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American Shooting Journal // September 2018

Tom Rahill, the original “Swamp Ape,” holds a python nicknamed Syrene.

Rahill is a licensed python contractor who, along with veterans, helps government agencies track down the giant snakes that have established a breeding population in the Florida Everglades. (SGM TOM AYCOCK)

THE SWAMP APE

An outdoorsman’s nonprofit not only helps remove invasive reptiles from the Everglades but helps our veterans recover from wartime trauma.

STORY BY FRANK JARDIM

I

t’s April in the Florida Everglades, the end of dry season when Burmese pythons breed. This invasive species is now the region’s apex predator and these great snakes have scoured the native populations of birds and small mammals. The larger snakes have even killed and eaten deer and alligators. By late afternoon as the hot sun is growing dimmer, Swamp Apes Tom Rahill, U.S. Navy veteran

Joe “JoMo” Medina, and Sergeant Major Tom Aycock are tired. They’ve been searching for the big snakes since dawn, covering 30 miles of terrain by truck and on foot, checking the sides of the levees and walking the water’s edge, if forcing a way through the high grass and underbrush taller than a man can be called “walking.” The high humidity, mid-80s temperatures, and merciless mosquitoes are just part of a day in the Everglades and they are prepared for it. If any Swamp Ape

doesn’t take precautions to protect himself, the sergeant major won’t hesitate to remind them. That’s what sergeant majors do.

The snakes like to nest in old animal burrows and under matted straw grass. The Swamp Apes maintain a list of possible nest sites identified in earlier missions. There are a lot and checking them takes time, even with the borescope, a digital camera mounted on the end of a long flexible probe. Since americanshootingjournal.com 25

a python has six rows of razorsharp backward-pointing teeth in its mouth that can shred your flesh and they aren’t hesitant to launch themselves 5 feet through the air to bite, the borescope is nice to have.

But a successful python hunter doesn’t technically need a borescope.

What they need is perseverance.

Rahill knows that even though they didn’t find anything on the 30-mile outbound trip, the odds are they’ll find something on the way back.

Aycock is at the wheel of the pickup truck, with the other two Swamp Apes standing in the back on watch, when he hears “Big snake! Big snake!”

Spotting it basking on the edge of the levee, he brakes the truck as JoMo and Rahill dismount and run toward it. It is very big. Sensing trouble, the serpent heaves its body over the side onto the levee’s grass and brushtangled slope. It is disappearing into green as JoMo and Rahill make the edge of the levee.

Had it been smaller, it might have escaped. Rahill guessed it was at least 13 feet when he first saw it on the levee, but a glimpse of its body and he knows “big snake” was an understatement. Its body is as thick as his leg. A snake this size could kill you if you made a mistake. He runs a few steps down the levee and dives headlong into the undergrowth as the creature vanishes, but lands on

Officials blame a “booming” trade in exotic species in the 1980s for the pythons and iguanas that have taken up residence in the tropical wilds of the Sunshine State, harming native fauna and flora. For Rahill, a longtime outdoorsman, getting involved in preserving the Everglades added purpose to his life after his kids were grown and wife took a job elsewhere in the country.

(MELANIE AYCOCK)

top of its heavy body. He works his hands up to find its head, constantly maneuvering like a wrestler on the mat, trying to keep the snake from throwing its coils on him. Aycock and JoMo are with him in an instant, grabbing the snake’s great body and stretching it out so it can’t get the

Melanie Aycock, Sergeant Major Tom Aycock and Navy vet Joe “JoMo” Medina stretch Syrene out. The longest python recorded in a statesponsored elimination program was a 17-footer found last December.

(TOM RAHILL)

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American Shooting Journal // September 2018

leverage it needs to throw its coils.

A man can outlast a snake in an endurance match if he knows what to do. But even a snake this big is no match for three skilled hunters. In just a few minutes, the twisting, hissing, biting, defecating (by the snake, anyway) is over. The creature is a pregnant female, every inch of 15 feet long and weighing over 110 pounds.

MANLY HIGH ADVENTURE of the type described above is a common event for the Swamp Apes that want it. The non-profit 501(c)(3) veteran-centered organization was founded 10 years ago by Rahill for the purpose of serving returning veterans through serving the wilderness. Their group activities, usually led by Rahill himself in support of Florida’s beautiful and rugged wilderness areas, are the therapy to help servicemen and -women readjust to civilian life after leaving the military.

