than $5 million has been channeled to qualified projects, organizations and programs in support of their mission.

To learn more, visit their website or email info@biggame.org.

OUTDOORS FOR OUR HEROES AND GOT YOUR 6 FISHING

outdoorsforourheroes.org

Outdoors For Our Heroes (OFOH) and Got Your 6 Fishing (GY6F) are all-volunteer, donor-funded organizations ensuring men and women have a burden-free outdoor experience that supports healing and improves quality of life. GY6F serves veterans through fishing and OFOH serves heroes through its hunting and outdoor adventures, all at no cost to participants. Please consider donating to this important cause and help these organizations continue to support our country’s most deserving heroes.

HIGH ADVENTURE RANCH

highadventureranch.com

High Adventure Ranch, the oldest big game hunting ranch in Missouri, was founded by Charles Puff in 1983. The ranch has over 30 big game species, with an estimated 2,000 animals. Their guides have over 70 years of experience. The ranch offers lodging, home-cooked meals and full-service meat processing.

COMPASS MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS LTD.

compassmountainoutfitters.com

Experience the thrill of a true wilderness adventure on a Compass Mountain Outfitters nine-day British Columbia moose hunt. If the rush of having North America’s largest land mammal thrashing trees just yards from you is tempting, this trip is for you!

Chase big bulls in BC’s Rocky Mountains while staying in one of Compass Mountain Outfitters’ rustic hunting cabins. With tags secured in advance by the outfitter, and the remoteness of the hunting area, you have a shot at a trophy moose of a lifetime. As an added bonus, it’s easy to drive to base camp and successful clients can take all their meat home if they choose.

ADVENTURE

DETAIL COMPANY ADVENTURES detailcompanyadventures.com

Discover how in 1980 a courageous and visionary entrepreneur founded the first-ever woman-owned global sporting agency, known as Detail Company Adventures. Learn how, back then, Jeri Booth decided to dedicate her life to offering unrivaled sporting locations, and as a result, created what is today a sincerely grateful global market. Understand how Jeri and her team continue to inspect each destination personally to ensure their most stringent requirements are met. By blending these high standards with a clear understanding of each customer’s unique wishes, they have continually delivered remarkable experiences over the past four decades of leading the sporting travel industry.

C2 FAMILY FIREARMS SAFETY TRAINING

c2ffst.com

Safety is more than a little red button – it’s an attitude. An attitude and commitment to the knowledge and skills gained through firearms training. At C2 Family Firearms Safety Training, NRAcertified instructor Christopher Cunio has a passion for training families, new gun owners and range safety officers; all ages and skill levels are encouraged. C2FFST is focused on training that allows individuals or private groups to become confident and knowledgeable. Christopher can meet you at the beginning of your journey or reignite your passion for firearms.

MAKING AN IMPACT

Speer bonded-core, polymer-tipped hunting bullet now available in Remington Premier Long Range line.

STORY BY PHIL MASSARO • PHOTOS BY MASSARO MEDIA GROUP

Among the early providers of component projectiles, names like Joyce Hornady, John Nosler and Vernon Speer come quickly to mind. All struggled to provide quality projectiles in the postWorld War II era, and all became household names among those who loaded their own ammunition. While the cup-and-core bullets of that era perform quite like they do to this

day, these three gentlemen strived to give shooters and hunters the best projectiles available.

In the glut of materials during and after WWII, Speer would use spent .22 Long Rifle cases as jacket material for his centerfire rifle bullets, gaining notoriety by putting his projectiles in the hands of writers like Jack O’Connor. Speer would certainly be proud of the technological advances that have been made by the company that bears his name – he retired in 1978, selling the company to Blount, Inc. – from the

Grand Slam bullet of the 1970s, which had dual cores of differing hardness, to the Gold Dot and Gold Dot 2, the latter being relied upon by law enforcement. And while the Speer TNT varmint bullets, Hot-Cor big game bullets and FMJ match bullets remain wonderfully viable choices, the latest rifle bullet from Speer takes things into the 21st century. The Speer Impact gives a performance level that Vernon Speer could only have dreamed of.

Let’s face this simple fact: our hunting bullets are changing. I will

Remington’s Premier Long Range ammunition line features the Speer Impact bonded-core projectile.

agree that the cup-and-core bullet probably isn’t going to go away in my lifetime, but things are assuredly shifting. Looking at the majority of modern ammunition releases, you can see how strongly the polymer tip/ boattail conformation has taken root. Nosler’s Ballistic Tip; Browning’s Max Point; Winchester’s Ballistic SilverTip;

Sierra’s Tipped GameKing; Federal’s Terminal Ascent and Trophy Bonded Tip; Swift’s Scirocco II; Hornady’s ELD-X, FTX and CX; Barnes’s TTSX and LRX; Remington’s Core-Lokt Tipped; Norma’s BondStrike, TipStrike and EcoStrike – the list goes on and on, but the common point is that the industry has come to rely upon a polymer tip.

The polymer tip serves several purposes, including improving the ballistic coefficient of a bullet, maintaining that BC not only during flight but also under recoil when the cartridge and bullet are sitting in the magazine, and acting as a wedge that initiates expansion upon impact with a game animal. And while it has been proved time and time again that the effects of a boattail on a projectile really don’t show any true advantage inside of 300 yards, it seems that hunters would rather be prepared for a rare occasion than opt for a flat-base bullet. The vast majority of hunters I know have yet to take a shot at a game animal outside of 250 yards, and almost none of us who hunt the woods here in my native New York – or any of the Northeast – get much beyond 100 yards, yet we love the boattail bullets.

THE FOLKS AT Speer have certainly recognized that trend, and now that the company rests under the umbrella of Vista Outdoor – thanks to several sales and mergers – the modernization of

The Speer Impact has a bonded core, polymer tip and boattail, making it a good choice for speedy cartridges like the .300 Winchester Magnum in any hunting situation.

Remington is offering a wide range of cartridges in this new ammunition line, from the 6.5 Creedmoor (left) to the .300 Winchester Magnum (right) and .300 Remington Ultra Magnum.

The Speer Impact shown in profile, section and in expanded form. Note the hollow Slipstream tip, uniform jacket bonded to the lead core, and large diameter of the expanded projectile. (SPEER)

their projectiles makes perfect sense. The Vista Outdoor group includes such heavy hitters as Federal Premium, CCI, Hevi-Shot and, most recently, Remington ammunition. With a conglomeration of companies that have pushed the technological boundaries with some fantastic bullet designs, it’s not a long stretch to see Speer

developing a modern bullet: the Impact. Using the Slipstream polymer tip, which Federal introduced on the Edge TLR bullet and carried over to the Terminal Ascent design, the Speer Impact takes full advantage of the high-tech meplat. The Slipstream uses a compound that will not melt, deform, change or reduce the BC value

Remington is now under the umbrella of Vista Outdoor, and as such is now a sister company to Federal, CCI and Speer; the loading of the Speer Impact is a logical decision.