They actually do a lot more than just hunt pythons. Conservation missions are matched to the interest and needs of the vets. “Strange as it

americanshootingjournal.com 27

may seem,” Rahill jokingly explains, “not everyone wants to wrestle with a 12-foot-long, 100-pound snake in the swamp.” Among other things, veterans participate in wilderness area evaluation surveys, remove invasive plant species, and clear canoe trails for recreational visitors. The conservation accomplishments of the Swamp Apes earned the organization a sterling reputation with the authorities responsible for the Everglades National Park (ENP), South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), whom they serve largely in a volunteer capacity.

Since python hunting is not the kind of activity one should pursue uninsured, Rahill prefers the Swamp Apes work as volunteers in the Everglades National Park, where they are protected by the federal government’s insurance if there is an accident or injury. Rahill, himself a licensed python contractor for the SFWMD and FWC, also holds a special letter of authorization for the removal of exotic species within the park. Rahill always leads the Swamp Apes as a volunteer, because accepting bounties for animals he catches would invalidate the government insurance coverage of the Swamp Apes with him.

Though not a veteran himself, Rahill always held vets in the highest regard. “You can never repay a veteran for the sacrifices they make going to war,” he says. The reality and magnitude of those sacrifices became more personal for him when members of his family deployed to Iraq. When Rahill’s wife, a professor and licensed clinical social worker, took a tenure track position in a distant state, Rahill became deeply depressed at their career-instigated separation and found relief for his grief by becoming a volunteer supervisor at ENP. While he could not be with the first love of his life, he decided to focus on his second love – Florida’s wilderness.

An environmentalist and outdoorsman for over 40 years, becoming personally involved in preserving Florida’s wilderness areas 28

American Shooting Journal // September 2018

Leonidas Konstantakos and Carlita, caught during a Swamp Ape outing. The name, suggested by a park ranger, is the Southern word for the Northwest’s hairy and elusive Sasquatch. (TOM RAHILL)

gave him a renewed sense of purpose now that his wife was away, their children grown, and the demands of his own career were minimal.

His challenging conservation work responsibilities forced him to focus on the missions themselves for very practical reasons. Swarms of mosquitoes, alligators, maximum humidity driving heat indexes over 125 degrees, and orienteering through difficult terrain on foot and in a canoe over water, swamp and land give a man a lot to think about, other than the things that are making him

sad. The Everglades are no place for a tenderfoot. It’s easy to get hurt, or worse, if you don’t know how to handle yourself. Rahill was asked to join the Python Eradication program.

WHILE THE EVERGLADES helped Rahill deal with his own pain, he had an epiphany. He realized that God was teaching him how to help others.

A man of Christian faith, Rahill found his guidance in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Put your trust in the Lord and do not rely on your own understanding.

Think of Him in all your ways and

americanshootingjournal.com 29

He will smooth your path.” Aware of the many veterans suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), he began recruiting them to join him and share in the therapy of his wilderness adventures.

Searching for a name for the group, a park ranger suggested Swamp Apes, the Southern name for Sasquatch, or BigFoot. Rahill is a big man with an ample beard and it seemed like a great fit.

Though Rahill’s Christian faith guides his life, he does not proselytize to his fellow Swamp Apes and religion isn’t a part of the program.

All veterans are welcome and no one is questioned about their beliefs or personal circumstances, service record or troubles. The Swamp Apes motto is “endure-evolve-achieve.” At its most basic level, the Swamp Apes are helping to heal PTSD vets by providing them with an extraordinary civilian activity where they are celebrated and appreciated for who they are, while making another valuable contribution to the society that they protected during their service. It revitalizes their sense of identity in the civilian world. Military training prepared them for survival in harsh environments, so they have the skill set and mindset to tackle physically and mentally challenging missions in the Everglades. The organization operates with the 24hour clock, a chain of command, mission briefings, uniforms and patches (provided for the vets), and other military trappings that vets find familiar and comfortable.

Rahill became aware of the deeper therapeutic possibilities of the Swamp Apes when vets began opening up and sharing their painful war stories with him. These were stories they hadn’t, and often felt they couldn’t, share with their families. Strong friendships develop between Swamp Apes over the shared difficulties of working in the Everglades. Rahill says that this new camaraderie helps to fill a big void in the lives of returning vets, replacing the sense of belonging and shared high purpose they had during their time in uniform. The camaraderie is 30

American Shooting Journal // September 2018

Getting vets like Medina, here with Ulysses and Vabel, out searching for snakes makes for an “extraordinary civilian activity where they are celebrated and appreciated for who they are, while making another valuable contribution to the society that they protected during their service.”

(TOM RAHILL)

what makes them feel they can open up and let out the bad feelings. When they do, they feel better.

REALIZING HOW MUCH more good the Swamp Apes could do for PTSD vets if they had medically trained therapists in the field with their members, Rahill and the Swamp Apes board of directors sought the medical professionals and scientific researchers who could evaluate the efficacy of their activities as a prescribable PTSD treatment program. Dr. Manisha Joshi, an associate professor at the University of South Florida’s School of Social Work, was interested and willing to take on the first step of that process.

Dr. Joshi led an exploratory study

team that interviewed returning war veterans and their family members about their participation with the Swamp Apes. In confidential interviews, participants agreed that it helped them transition back into civilian life. Specifically, their trauma symptoms were reduced (e.g. nightmares, depression, hypervigilance), family relationships improved, and they found a new sense of purpose. It has also offered them an opportunity to experience trust with team members, to feel unique and safe, and to be in a meaningful and remote place with nature that requires their directed attention.

The exploratory study team presented their findings at the American Public Health Association

americanshootingjournal.com americ riccans a hootin i gjournal.com j 31

conference in 2017. This was a major step forward for the Swamp Apes. The American Public Health Association is a prestigious scientific venue and every abstract or proposal that is submitted for presentation at the conference undergoes rigorous peer-review at several levels. Only a very small percentage are actually accepted for presentation, which is an indication of the relevance and timeliness of the Swamp Apes program, as well as to the quality of the study research itself. The bottom line, in Dr. Joshi’s words, “As a naturebased program contextualized in the Everglades National Park, the Swamp Apes appears to be a promising alternative for veterans and others who have traumatogenic experiences.”

From a scientific research standpoint, an exploratory study doesn’t prove that the Swamp Apes activities work. That would be the aim of an explanatory study. What the exploratory study did was obtain powerful testimonies from veterans and their family members to the effect that the program has saved and improved lives, providing strong preliminary evidence for the efficacy of the Swamp Apes program and opening the door for funding that would enable them to conduct a larger study that would prove causality.

SINCE RAHILL AND the Swamp Apes already know what they do works, they are charging ahead to help as many vets as they can. Thus far, Rahill funds the Swamp Apes out of his own pocket and has neither solicited nor accepted donations. With the expanded mission, this won’t be possible and the Swamp Apes LLC is now working toward securing the funding for several paid positions to put therapists in the Everglades in the near term. A likely model would have student intern social workers in the field under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker.

Rahill feels the urgency. He’s found a therapy that works at a time when an average of 22 troubled vets a day are committing suicide and thousands more languish under drug-based 32

American Shooting Journal // September 2018

treatments that mask their symptoms rather than heal their wounds.

The proof is in the words of the vets and their family members. A combat vet whose platoon suffered heavy casualties in Iraq explained, “The trauma is sometimes so bad, I can tell you in detail exactly how all these people died; exactly how they looked like. I choose not to. Swamp Apes is very therapeutic for me; it’s something I need every so often.”

A veteran suffering from severe depressive symptoms was getting treatment at the VA hospital but showed no improvement until he got involved with the Swamp Apes. His family members said, “He was in bed a lot … Used to have a lot of headaches and he would hear things … He was really bad ... And then he got involved with Tom and Swamp Apes, and he shows us those snakes and other things they catch, and he’s all excited. He’s learned a lot. We learned a lot. I’ve seen a big change. He’s more friendly, active, and responsible. He’s found a lot of relief ... The stress was taken away by getting involved with Swamp Apes.”

The wilderness conservationoriented Swamp Apes don’t claim to be the solution for every veteran’s PTSD, but their success offers a model for other programs, with other equally noble objectives, across a broad spectrum of interests. Describing what the Swamp Apes did for him, this veteran traced the blueprint of a successful program. “… It’s like a safe adrenaline rush, per se … It unites you to a team effort, and it takes you away from the hustle and bustle of Miami, which is very stressful … And then you go out here and you feel like a team …

You have that same bond you do in the military. When you get back from your deployment, you’re supposed to have a cool-down period. Reacclimation … Swamp Apes is like what they told you that you were supposed to do, but you didn’t have a chance to do it, this is your way to do it.”

Editor’s note: Those wishing to learn more, participate or support the Swamp Apes should visit SwampApes. org or email SwampApes@gmail.com.

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gun review

SO ‘EZ’ TO SHOOT, EVEN STUBBORN LITTLE SISTERS APPRECIATE IT With its ease of use and light recoil, Smith & Wesson’s new M&P 380 EZ semiauto is ideal for women, seniors and beginners.