Long overlooked, the Speer Impact began its life as a component bullet; it is still available in 6.5mm and .308-inchdiameter. (SPEER)

of the bullet. In fact, it has a melting point similar to that of glass, and Federal hollowed out the base of the tip in order to improve the terminal performance of the bullet. According to Federal’s engineers, the hollow base will be exposed shortly after impact, allowing the hollow cavity below the tip to plug with tissue and further

Author Phil Massaro’s 6.5 Creedmoor liked the 140-grain Premier Long Range, putting five 140-grain Impacts into a ¾-MOA group at 100 yards.

enhance expansion. This can make a big difference when impact velocities are low – read: longer shots when the bullet has significantly slowed down –and you need your chosen projectile to reliably expand and destroy vital tissue.

This Slipstream tip is only part of the equation that makes the Impact so attractive.

Getting back to punch, the Impact is fully capable of handling the full range of impact velocities. With the

popularity of bigger, speedier and more efficient cartridges, the modern hunting projectile needs to handle the full gamut of impact velocities. If this bullet were loaded in a 6.5 PRC or .300 Winchester Magnum and used in the woods for deer or black bear, you could certainly expect to test the limits of structural integrity. Conversely, if you had an elk across a deep, wide canyon, where the Impact wasn’t moving very quickly, you wouldn’t want a bullet so tough that it would whistle through like a steel rod with no expansion whatsoever, or worse, stop before there was any penetration.

A hunting projectile has to serve many masters; not only does it have to strike where it was aimed, but it has to provide sufficient terminal performance at a wide range of velocities, from shoot-’em-off-yourshoelaces to in-the-next-zip-code. With a traditional cup-and-core bullet, the longer shots can be handled, as the lower impact velocities aren’t a

Massaro has a wellloved and well-worn Winchester Model 70 Stainless Classic in .300 Winchester Magnum, topped with a Leupold VX-6 2-12x44; as an all-around choice, that rifle is complemented by the 190-grain Remington Premier Long Range ammo.

The author’s Winchester Model 70 in .300 Winchester Magnum stacked the 190-grain Impact bullets nicely, a grouping that would happily suffice for nearly any hunting situation that is suitable for a .30-caliber rifle.

detriment to traditional construction. But up close, and especially when delivered from a magnum cartridge, a cup-and-core can and will experience jacket/core separation and premature expansion. Speer has bonded the jacket and core of the Impact bullet in order to handle the stresses of high impacts, avoiding the premature breakup and guaranteeing penetration. Mix the

bonding process with advantages of the hollow nose and Slipstream tip, and you’ve got a bullet that makes a great all-around choice.

SPEER OFFERS THE Impact in component form in two calibers, including the 6.5mm 140-grain with a G1 BC of .526 and a G7 BC of .262. The .30-caliber choices include a 172-grain Impact with

a G1 BC of .522 and a 190-grain variant with a G1 BC of .596, sold in 50-count boxes. But wait, there’s more.

In a cross-brand effort, the newest acquisition of Vista Outdoor has brought Speer’s component bullet to the masses in the form of loaded ammunition. Remington is now loading the Speer Impact in their Premier Long Range ammunition line, offering the bullet in the following loads: 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC with a 140-grain Impact; .270 Winchester with a 150-grain Impact; 7mm Remington Magnum and 7mm PRC with a 175-grain Impact; .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield with a 172-grain Impact; .300 Winchester Magnum and .300 Remington Ultra Magnum with a 190-grain Impact; and the .300 PRC with a 215-grain Speer Impact. Sold in 20-count boxes, this offers a wider selection of calibers than does the component variation of the Impact bullet.

Where does the Speer Impact sit among the myriad choices of great hunting bullets? Well, it is a sound choice for those who wish to hunt at varying distances for game species ranging from whitetail deer and pronghorn antelope, up through black bear and feral hogs, all the way to caribou, elk and moose. Weight retention is high – often over 85 percent – and expansion is usually twice that of original caliber, so for the hunter who wants one load to do it all, the Speer Impact can fill that role, whether in the form of Remington’s Premier Long Range ammo or a handload of your own design. As a component bullet, they are priced very attractively – less than one dollar per projectile – and even as loaded ammo they compare favorably to many premium designs.

If you haven’t given the Speer Impact a chance, I suggest that you do so. I’ve tested the .300 Winchester Magnum and 6.5 Creedmoor stuff in the Remington line, and both have performed more than satisfactorily. Whether you are a handloader or someone who relies on factory-loaded ammo, the Speer Impact just might be the bullet for you. 

REVOLUTIONARY NEW 2-PIECE NAS3 CASE TECHNOLOGY: 50% LIGHTER THAN BRASS

Coated Aluminum Base

• Less wear on ejector pin

• Can be color coded for ID/branding

High Tensile Nickel-Alloy Cylinder

• More consistent performance

• Higher tensile strength and elasticity

• Corrosion resistant

• Reloadable using S3 Reload dies

UNLOADED CASES AVAILABLE FROM SHELL SHOCK TECHNOLOGIES. 9MM CASES AVAILABLE NOW, OTHER CALIBERS COMING SOON. SEE WEBSITE FOR MANUFACTURERS OF LOADED AMMO

WWW.SHELLSHOCKTECH.COM

AMMO+RELOAD

BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION

black-hills.com

New for 2023 is Black Hills Ammunition’s 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge)

103-grain ELD-X. The 6mm ARC was designed to provide increased performance in the M4/AR-15 platform. The well-known Black Hills MK262

5.56mm ammunition uses a 77-grain match projectile at 2,740 feet per second from a 20-inch barrel. In comparison, the 6mm ARC pushes a 103-grain Hornady ELD-X at 2,600 fps from an 18-inch barrel. Due to the higher ballistic coefficient and weight of the 6mm ARC projectile, it beats the best 5.56mm ammunition in retained energy and reduced wind drift at all ranges. The trajectory is nearly identical to 500 yards, and past that range the 6mm ARC clearly has the advantage.

SHELL SHOCK TECHNOLOGIES

shellshocktech.com

If you loved Shell Shock’s lightweight 9mm and .380 ACP cases, wait until you try their .300 BLK cases, with more calibers coming soon. Lighter than brass, with more powder capacity, greater consistency between rounds, and can be picked up with a magnet. Satisfies global military mandates to reduce ammunition weight and increase performance. All Shell Shock’s cases are proudly made in the USA. Shell Shock ... Shoot it, Love it.

NORTHERN PRECISION

npcustombullets.com

Several interesting bullet designs are available from William Noody, proprietor of Northern Precision, including very lightweight .458 and .416 rifle bullets, and the Sabre Star .416-caliber varmint bullet (215 grains) with six sharp “teeth” at the tip to encourage perfect expansion. There is a .458 Guide Bullet (400 grains), with a bonded core and a flat tip for lever-action rifles, as well as .429 (.44-caliber) Sabre Star and sharp-pointed Spitzer 44 bullets for bolt-actions and single-shot rifles chambered in .44 Magnum (or .44 Special). Economical lead .429 bullets with a fouling-scraping “Base Guard” base are offered for lower-speed target and practice loads, or cowboy action shooting.

Spitzer bullets are offered in .308, .458, .416, .375 and .358 calibers, as well as a new ultralow-drag, high-ballistic-coefficient .308-caliber bullet offered in weights from 160 to 200 grains, with or without bonded cores.

For information and prices, contact William Noody at 315-955-8679 or visit them on the web.