Regina Dixon Butler, author Tara Dixon Engel’s sister, is indifferent towards firearms but enjoyed shooting the S&W M&P 380 EZ and appreciated its simplicity and ease of use.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY TARA DIXON ENGEL

“

’d like to carry a semiauto, but I use a revolver because I just can’t rack a slide.”

If I had a dollar for every shooter I have heard singing this sad song over the years, I’d be a woman of means and influence.

In days of yore, I might have pointed my doubters – usually women and seniors – toward a SIG P238, a Walther PK 380 or, more recently, a Glock 42. But each of those came with caveats related either to cost (SIGs are pricey), functionality (Walthers are a pain to break down) or useability (for better or worse, beginners are skittish about Glock’s lack of a manual external safety – thankfully, most of them eventually get over that!).

Now, however, I smile slyly and trot out Smith & Wesson’s most recent contribution to the concealed carry market – the M&P 380 EZ.

I

EARLY REVIEWS OF this slim little handgun expressed shock that Smith & Wesson would serve this particular segment of the gun market (i.e. those who aren’t avid shooters and are simply looking for a “simple” self-defense tool). One reviewer even admitted that he initially thought S&W had designed a solution to “a problem that didn’t even exist.” Clearly, these gun writers have never sold firearms or taught shooting classes, because the EZ achieves the enviable goal of addressing virtually every complaint I have ever heard about semiautos since I began teaching concealed carry classes in 2005 and working behind a gun counter five years later.

The “gun snobs” may look down their noses americanshootingjournal.com 37

gun review at the EZ, but those of us trying to teach beginners, women and senior citizens are rejoicing. Just the fact that a gun manufacturer is paying precise attention to this segment’s wants and needs is wonderful – that the gun actually performs as promised is even more significant.

A few of the EZ’s notable achievements include a genuinely easy-to-rack slide, a crisp, comfortable trigger pull, a price south of $400, recoil rivaling that of a .22 mag firearm, an easy-to-load magazine featuring a load assist button like you might see on a .22 LR such as the Ruger SR 22 or the Walther P22, and the added assurance (for those who still need it) of an optional ambidextrous manual safety. It’s like Smith & Wesson actually talked to firearms salespeople and instructors before designing this piece – revolutionary!

AT A RECENT fundamentals class, I had three female students in need of something to shoot. One didn’t own a gun at all; the other two had brought their husband’s J-frames and were miserable shooting them.

After complaining about their aching thumbs and less than stellar bullet placement, they borrowed my EZ. Their shooting – and their attitudes – did an immediate 180.

“I can really use this. It doesn’t hurt my hand at all. And look at my grouping,”

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American Shooting Journal // September 2018

The ease of loading and inserting the magazine proved to be a highlight for most students.

one student said, proudly pointing to six rounds within a 3-inch circle, nestled snugly center of mass.

The other lady was scribbling down the name of the gun to share with her husband. “I’ll be back tomorrow to get one,” she said breathlessly. “I’m so excited to find something I can shoot!”

Other students then began inquiring, as well. Even if you have a favorite 9mm or you are hopelessly in love with 1911s (as I am), you cannot help but see the logic and beauty of this versatile little gun. If you’re an instructor, it becomes almost imperative to keep one handy for those inevitable students who lack the strength, confidence or skill to manage a larger caliber or more complex firearm.

For my students who plan to carry, I admonish them to skip the “poodle shooters” that are microscopic in size

but have serious limitations. These drawbacks include a punishing recoil that prompts most people to avoid regular range time. Additionally, the six-round magazine (seven if you get an extension) is not the firepower you want in a serious defensive confrontation.

Truth be told, the EZ’s eight-plus-one also isn’t enough to make me desert my Glock 19 completely, but it is a compelling option for hot summer months (when clothing is thinner) and for days when my arthritis is being especially vocal. And, while I love the Glock 42 and 43, my beginner and elderly students still struggle with the slide and the recoil in a way that I just haven’t seen with the EZ. Dare I say that this little firearm could revolutionize the carry industry and perhaps even help save the Second Amendment? Hyperbole? Perhaps, but I have seen the reaction of folks who aren’t even sure they like guns and are reasonably certain they never want to carry one. It’s as though the heavens open up, angels sing and a single shaft of divine light bathes the barrel of the M&P as they hold it aloft and experience an epiphany.

“Now I could shoot that – a lot,” one dubious older shooter told me, with a gleam in her eye.

For those who dislike the presence of a manual thumb safety, the EZ still has the assurance of a grip safety.

These devices are most common on 1911-style guns (although Springfield

americanshootingjournal.com 39

gun review XDs also sport them), and are designed to prevent an accidental discharge if the gun is being bounced around, as 1911s were when carried by cavalry officers in battle. They are only an annoyance if you don’t hold your gun properly, and there is something to be said for a device that forces you to assume proper grip. (However, be aware that, in a fight for your life, you could find yourself in a position that requires you to fire the gun with less

than proper form. Not a deal-breaker on this otherwise extraordinary little gun, but something to be mindful of.)

The EZ also has a burst of Picatinny rail, suitable for a laser or light, rear serrations that make the slide even easier to hold onto, and texturing on the grip that keeps it sticky in your hands without leaving divots in your skin.

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American Shooting Journal // September 2018

Regina takes aim with the M&P 380 EZ. “Would I shoot it again? Yes, I definitely would.”

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While not as small as some concealable guns, the EZ is seriously portable, with smooth lines and a thin profile, while still being comfortable for most hand sizes.

I also shared it with an avowed nonshooter. Regina Dixon Butler is a 47-year-old environmental engineer who shoots, at most, twice a year.

I wouldn’t call her anti-gun, just disinterested. She doesn’t carry and

does not share her big sister’s passion for firearms. And she is honest – brutally, painfully honest.

Using Federal RTP rounds (95 grain), she began poking holes in paper at about 5 yards (the average defensive

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encounter takes place between 7 to 10 feet, or less). Even with less than perfect form (I kept correcting, she kept reverting), every round she sent down range found its place within center mass. She nodded approvingly at the little gun, but the real enthusiasm burst forth when it was time to reload. The single stack mag with its handy loadassist button was a revelation.

“Wow. This is really easy to load. It doesn’t bother my thumbs at all,” she said, sliding the magazine into the grip and clicking it in place like a pro. “I think that means more to me than the light recoil.”

She skillfully yanked back on the slide and nodded in admiration as it slapped backward and forward with ease. But when she raised the gun to fire, nothing happened. I checked to make sure it was in battery and that there hadn’t been a misfeed. Nope, it was her hand position. The grip safety was doing what it was designed to do and was preventing her from firing until she adjusted her grip. Once she did that, the rounds were flying down range again.

After the range session, Regina repeated her praise for the EZ, especially its ease of loading. Her final pronouncement was, “I liked the slide, the sights, and the size of the gun. The recoil was nice, but it was all those other things that really sold me.

Would I shoot it again? Yes, I definitely would.” An understated affirmation on its surface, but a glowing endorsement from someone who has been known to fold her arms stubbornly and say, “No, I have no desire to shoot that gun. I’ll wait in the car, thank you.”

If you have a beginner, a senior, a female or, well, a Regina in your life, this could be the gun that changes everything.

Editor’s note: Tara Dixon Engel is an NRA-certified instructor, range officer, former gun salesperson, and author of The Handgun Guide for Women (2015 Zenith Press). She is also director of strategic development for the National Association of Chiefs of Police.

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American Shooting Journal // September 2018

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CONCEALED CARRY

BUILD – DON’T BREAK – THESE A.T.O.M.S.!

Instructor shares five key ideas to construct ‘an effective concealed carry strategy.’

STORY AND PHOTOS BY TYSON KILBEY

I

have had the incredible opportunity to teach nearly a thousand students in my concealed carry classes over the last six years.

Experience levels have ranged from lifelong gun owners to people who have never fired a gun prior to my course. I have been consistently honored to teach students who have willingly given up their time and money to learn about an incredibly important topic that may one day save an innocent life!

In this article, I want to share some of the most important concepts and strategies I have learned to take your concealed carry to the highest, safest, and most efficient level possible. I have fit this strategy into the acronym ATOMS so that you can easily remember it. Atoms are often referred to as the building blocks of all matter. In the following article, I will lay out the most essential building blocks of an effective concealed carry strategy.

AWARENESS It is not uncommon to hear people say things like “Awareness is key” and “Situational awareness could have saved them.” But what exactly does that mean?

When it comes to you and your family’s personal safety, it means a lot

of things. Do you have a visual of the people around you? If you are indoors, do you know where the primary and secondary entrances and exits are?

Are there additional exits such as windows that could be used in the case of an extreme emergency (i.e. active shooter)? Are there places that can be used as cover or concealment in the case of a shooting? These are quick, easy questions you can ask yourself when you are out in public, whether or not you are carrying concealed.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of being keenly aware of the things going on around you.

If you do it enough, it becomes habit forming and part of how you observe the world. By doing this, you could possibly avert danger before it even happens. This would be the bestcase scenario!

TRAINING For concealed carry citizens, the importance of training cannot be overstated. Can you be too good, too accurate, or too well trained for a gun fight that may save your life?