Ammo+RelOAd

REDDING RELOADING EQUIPMENT

redding-reloading.com

Redding Reloading Equipment has introduced a 3-Die Set for the recently announced 360 Buckhammer. A straight-wall cartridge based on the legendary .30-30 Winchester, the 360 Buckhammer will be at home in the deer woods across many regions of the United States. These die sets provide the needed capability to produce highquality loadings for hunting and shooting range requirements. Through its entire range, the Redding Reloading die and die set families exemplify quality and precision and have been designed, produced and tested at their facility in upstate New York.

To learn more about their products, ongoing commitment to the precision handloading enthusiast and to request a copy of the current Redding catalog, visit the website. See us at booth #5002

“Why is the shotgun best for home defense? It comes down to range and firepower,” writes shotgun advocate Larry Case. “The range on most home and personal defense confrontations can be measured in feet, not yards.”

THOUGHTS ON THE DEFENSIVE SHOTGUN AND THE MOSSBERG 940 PRO TACTICAL

STORY BY LARRY CASE • PHOTOS COURTESY OF MOSSBERG

One thing that has always been remarkable to me is how much gun people like to argue about things. You know it’s true. Right after the beloved 1911 pistol versus Glock debate, or what is the best cartridge for whitetail deer, maybe no other topic consumes us more than the pros and cons of using the shotgun for home protection. Now, under full disclosure, I need to start off by saying that I am fully in the camp of using the scattergun to defend home and hearth and will not be moving from this view any time soon.

The past few years have shown us some things in the USA that many thought we would never see. Rioting in the streets, civil unrest and a pandemic that some of us think will never be over. All of this has the citizenry more focused on personal and home protection than ever before. Little wonder that gun sales have surged, with millions of new gun owners. More and more people are buying guns with one thought in mind: protecting home and hearth. No firearm does this better than the modern shotgun. Advocates of the AR rifle platform and some pistol

devotees will cry to high heaven when you talk about choosing the scattergun over their weapon of choice. But that doesn’t change the fact that the shotgun delivers more power and projectiles to rain upon your adversary.

In my time of wearing a badge and toting a gun, I saw lots of people who had been shot, including many with shotguns. Some were murders, some were intruders in homes, and a lot were hunting-related shootings, both people being mistaken for game and accidental discharges. One thing always surprised me: how many fatalities occurred with shotguns, even with a little distance. Even though the pattern of the shot had acquired some spread, part of the shot would find its way to the victim’s vitals, and it was lights-out.

BUT REALLY, WHY is the shotgun best for home defense? It comes down to range and firepower. The range on most home and personal defense confrontations can be measured in feet, not yards. How big is your house? Unless you bought Graceland or a Hollywood mansion, your rooms are probably not overly large. If we move the fight outside, the shotgun is still the weapon of choice, as we will still be at relatively close range.

To protect your family, a weapon that puts out lots of lead fast and works well in tight spaces could be a lifesaver, and here’s one that fills the bill.

If we edge closer to the 50-yard line between you and your assailant, the rifle may become more effective, but as a shotgun guy I will tell you I am just going to switch to slugs. The pistol alternative is not effective at 50-plus yards, as most of us will not be able to hit much at this distance.

Firepower could be defined as how much hot lead we can bring to bear on the target in the shortest amount of time. No firearm yet invented can protect you better from someone who has entered your home uninvited and intends to bring harm to you and yours. Twelve-gauge 2¾-inch 00 buckshot loads generally contain eight or nine .33-caliber pellets per shell. If you fire

three rounds at your aggressor in a home defense situation, you have delivered 24 .33-caliber projectiles in a very short amount of time. Now, we can argue the choices in buckshot and shot size all you like. Think 00 buckshot is too big? Many say that No. 4 buckshot is a better choice, with more pellets per round (anywhere from 21 to 28 pellets per shell) but still big enough to give good penetration. The best shotgun, or any other firearm, for when things go bump in the night is the one you have available. The Remington 870 Wingmaster with the 30-inch barrel your dad kept in the bedroom closet (probably loaded) was his anti-burglar gun. Same for the Model 12 Winchester Grandad had

behind the kitchen door (I guarantee you that one was loaded), or the Mossberg 500, or the Ithaca Model 37 – you get the idea. These were hunting guns, used for everything from ducks to deer, but when they were in the home, these shotguns became home defense weapons. Nothing really wrong with all this, but there is a better way to do the home defense shotgun and it deals mainly with barrel length and magazine capacity.

THE FIRST THING a true fighting shotgun needs is a short barrel. Reducing the “wieldiness” of a long barrel is what we are after. Combat situations can get really goofy, really fast. In the tight quarters of a residence, the 26- to 30-inch barrel on a sporting shotgun can be a big hindrance. Forget all that talk about a longer barrel being needed for ammo performance; we are dealing with very close range, remember? Having said all this, please don’t put your dad’s Wingmaster in a vise and saw off the barrel. There are plenty of tactical-style shotguns out there for you to choose from. If you have a shotgun that you must cut, get someone like Vang Comp Systems (vangcomp.com) to do it. If you see their Model 865 or 587 done on a Remington 870 platform, you are going to want one anyway. The basic premise here is that tight corners, small spaces and low visibility will all be navigated much easier with a short barrel.

The advantage of the extended magazine tube is obvious; more is always better when it comes to ammo. The shotgun has two disadvantages for home defense work: relatively low magazine capacity and how long it takes to load. You may not need a lot of extra ammunition if you are called upon to defend you and your family, but then again, you might. Magazine tube extensions are available for most any shotgun out there, and are pretty easily installed.

There are many aftermarket magazine tubes, different barrels, replacement stocks and other bells and

The top thing the author looks for in a defensive shotgun is a short barrel, like on this Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical. “Reducing the ‘wieldiness’ of a long barrel is what we are after,” he writes.

SCATTERGUN ALLEY

whistles you can add to the shotgun you already own.

OR YOU CAN get a shotgun designed for fighting and home defense right out of the box. One choice is the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical. It features a Holosun HS407K open reflex optical sight, giving shooters the choice of purchasing the standard 940 Pro Tactical (with cover plate for when a mounted optic is not used) or a ready-

for-the-range combo. Mossberg’s optic-ready 940 Pro Tactical eight-shot autoloaders are based on a cleanerrunning and redesigned gas-operating system that can run up to 1,500 rounds between cleaning intervals.

Like all 940 Pro shotguns, the Tactical versions have corrosionresistant internal parts and finishes, including nickel-boron-coated gas piston, magazine tube, hammer and sear. Other features include an

enlarged and beveled loading port; elongated, pinch-free elevator; and bright orange anodized follower configured for ease of loading. The knurled, extended charging handle and oversized, ergonomic bolt release lever provide for easy manipulation. The extended magazine tube allows for a seven-plus-one-round capacity with 2.75-inch shells, and the barrel clamp features a sling swivel stud plus dualsided M-Lok-compatible slots for the

940 PRO TACTICAL OPTIC-READY

This model is the standard eight-shot version with receiver cuts to accept the direct mounting of low-profile micro-dot sights (Shield RMSc footprint) and included cover plate when an optic is not in use. The receiver is also drilled and tapped for the option of adding rail-mounted optics. Standard features include 18.5-inch AccuChoke-compatible barrel; black synthetic stock and forend; and matte metal finish. MSRP: $1,189.