So what are some of the most effective training strategies? First, dry fire draws from your concealed carry holster are a must! This means making 100 percent certain that your gun is unloaded, then practicing drawing the gun from your concealed carry holster. This only costs you time, and is an incredibly effective way to build

Instead of warming up slowly at the start of a range session, try a faster, more dynamic start to better prepare for real-world situations that are likely to occur when you’re “cold.”

Author Tyson Kilbey argues that carrying concealed should be just one facet of your self-defense strategy and recommends learning martial arts. americanshootingjournal.com 47

CONCEALED CARRY positive repetition. A few draws a week translates into dozens of draws a month, and hundreds of extra draws a year!

In live fire training, many people “warm up” by shooting slow-speed fundamental drills. While these are great, I would suggest that during some of your training sessions, you start off with faster, more dynamic shooting from your concealed carry holster.

The premise behind this concept is that nearly every self-defense shooting happens when you are “cold,” not after you have had the chance to warm up. The only time you can mimic this is at the very beginning of your training session.

Try shooting a threat target at the very beginning of your next shooting session. The only acceptable outcome is a 100-percent hit rate as quickly and efficiently as you are capable of accomplishing.

OVERALL STRATEGY Carrying concealed is only a small portion of your overall personal defense strategy, as not all self-defense situations call for the use of a firearm.

In addition to carrying concealed and practicing with your gun, you should also take every opportunity you can to learn and practice empty hand self-defense (my preferred style is Gracie jiu-jitsu). You should also invest some time in learning about the various less-than-lethal tools (pepper spray, stun guns) available to you for those times and situations where carrying your firearm is not feasible. Finally, an overall strategy must include taking legal classes and seminars so that you are familiar with the laws in your state.

MENTAL REHEARSAL While physically training with your gun and in various self-defense arts

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“The only acceptable outcome is a 100-percent hit rate as quickly and efficiently as you are capable of accomplishing,” writes Kilbey (teaching bottom) about his hot start to range time.

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CONCEALED CARRY is important, I would suggest that mental training is equally important.

Putting yourself in various self-defense scenarios in the most common places you are at will undoubtedly prepare you to act more effectively in the case of an emergency. By rehearsing your escape route, or your move to a position of cover, or even your angle from which you would launch an effective counterattack to a threat, you are giving yourself a plan of action so you won’t have to come up with it during a moment of high stress, when making those types of decisions won’t be nearly as easy, or even possible at all!

SAFETY Concealed carry citizens have no choice but to put safety at the highest level possible. For all of us, that is the correct thing to do.

Throughout the years, I have asked my students to be an example of

Safety is the overall anchor of the ATOMS system – in terms of both carrying a weapon and securing peace of mind for oneself.

firearms safety wherever they go and every time they shoot. Muzzle discipline, trigger finger discipline, awareness of your target and surroundings, and the treatment of all guns with the respect a loaded firearm deserves are the basic tenants of firearm safety that make up any effective firearm strategy.

Carrying concealed is a valuable right, and a tremendous responsibility. By building your concealed carry strategies on ATOMS, I have no doubt that you will become very successful in your training and preparation. This is a win for the good guys.

Train hard, be safe, and see you on the range!

Editor’s note: Tyson Kilbey has 21 years of experience in law enforcement, owns Top Firearms Instruction, LLC (topfirearmsinstruction.com) and is the author of the book Fundamental Handgun Mastery.

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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

WERKZ OF ART

What started as a search for a holster for a custom sports pistol has grown into a company offering products for 200-plus handguns.

PHOTOS BY WERKZ

any firearms manufacturers offer customized parts and accessories so that shooters can build their “dream gun.” But what happens when you can’t find the perfect holster to complement your perfect firearm?

Werkz has your answer.

Werkz started in 2011 in Colorado, when Shan Hemphill was looking for a holster for a custom 2011 (a Triangle Shooting sports pistol chambered in 9x23mm), and no one seemed to have what he was looking for.

“I bought the materials, built some holsters, and started getting it down,” says Hemphill. “I started making for friends and selling online, and within a few months, a local gun shop picked us up. From there, we have had steady growth. It’s always been fun for us to hear of a customer’s needs and figure out a solution. We have grown to offer custom combinations of nearly 220 different pistols and over 80 lights or lasers. Customers come to us for custom holsters with their less common setup. I think customers like that we cover a huge range of pistols, provide a large selection of colors and patterns, and the customer can configure their holster exactly the way they want.”

Now based in Princeton, Idaho, Werkz has grown to include holsters that they design and build to exact tolerances.