This

up to 50,000 hours of battery life; 6 MOA

12

settings; and

Mossberg’s Pro Tactical shotgun, with its short barrel and eightshell capacity, is designed for home defense “right out of the box.”

940 PRO TACTICAL HOLOSUN MICRO DOT COMBO

eight-shot version comes equipped with Holosun’s HS407K open reflex optic sight. HS407K specifications include

dot;

brightness

Shake Awake feature. This 940 Pro Tactical has an 18.5-inch AccuChoke-compatible barrel; black synthetic stock and forend; matte metal finish; and drilled and tapped receiver. MSRP: $1,333.

Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical Holosun Micro Dot combo.

SCATTERGUN ALLEY

addition of accessories. The 18.5-inch barrel features a matte finish and is topped with a fiber optic front sight. The barrel is

threaded for use with interchangeable AccuChoke choke tubes (cylinder choke tube included). Completing the 940 Pro Tactical is a user-adjustable

length-of-pull synthetic stock (this is important!) with a range of 12.5 to 14.25 inches and adjustability for drop at comb and cast with the use of incremental stock shims.

The synthetic forend has a slim profile, and both stock and forend feature Mossberg’s signature aggressive texturing for a secure grip and black matte finish. A rear sling swivel stud is also installed. 

Editor’s note: Larry Case has been a devoted outdoorsman since he was a child. He will admit to an addiction to turkey hunting (spring and fall), but refuses any treatment. He enjoys the company of gobblers and cur dogs that are loud and people who speak the truth softly. Case served 36 years as a game warden in West Virginia and retired with the rank of district captain. You can check out his podcast and other stories at gunsandcornbred.com.

Close-up of the Pro Tactical’s bolt and bolt release button, Holosun optic and trigger.

Custom Guns

When it comes to full custom guns, whether it be custom revolvers, custom 1911s, or full custom large caliber rifles, the place to look first is Gary Reeder Custom Guns. In business for almost 40 years building some of the finest full custom guns, built to your specs. Reeder Custom Guns is a fully licensed firearm manufacturer and can build that very special gun you have always wanted. To see almost 70 different series of full custom guns, see our web site, or if you have questions feel free to call.

10 to 12 month delivery in most cases.

Gary Reeder Custom Guns • 2601 7th Ave. East • Flagstaff, Arizona 86004

FIREARMS

BRIGADE MANUFACTURING INC.

brigadefirearms.com

Brigade Manufacturing is proud to introduce the Makasi, a new platform that continues on the legacy that is “The Right Arm of the Free World.”

The Makasi marries the functional aesthetic of the FAL with the familiar handling of AR-style controls. It features a short-stroke gas piston and bufferless recoil system, and operates with a non-reciprocating side-charging handle. The para-style stock is also sidefolding, and is supported with a robust two-screw mounting system that allows for firing in both the folded and deployed positions.

The Makasi is chambered in 5.56 NATO and can be configured with either quad-rail or M-Lok handguards.

Specs: Receiver: upper and lower 7075-T6; Caliber: 5.56 NATO; Action: semiauto; Gas system: short-stroke gas piston; Barrel: 16-inch BBL, 4150, 1:7 twist; Stock: bufferless with Picatinny rail for side-folding para-style stock; Handguard: 12-inch quad or M-Lok rail system; Trigger: Brigade drop-in flat shoe, 3.5 pounds; Sights: metal adjustable flip-up ghost sights; Magazine: SI 20-round and 30-round capacity; and

POLYMER80, INC.

polymer80.com

Polymer80’s PFC9, PFS9 and PFSC9 complete pistols are now available with color-matching slides. Five color options are available – black, gray, cobalt, ODG and FDE – with four configurations per model, including optic-cut slides.

Recently, Polymer80 has shouldered a considerable amount of legal expenses fighting egregious assaults on their products and the inalienable rights embedded in the Second Amendment. They have never asked for donations to assist their mounting legal expenses; however, they are encouraging people to support them by buying their products. They will use those funds to fight the outrageous attempts made to shut them down – they call this campaign Operation: War Chest. P80 products are proudly made in the USA.

HI-POINT FIREARMS

hi-pointfirearms.com

New for 2023 is the Hi-Point Firearms JXP10 chambered in 10mm auto.

The JXP10 is a full-size 10mm handgun, featuring a new slide design of the YC9, threaded barrel (.578x28), full-size 1913 Picatinny rail, new textured grip panels and enhanced manual safety. Red dot-compatible with their new rear sight design; swap out the rear sight for a Pic rail base or mounting plate. The JXP10 uses 10-round magazines that are interchangeable with the 1095 carbine. With an MSRP of $225, the JXP10 is the most affordable 10mm handgun on the market today. See us at booth #5663

FIREARMS

introducing the first-ever carbine chambered for the 30 Super Carry defensive cartridge.

This all-new Model 3095 boasts a semiauto action with a 10-round capacity. The carbine features a skeletonized polymer stock and pistol grip, front post sight and a rear peep sight that is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. A Picatinny rail atop the receiver and a rail below the handguard allows shooters to accommodate their preferred optics and accessories.

Offered in black finish with a ½x28 threaded barrel and manual safety, the Model 3095 30 Super Carry has an MSRP of $359.

See us at booth #5663

UNIQUE-ARS

unique-ars.com

Make it your own. At Unique-ARs, they are dedicated to helping you build the most unique AR on the planet. From mild to wild, they can turn your dream rifle into reality. Why have an ordinary quad rail when you can purchase one of their stock forends, add custom colors or have Unique-ARs create custom artwork for your free-float handguard? Their custom handguards can use your favorite logo, tattoo, saying, insignia or wild idea to turn your AR into ARt.

Visit their online gallery for ideas and inspiration. Get started today for only $500 at their website.

Self-Defense TRAINING

TRAINING WITH TACTICIAN CONCEPTS’ ALLEN ELISHEWITZ, PART ONE

It’s all about defining angles of attack for defensive and offensive counters with knives and guns.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL PAWELA

In studying the words of psychologist Jordan Peterson, one of his pearls of wisdom is to observe life’s patterns, which is a rudimentary must for success in everything life has to offer. Former Delta Force Commander Pete Blaber also reinforces this sentiment in his book The Mission, the Men, and Me. Commander Blaber points out that whether it be in combat,

business or life, our mind’s ability to recognize life’s underlying patterns is our most effective weapon.

Ernest Emerson, a master-at-arms and knife-maker extraordinaire, also states that criminals and terrorists follow patterns, even if only general ones. He points out some examples of a mugger, rapist, terrorist or murderer. Often, they plan to tie you up and move you from the initial attack scene. Once this happens, the odds are very high they will try to kill you once they have done what they wanted to accomplish.

Another pattern of criminal behavior is picking the easiest, weakest, most vulnerable and most unaware people they can. They want the people who will give them little to no resistance, and they always use tactics of surprise and ambush to accomplish their goals.

These patterns with regards to selfpreservation have been true since the dawn of time and recorded as far back as the 1600s, when famed Japanese samurai Miyamoto Musashi wrote his classic book, The Book of Five Rings

Other classic books that one should read

With deep backgrounds in martial arts and the Marine Corps, Allen Elishewitz is one of the self-defense circuit’s “best all-around trainers,” says author Paul Pawela.

SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING

when learning and studying warlike behaviors or counters to an enemy attack include The Art of War by Sun Tzu and On War by Carl Von Clausewitz. Modern works on the subject include On Killing and On Combat by David Grossman, Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee, The Seven Essential Skills Needed to Survive a Deadly Attack by Ernest Emerson, The Reluctant Partisan by John Mosby, and FBI Miami Firefight by Edmundo and Elizabeth Mireles.

While the average citizen is determined to go about their business to provide for their families with food, shelter and quality of life, many families don’t have a plan to defend what they love if faced with a criminal confrontation.

As discussed in American Shooting Journal in previous articles, certain elements must be reinforced when learning how to implement selfdefense in the realm of deadly force. The key component when it comes to defensive techniques is that the basic skills are always simple, straightforward and practical, and can be applied equally to both young and old, male and female.

The other important thing is finding an instructor who knows the right curriculum that applies to civilians specifically, and works on the streets and in our courts to be absolutely correct on both counts.

ONE OF THE few instructors I’ve found who

offers top-notch instruction that relates to all walks of life is Allen Elishewitz. He has been on my radar for years, but not for what you may think. Elishewitz has the reputation of being one of the best tactical custom knife-makers in the world. This makes sense because some of the best ever to make swords or short swords (today, our modern short swords are knives) were the Japanese samurai. Since their swords were a way of life for them, the samurai sword was tested by highly specialized professionals. The sword would be fitted into a special mounting and test cuts would be performed on bodies, bundles of straw, armor and metal sheets. Elishewitz continues the tradition of testing – although with more modern

Elishewitz identifies angles of attack for edged weapons during a recent multi-day training course in Florida attended by the author.

Along with his aforementioned accreditations, Elishewitz – here with a bolo blade – is a knife-maker.

Fighting out of a vehicle was also taught during the course.

Elishewitz demonstrates the draw sequence for his latest custom knife (above).

NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR CHRISTOPHER CUNIO

CLASSES OFFERED

GUN SAFETY SEMINAR NRA seminar introduces new gun owners to gun safety fundamentals

RUN YOUR GUN One on one firearms coaching with Christopher RANGE SAFETY OFFICER NRA Range Safety Officer (RSO) Certification

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NEW GUN OWNER The NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting course

PREPARE TO CONCEAL NRA Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Certification

FIREARMS IN THE HOME NRA Personal Protection In the Home Certification

FIREARMS OUTSIDE THE HOME NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home Certification

LONG GUN NRA Basic Rifle for basic and skill based learning with a long gun

BASIC SHOTGUN Basic shotgun for basic and skill-based learning with a shotgun

technologies – which makes his knives highly desired amongst the elite counterterrorists in the world.

So it should be no surprise that Elishewitz would also be a tactical instructor, under the company banner Tactician Concepts (tacticianconcepts.com).

Elishewitz has a fascinating background. His family had traveled to different parts of the world for business, so as a child he grew up living in Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand. His travels led him to personally train in some of the most brutal martial arts in the world. He not only studied but mastered Okinawan te, Thai boxing, northern Shaolin kung fu and kali, among others. Many readers may not know what these styles are,

but as previously stated, they all have commonalities and patterns. Footwork and body positions of angles of attack for both offensive and defensive purposes are essential, whether unarmed or armed with knife or gun.

In addition to his martial arts background, for over 35 years Elishewitz has trained with some of the world’s finest self-defense trainers. He has trained in precision long-range shooting, carbine and pistol with Travis Haley, Pat McNamara, Kyle Lamb, John Farnam, Gabe White, Sonny Puzikas and many others. I can personally vouch for these trainers, as I have also trained with them.

However, one of the most impressive components of Elishewitz’s long and impressive resume is his solid foundation as an elite alumnus of the

United States Marine Corps (remember, patterns of life’s success). While in the Marine Corps, he was well trained as a forward observer artillery call for fire scout and also as a recon team leader. Much of Elishewitz’s training history can be located on the internet. Indeed, his long, distinguished military pedigree has cemented him as being one of the training circuit’s best allaround trainers.

While many great tier-one operator warriors are phenomenal in their skill sets, that does not necessarily translate to them being good instructors. The keys to being a good trainer are having confidence, being clear and audible, being a good listener, having a good reputation, having a sound awareness of how words and body language communicate, being a good observer, and being flexible, reliable and passionate. However, the most essential component of a solid instructor must be their rapport and empathy for their students.

I WAS SURE to be there after learning that the Volusia Gun & Hunt Club in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, would host Elishewitz for four days. Elishewitz taught three different subject courses: a two-day knife/counter knife course,

Knives can be lethal in a counterattack in a deadly force confrontation.

Close-quarter counters defending against a knife with a gun.

an intensive skill handgun course, and a course on fighting/shooting in and out of the vehicle.

In observing all three blocks of instruction, the course content was very impressive, but what impressed me most was how Elishewitz was able to handle the different age groups in his class, as the students ranged from middle age to their formative years.

The majority of instructors have students in the prime of their life, which is a relatively easy crowd to train. However, in Florida, there is a large population of retired people who need self-preservation training just as much as, and maybe even more than, their younger counterparts, as they are targeted by criminals more often.

As previously stated, Elishewitz started with two days of knife/counter knife training. Why? First, let me state that in deadly force scenarios, there are only two options: run or fight. If a fight requires deadly force, then there are only two options: fight with an

edged weapon or a firearm, period! Too many people talk about hand-to-hand fighting in “street fights,” which, from a moralistic and legal standpoint, is totally ludicrous as well as unrealistic.

Gun people always tend to say, “Well, if they come at me with a knife, then I will just shoot them.” This is a stupid statement to make for a closecontact distance, as the bad guy’s weapon is already en route before you can get to your weapon, whatever that is. Elishewitz starts off his class with that in mind by defining angles of attack for both defensive and offensive counters with an edged weapon. The handgun course follows the same type of philosophy.

ELISHEWITZ IS THE closest modern-day instructor to famed Five Rings author Musashi. However, he equally embodies martial artist Morihei Ueshiba for his philosophy in the art of peace.

Ueshiba states, “In the Art of Peace, a single cut of the sword summons up

the wondrous powers of the universe. That one sword links past, present, and future; it absorbs the universe. Time and Space disappear. All of creation, from the distant past to the present moment, lives by the sword [author’s note: or gun]. All human existence flourishes right here in the sword you hold in your own hands. You are now prepared for anything that may arise.”

Allen Elishewitz lives by these words wholeheartedly.

To attempt to describe the greatness of Elishewitz and his teaching methodology in one article is, simply put, futile. In part two, we will go indepth into his self-defense strategy to establish why he is one of this country’s top trainers.

And that’s my two cents! 

Editor’s note: Author Paul Pawela is a nationally recognized firearms and self-defense expert. For his realistic self-defense training, see assaultcountertactics.com.

More close-quarter counters defending against a knife with a gun.

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Concealed Carry

BULLARD LEATHER

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Located in Throckmorton, Texas, Bullard Leather offers holsters, belts, magazine holders, wallets and knife sheaths. All of their holsters and belts are made from Hermann Oak leather, and all holsters are custom-fitted to the specific gun. For more info, email bullardleather@gmail.com or visit their online store.