“We 3D scan the pistol and light, design exact holster molds in CAD, then cut those molds on a CNC machine,” explains Hemphill. “This has allowed us to provide a holster that includes more features, contains less

M

unwanted bulk, and carries better than competing products. These holsters have rapidly become our top-selling items because of the value provided.”

“One of those more popular new holster lines has been the M6,” Hemphill continues. “The M6 is the full-featured holster that our customers don’t have to pay any more for. It supports tall sights, threaded barrels, and slide-mounted optics.

The holster works great, whether or not your pistol has those features.

In addition, it comes standard with a concealment-enhancing claw, a belt clip that can be mounted in three different positions (standard carry height straight drop, 15-degree cant, and deep carry height). Finally, it has a growing line of accessories, including tuckable hooks, struts with snap loops for enhanced retention, and even outside-the-waistband loops.

Some holsters are set up configurable for left or right hand, and some forgo that option for a sweat shield and fewer mounting holes.”

“The great thing is that customers can contact us and ask for their pistol and light or laser to be added to our backlog if we don’t already have what they need,” adds Hemphill. “This holster is the most versatile of our lineup, and we still keep costs quite reasonable.”

The team at Werkz is constantly looking to add to their offerings, and often works with customers to help develop new products.

“We have developed our holsters in large part with the consultation of our customers,” says Hemphill. “We love hearing about the problems people are experiencing and how we might help them solve their problems. No, we cannot

The M6 Modular Holster with concealmentenhancing claw is one of the most popular offerings from Werkz.

solve all of them, but it’s a blessing to us when someone will call and share what they need. It might just result in a new product or adapter for one of our existing holsters.”

Editor’s note: For more information, visit werkz.com. americanshootingjournal.com 59

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American Shooting Journal // September 2018

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

KRAFTING BETTER BULL’S-EYES Targets Online brings quality and wide variety of products to shooting market.

PHOTOS BY TARGETS ONLINE

T

argets Online was started in 2007 by an avid shooting enthusiast, Tim Ordorisio, who was looking for something better than flimsy paper. Ordorisio just happened to own Standard Printing Company of Omaha, Nebraska, which was established in 1923, Century Paper Converting, and Carpenter Paper, so utilizing the resources he had on hand, he took it upon himself to create a target that is superior to paper.

The company’s all-weather cardstock targets are water-, wind- and tear-resistant, do not shred on tight groupings, and in most cases need no expensive backer. These targets have become quite popular with shooters looking for quality, value and performance.

Knowing that customers sometimes do need simple paper targets, they offer

those too. And because Targets Online is a division of a 90-plus-year-old printing company, they can offer paper targets at a fraction of the cost. Both cardstock and paper targets are shipped in flat boxes to eliminate curling.

Other products include TAC Drop 3D Targets, which are reactive 3D targets priced at only $2 each, and Electronic Controlled Device Conductive Targets, which are patentpending conductive targets that give Taser training the proper connectivity with an accurate shot without needing to find a volunteer willing to be shot.

Targets Online offers 400-plus images, and the list continues to grow, but they also offer custom targets if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Simply send in your specifications, photos or design, and they will custom produce a target just for you.

The company even has a professional photographer and graphic artists on staff to help make your concept a reality.

Also new in the industry, Targets Online is offering a biodegradable water-resistant back, chipboard, that is a replacement for expensive plastic corrugated backers that leave plastic bits all over outdoor ranges.

Targets Online’s products are popular with shooters, as well as commercial ranges, law enforcement (federal, state, county, municipal, colleges, corporations), military (federal and National Guard), and concealed carry instructors. In addition, Targets Online has been the supplier of NRA Law Enforcement Targets since 2010.

Customers keep coming back for the quality, competitively priced targets, as well as the customer service. At Targets Online, they are a family and they treat their customers as part of that family.

Case in point: They answer their own phones – no pressing 1 for anything!

Editor’s note: For more information, visit targetsonline.com.

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American Shooting Journal // September 2018

at the RANGE Range time, your experiences may vary.

WACKY RANGE RULES

This shooter’s seen some pretty odd edicts on the firing line, but also real safety issues, including his own.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY NICK PERNA

A

s an avid shooter, I’ve had the pleasure (or displeasure) of shooting at a wide variety of ranges throughout the country. Suffice it to say, the operations and rules vary greatly from one range to the next.

They range from “Hold my beer while I shoot” type establishments to places with a rules manual as thick as a New York City phone book.

As with most places that are more “rule-intensive,” the most likely reason they have so many regulations is because of a phenomenon that I refer to as the LCD factor.