MERNICKLE HOLSTERS

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If your cowboy gun is what you shoot the most, why not make it your daily carry? Mernickle Holsters’ PS06SA is made of the highest grade Hermann Oak leather. This holster can be carried in the strong-side position or a crossdraw. Holsters are hand-molded to your model of gun to ensure a perfect fit every time.

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ALFORD DESIGNS LIMITED, LLC

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leather stiffener assures easy reholstering. Adjustable tension screw ensures proper gun retention. Available for a variety of revolvers and semiautomatic pistols in tan color with plain finish. Fits waist belts up to 1¾ inches wide.

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Alford Designs’ beautiful, handcrafted, leather-embossed and leather-lined concealed carry purses feature a special V-shaped pocket inside for your small pistol, plus a cut-resistant strap. All products are made in Virginia, and they offer patent-pending cutresistant leather straps that can be purchased separately. Offering fine handcrafted leather products since 2015.

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TAP RACK HOLSTERS taprackholsters.com

Tap Rack Holsters performs custom work and all of their products are handmade to order. If you are in the market for a light-bearing holster, magazine pouch, concealment holster or just have a question to ask, email info@taprackholsters.com or call 559-478-5475.

SWAPRIG HOLSTERS LLC

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The Outdoorsman is both an outdoor shoulder holster and a chest rig holster and is fully adjustable for both modes of carry. The Outdoorsman is highly adjustable to get just the right fit, even over heavy winter clothing. The Outdoorsman utilizes the same SwapSkin system as all SwapRig Hybrid holsters so you can carry hundreds of firearms and attachments on the single holster chassis. SwapRig Holsters LLC also has three other shoulder holster models available along with their IWB, OWB and combination IWB and OWB hybrid holsters. All SwapRig products carry a lifetime warranty.

SMARTCARRY smartcarry.com

All SmartCarry holsters are sweat-proof and built for comfort. They come with a waterproof backing, durable fabric in multiple colors and a new and improved strong elastic and Velcro waistband. SmartCarry hand-makes and customizes each holster to fit your gun and your body.

The Gun+Mag+Valuables holster accommodates one gun, a spare magazine, speed strip or knife, as well as an additional pocket for items such as cash, ID, concealed carry permit or even your cell phone. What SmartCarry calls the “valuables Pocket” is a flat pocket that covers the entire back of the holster and consists of two layers of polyurethanelined Rip-stop that will keep your valuables and gun dry and sweat-free without adding bulk to the holster. It’s especially great for taking a walk or run and keeping your hands free and pockets empty.

L.E. SPOTLIGHT

READY FOR EVERYTHING

A Delaware police officer acted as a stand-in fireman to rescue six people from a burning house before assisting EMTs with a cardiac arrest victim – all in the same night!

STORY BY NICK PERNA

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEWEY BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT FACEBOOK PAGE

There is a friendly rivalry between police and fire departments. The back and forth banter between “blue suiters” (cops) and “nozzle jockeys” (fire) is endless. At the end of the day, though, we are all brothers and sisters in uniform who always look out for one another. We all work under the banner of emergency services, red and blue.

In this crazy, mixed-up world we live in these days, the line between a cop’s job and a firefighter’s is often blurred. Firefighters often find themselves in the middle of family disputes when responding to what was originally just a medical call. It isn’t unheard of these days for those who hate the police to turn violent towards firefighters.

Just as often, cops find themselves in instances where they have to fill the role of firefighters, at least until the real ones arrive. It’s not uncommon for cops to be first on scene, since they are already on the street and not deploying from a fire station. It’s also a lot easier to maneuver a Crown Victoria through busy traffic than it is a big old fire truck.

OFFICER JACK KANE of the Dewey Beach Police Department in Delaware became an honorary firefighter while working an evening patrol shift. In the early morning hours of April 20, 2022,

he spotted a multi-story residence completely engulfed in flames. Due to the late hour, no one had called 911 (yet), so it was up to Officer Kane to handle the situation.

Officer Kane noticed that there were a few parked cars outside, so he assumed the residence was occupied.

Despite the fact that the building was completely engulfed by fire, Officer Kane made the risky decision to enter the house to try to locate those inside. Ultimately, he safely evacuated six people who would have otherwise perished in the fire.

But it doesn’t end there. On his

Officer Jack Kane leapt into action not once, but twice on the evening of April 20, 2022, earning recognition from his state’s governor for more than meeting “the challenges in front of him.”

way home from a busy night of firefighting, Officer Kane heard a call of a person in cardiac arrest. Since he was only a block away from the call for service, he stopped to help EMS personnel render aid.

In response to Officer Kane’s heroics, Delaware Governor John Carney said, “Individuals who sign up to be in emergency response have to be ready at a moment’s notice for anything to come their way. Officer Kane stepped up – and exceeded – the challenges in front of him during the recent Dewey fire, saving multiple lives – including the family dog. We’re grateful for Officer Kane’s commitment to keeping our community safe and his unwavering leadership during this recent fire.”

Whether he’s fighting crime or fighting fires, it’s clear that this 22-year-old officer will have an exciting career ahead of him.

Editor’s note: Author Nick Perna is a sergeant with the Redwood City Police Department in northern California. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also has a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online forums on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics and veterans issues.

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DAVIS TENT

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Davis Tents are made right here in the USA, and each canvas tent is crafted to withstand years – even decades – in the field. Their passion is to provide a home away from home that helps carry on the tradition of your hunting and outdoor adventure lifestyle.

At Davis Tent, they believe in supporting wildlife and conservation throughout the United States by giving back. Each year they support hunting and wildlife organizations at the grassroots chapter level and commit a minimum of 2 percent of their time and revenue for conservation.

When you’re ready to look into a canvas wall tent, give Davis Tent a call.

Gear

EXQUISITEKNIVES.COM

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Exquisiteknives.com is owned by retired ABS mastersmith Dave Ellis. Dave has been a maker, collector and dealer of world-class custom knives for over 30 years. Celebrity clients come to Dave for those hard-to-find pieces, and both seasoned collectors and newbies rely on him to build their valuable collections. The knife pictured is by Larry Fuegen. Larry forged the Damascus steel and did all of the carving. This is just one example of the quality pieces that Dave at Exquisiteknives.com collects and sells to his many clients.

V-LINE INDUSTRIES

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Introducing the new SRT Vault, designed to be used by law enforcement agencies, security and tactical personnel, hunters and home defense. Safely stores firearms in areas where it is readily available in an emergency situation.

Made from heavy-duty 14-gauge steel with a low-gloss powder-coated finish. Measures 43½ inches by 14 inches and weighs 50 pounds. Damper for soft closure when mounted horizontally, welded and ground corners on the door, predrilled holes in the back so it can be mounted, and a S&G Spartan lock that can be rotated 360 degrees to accommodate left- or right-side door opening, as well as horizontal use.

Features: S&G Spartan lock, the same lock used on large safes; multipoint locking mechanism; 2 square feet of standard MOLLE panel to organize firearms or accessories; preinstalled ¾-inch foam pad to protect contents; and adjustable quick-release nylon security straps.

Made in the USA. To order, call 805-520-4987 or visit V-Line’s website.

VAULT PRO USA

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Vault Pro USA is the No. 1 manufacturer of custom vault doors, made in the USA with American-made steel. Engineered and built to exceed all FEMA 320 and 361 and ICC-500 recommended standards for use in storm and tornado shelters.

Vault Pro is your best choice for residential vault doors, commercial vault doors, ADA-compliant vault doors and day gates. They are custom vault door specialists – CAD design, manufacture, custom art, and all configurations and sizes are available. Vault Pro also manufactures the finest safes, walk-in vaults and shelters.

Find them on the web or call 800-299-6929.

PEET SHOE DRYER

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The Advantage Peet has now been updated to the Advantage Plus Peet. This fan-assisted dryer is now assembled in the USA! The Advantage Plus Peet Dryer is a fan favorite and powers air through the air chambers and DryPorts with a fan, giving the user the ability to circulate room temperature air or slightly warmed air. It dries faster than the company’s traditional natural convection models, yet still extends the life of your footwear by eliminating the moisture that can deteriorate materials. It will dry two pairs of shoes or boots at once, but with the use of Peet DryPorts (sold separately), the consumer can dry tall boots, waders, gloves, helmets and more. It quietly dries your footwear in just one to four hours.

RICK YOUNG OUTDOORS

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RYO has the reputation for great gear made in the USA, and the newly designed shooting stix are all of that! Starting with robust 7075 heavy-wall aluminum tubing and super-tight USA stretch cord to suck them together is the basis of quality. The patented head design eliminates arm fatigue when glassing and swings away to open up the shooting lane for rifle, shotgun or pistol. For more details, visit the RYO website. See us at booth #7073

RANGESTORE.NET

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Never run out of paint again! Sign up for Steel Target Paint Auto Re-Order Program to get free ground shipping. Perfect for match directors, club owners and shooters who frequently purchase paint. Select the color of paint, the quantity of cases, and the frequency of when you want it delivered. There are no fees and you may cancel at any time. Formulated for steel targets, Steel Target Paint was made for shooters, by shooters. It has high paint resin content in a 16-ounce aerosol can and covers quickly. Spend less time painting and more time shooting.

Clean design elements define Kershaw’s new Iridium, featuring their new DuraLock technology. Its gray anodized aluminum handle scales create an appealing profile. Activate the thumb stud and experience glassy-smooth deployment with KVT ball bearings. The D2 spear point blade is ideal for everyday cutting tasks and its two-tone blade finish is nothing less than stunning. A bronze anodized backspacer and lanyard hole give the design an extra pop. When your work is done, slide the lock back to safely close the Iridium and carry it with a reversible deep-carry pocket clip. Go to the next level with the Iridium, the ultimate modern folder.

CAMOUFLAGE FACE PAINT

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Bobbie Weiner has been in business making Camo Face Paint for all branches of the US military for 26 years. Bobbie is also the No. 1 supplier for the US Dept. of Defense.

All Camo Face Paint is made in the USA. Bobbie’s company makes three-, four- and fivecolor compacts (mirror included), as well as tubes and pressed powders in all of the military colors. Everything is made to military specs and she is always fully stocked and ready to ship. Bobbie will make custom colors and private label is available. All face paint is odorless, hypoallergenic, washes off with soap and water, nontoxic and has a fiveyear shelf life.

For more info on products, visit the website, email Bobbie at bw@bobbieweiner.com, or call 305-893-5650.

PMA TOOL pmatool.com

The two owners of PMA Tool have been building and designing tools and equipment for the precision rifle shooting sports since the mid-1990s. In 2010, PMA Tool LLC was formed and rose from the ashes of Sinclair International with the goal of continuing to provide tools and equipment for anyone searching for the utmost accuracy out of their rifles. Used and recommended by top competitive rifle shooters in several disciplines, PMA Tool makes the best barrel cleaning rod guides and cleaning cradles money can buy. Along with neck turning, priming tools, brass prep and barrel changing equipment, PMA Tool has something for every accuracy-minded rifle shooting enthusiast. Check out their website or email support@pmatool.com the next time you need precision rifle shooting equipment.

PRESENT ARMS, INC.

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The AR Hook is another “third hand” from Present Arms. It is an AR cleaning rod guide and upper receiver strut. Simply hook the upper receiver and pin to the lower with the takedown pin. Use it with Present Arms’ patented Sentinel Plate and AR magazine post, sold separately, for the perfect user-friendly AR cleaning station.

SKYLINE TOOLWORKS LLC

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Haul firewood, tools and everyday essentials with this all-in-one utility tote. Premium buffalo leather is hand-stitched by Amish leatherworkers and fastened with copper rivets, then finished with a rigid, supportive bottom for the ultimate strength and durability. Made by the historic Woodman’s Pal company, with the reputation for quality. American-made products since 1941.

WESTERN RANGE CAMPS

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Are you looking for a high-quality, rugged and durable RV? At Western Range Camps, they specialize in the design, manufacture and sale of a different type of RV called a Range Camp. Give Western Range Camps a call and let them design something just for you. Handcrafted, customizable and built to last!

THE BUFFALO WOOL CO.

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This is the big boy – these are Buffalo Wool’s heaviest, most insulating, most wicking socks, and most likely the warmest sock on the planet (excepting electric).

Ultrasoft bison fiber blended with fine merino wool means there is no prickly itch from these socks. They will keep your feet warm and dry all winter long.

COLLAR CLINIC collarclinic.com

Available from Collar Clinic is the Garmin Alpha 200i Handheld and the TT15X collar.

The Alpha 200i dog tracking and training system lets you monitor up to 20 dogs from up to 9 miles (depending on dog device) on a 3.5-inch display with a 2.5-second update rate. Easily control training functions by using the button-operated, dog-focused design. You’ll also have access to premium Garmin navigation features, such as preloaded TopoActive maps, BirdsEye Satellite Imagery with direct-to-device downloads, and built-in three-axis compass and barometric altimeter. Now, inReach technology adds two-way messaging and interactive SOS alerts for peace of mind while you’re in the field. A version (Alpha 200) without inReach is also available. Will operate with any TT15, TT15X, TT15 Mini, T5 or T5 Mini collar!

The TT15X dog tracking and training collar has a top-mounted, highsensitivity GPS and GLONASS receiver, so you can track your dog from up to 9 miles away. Rugged and water-resistant to 10 meters (1 ATM), it’s tough enough to run wherever your dog runs. Plus, with up to 80 hours of battery life and sleep mode to remotely put the device to sleep, you can focus on the hunt instead of the next charge. TT15X features 18 levels of continuous and momentary stimulation plus audible tone and vibration when used with your compatible tracking and training handheld. LED beacon lights, activated from your compatible handheld, help keep track of your dog in the field. Visible up to 100 yards away, the lights work in low-light conditions and at night.

MICHLITCH COMPANY

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Do you like hot sauce but don’t like a saucy mess? Try this dry hot sauce rub, newly developed by Michlitch – the Spokane Spice Co. This dry rub is not too hot for covering a steak before cooking. It’s so good that you can sprinkle it on pizza, mac and cheese, popcorn, eggs, fries and grilled vegetables, or even on a tossed green salad for kicking things up a notch.

The Brisket and Roast rub is excellent for grilling, pan-frying or roasting. Rub the spice blend on both sides of a brisket, ribs, roast or steak before cooking. The Smokie BBQ is wonderful on ground beef, potatoes or grilled vegetables. The uses of these blends are limited only by your imagination! Michlitch Company has a great selection of sausage and jerky seasonings, as well as knives and supplies.

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BLACK POWDER

ENJOYING EARLY .45-70 LOADS

What happens when you mix a Lyman mold, 385-grain alloy bullet, 55 grains of Swiss powder and a lightweight 28-inch-barreled rifle? Some 'Sharps' shooting, you might say.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT

Some recent developments, plus shooting with close friends, have brought the good old .45-70 back into focus for some interesting shooting. Among my personal rifles is the rather lightweight, thin-barreled Model 1874 Sharps, by C. Sharps Arms. With its 28-inch barrel, that .45-70 was made for hunting, let’s say for deer and antelope, and not for buffalo. It weighs just 9 pounds, so it is a natural for some of the old lighter loads that were used in the .4570 cases.

To prepare for making these loads, a good casting session was taken with Lyman’s No. 457124 mold, making a plateful of bullets with a medium alloy. We could easily say how that bullet was the first bullet for the .45-70, and the bullet itself has quite a history.

Lyman refers to the bullets from their No. 457124 mold (in their Handbook of Cast Bullets from 1958, the one with an engraved converted Sharps carbine on the cover) as “the regular standard .45-70 Government bullet.” These days, it is still a standard bullet and it is useful for any .45-70 rifle, be it a single-shot or a repeating rifle. It can be used with the old carbine loads using 55 grains of powder or with full rifle loads burning 70 grains of powder. This old standard is still an allaround bullet for the .45-70 and it can be used in most other .45-caliber rifle cartridges as well.

The original weight of the No. 457124 was listed at 405 grains. I don’t think any design change has been incorporated over the years, but now this bullet is most often listed at 385 grains. Some of that weight difference might be simply from the alloy it is made or cast with. In Handbook of Cast Bullets, there are some interesting notes about this bullet and their examples include bullet weights only from 400 to 408 grains. The lightest I’ve seen mentioned for No. 457124 is 366 grains and that is from the Lyman Centennial Journal from 1978. That was with Lyman’s No. 2 alloy (10 parts

lead, 1 part tin and 1 part antimony). I’ll play a little with alloys, maybe even make up some of these bullets with pure lead, and check the weight again.

THE .45-70-405 WAS developed at Frankford Arsenal in 1872. The bullet weight was changed from 400 grains to 405 grains during the shooting trials when it was found that adding a fifth bearing band and a fourth lube groove to the bullet improved accuracy. That information also came from the Lyman Centennial Journal The only difference that I can see when comparing a new mold for the

Two loaded .45-70 cartridges along with a bullet produced from Lyman’s No. 457124 mold.

BLACK POWDER BLACK POWDER

No. 457124 to the old sketches of this bullet’s design is the rounded-bottom lube grooves, while the early design had flat- or square-bottom grooves. After the trials, the .45-70 was adopted by the US Army in 1873.

One slight difference between the square-bottom lube grooves and the round-bottom lube grooves is that the early square-bottom grooves do hold more lube, but just slightly so. With this in mind, I like to check my loads, and my gun’s barrel, to be sure that the lube in the load is adequate, just to keep the shooting going well.

While the first loads for the .4570 used 70 grains of powder under the 405-grain bullets, it was quickly determined that a lighter load would be more suitable in the carbines commonly carried by cavalry units.

That was really nothing new about carbine loads because some lighterloaded rounds for the .50-70 had also been tried. That’s when the .45-55-405 carbine load was developed and that’s a load that is so easy to copy.

The advantages of using the carbine load can be rather easy to see, or to feel, if you are doing quite a bit of shooting with a carbine or a lightweight rifle. The carbine load still kicks but nothing like the rifle loads that always used a 70-grain powder charge, referring to the military loads of the .45-70. Where the carbine load falls short is in long-range shooting, but for other uses, or as a generalpurpose black powder load, the .45-55405 load is hard to beat.

While we’re discussing some history, the 500-grain loads for the military were

not introduced until 1881. One potential purpose for that heavy bullet, at least for the military, was for firing on mass columns of troops at 2,000 yards away. That load was identified as the .45-70500 and the copy of that bullet can be cast with Lyman’s No. 457125, still good for long-range shots.

BUT THE SHOOTING I’ve done lately is anything but from long range. An opportunity might be coming where a partner and I will be using quite a few rounds of the carbine loads, so I wanted to get a slight head start and try some of them. I used my aforementioned lightweight Sharps Model 1874. This is my “short-range Sharps,” with the short-range deluxe sight mounted on the tang of the action. I call this rifle “lightweight” although it has a

Author Mike Nesbitt’s lightweight .45-70 Sharps from C. Sharps Arms. Weighing 9 pounds, it features a 28-inch barrel and is made for stalking smaller big game.

On the left, notice the ruptured primer, seen as black in the middle.

The “lube star” at the muzzle of the author’s rifle shows ample lube on the bullets.

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BLACK POWDER

standard-weight barrel. The standardweight barrels are on the thin side and, again, this rifle weighs just 9 pounds, which is on the light side for a Sharps. In other words, it’s a rifle made for stalking, not too heavy to carry, and it uses the carbine loads like they were made for it. They were, and this rifle is a pleasure to carry as well as a pleasure to shoot with the carbine loads.

My carbine loads for this latest bunch of shooting used bullets cast from Lyman’s No. 457124 using an alloy that did drop the bullets at 385 grains. Softer bullets should be heavier. Those bullets were loaded in Starline cases over 55 grains of Swiss 1½ Fg powder, with a .060-inch veggie wad over the powder, and seated so no air space was between the powder and the base of the bullet. These loads were primed with Federal’s standard large pistol primers.

Using large pistol primers with black powder loads is fine, ignitionwise. A problem can be encountered, however, if the rifle those loads are used in has a habit of piercing the primers with the firing pin. Pierced primers will let hot gases flow around the firing pin and into the breech. That’s the reason the 1874 Sharps has the gas seal or gas block in the rear of the falling block, so those gases don’t reach the shooter’s eyes.

The first shot I fired with this loading pierced the primer. That caught my attention quite quickly, but for the remainder of my shooting, it didn’t happen again.

As I said, I wasn’t shooting at long range; my target was posted at just 50 yards. I wasn’t sure about my rifle’s sight settings, so I fired at another target first. After a couple of shots,

I had the elevation for the rear sight adjusted to where it needed to be. Then I fired at a second target while shooting from the bench.

My intention was to fire a fiveshot group, but after firing only three shots, my partner Mike Moran recommended that I quit. Those three shots each clipped the X-ring on the target and Mike suggested that any following shots couldn’t add to that. They would, most probably, result in a group that was not as impressive. My partner’s suggestion was a good one, and I quit shooting.

For me, it’s back to the loading bench to make more of these early carbine loads for my .45-70 Sharps. I’ll be trying that load in the same rifle at some longer distances and it’s more than likely that I’ll report on that shooting too. 

Here’s Nesbitt’s intial three-shot group, good enough to call it quits before firing his last two loads, lest they mar such sharp shooting.