LCD stands for lowest common denominator. You know, “that guy.”

The guy who looks down the barrel of a loaded gun when he has a misfire.

The guy who loads 9mm into a .40.

The guy with a hole the size of a 12-gauge slug in the bed of his truck created during an “unloading gone

wrong incident” after a deer hunting trip. The guy who handloads his own rounds with enough propellent to try to get the projectile to travel at the speed of light. The guy whose favorite target for confirming zero is a bottle of propane.

The mouth-breather, the windowlicker, the guy a few loads short of a full magazine, if you get my drift.

He’s the LCD. He’s the reason we can’t have fun at the range.

HERE ARE SOME RULES I have seen that are most likely a byproduct of the LCDers who came before me.

At one range I shoot at, they have a rule that when driving your vehicle on the range you have to keep the speed below 3 mph. Next time you are americanshootingjournal.com 63

at the RANGE

Bang! “One thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, five thousand!”

in your car, try driving it at 3 mph. It’s almost physically impossible to do and you’ll probably get passed up by an old lady with a walker.

But that’s not the strange part of the rule. You are also required to wear eye and ear protection while driving it! So, let me get this straight. You want me to decrease my ability to hear when I’m driving? I guess rolling up the windows wouldn’t have made any sense. Truth be told, if you run over a person while moving at a blistering 3 mph, even if they are screaming at you (which you can’t hear because of ear plugs), you probably shouldn’t be handling firearms anyways.

SKSs are limited to two rounds at a time. The rationalization for this one is the rangemaster’s belief that the rifle will somehow magically turn into a full-auto weapon when loaded with more than two rounds! So, I asked around and checked the internet and 64

American Shooting Journal // September 2018

wasn’t able to find any examples of Simonov carbines going rogue into full “Pew! Pew! Pew!” mode, so I’m not sure where this comes from.

I’m guessing, at some point, some dude showed up at their range with modified SKS designed to go full auto and most likely, in an effort to avoid being arrested or kicked off the range, blamed a malfunction with the weapon.

No rapid fire. You must wait a full five seconds between shots. My first thought when I read this one was that the “I hate SKSs” guy came up with this rule. After doing a little research, I came to find out more than one range had this rule. This is a great rule, if you are muzzleloading … But again, I can see how the LCD guy made this a necessity. He was probably blazing away with some cheap ammo, spraying and praying, getting his aggressions out (probably

with the evil SKS). But five seconds!

Give me a break.

No holsters may be worn openly on range property, but magazine pouches are OK. I read this rule to my dog and her head tilted sideways like she was hearing a high-pitched whistle. I could see a rule saying “no shooting from the holster,” but not outright banning them. One of the most dangerous things about shooting at ranges is when newbies are retrieving weapons from their cases and putting them back in when done. I’ve looked down the barrel of more than one 200-caliber firearm as its owner inadvertently pointed it at me while making it ready or putting it away. For those who have never had a weapon pointed at them, regardless of the actual caliber, when it’s pointed at your head it appears to be at least a 200-caliber! The confusing part here is that mag pouches are OK. Holsters

americanshootingjournal.com 65

The Barrett .50 requires “tactical ammo.”

and mag pouches go together like liberals and CNN. No zombie targets. I get the reason behind no humanoidshaped targets (humanoid is the term used in most range rules I read). Ranges are for target practice, so I don’t have a problem going to a range and shooting at bull’s-eyes. But who exactly are we offending by shooting zombie targets?

Is there a walking dead population in the area this range is located that has a strong political voice? Is there a Zombie American Antidefamation League out there that opposes zombie targets? On a side note, is the term “zombie” considered offensive to them? Is “undead” preferable? And, if they truly do exist, should I be concerned about whether or not my brain will be eaten? Anyway, it’s a stupid rule.

No tactical ammunition. I’ve been a cop for almost two decades, SWAT, been in combat overseas and I still don’t really know what “tactical ammunition” is. There’s some obvious examples like armor-piercing incendiary ammo, 81mm mortar rounds, Hellfire missiles, and so on. But what else qualifies? Hollow point? Fully jacketed? Pointy bullets that could be used as a stabbing implement to poke someone’s eye out? This one probably requires a little better explanation, like, no barrier-penetrating ammo or (an extreme example) no depleted uranium rounds.

Most of these “rule-intensive” ranges are accompanied by grumpy old men whose sole function is to watch you with a jaundiced eye and wait for you to run afoul of a regulation. They are like the “church ladies” of the range world with their “safer than thou” attitude.

“Hey, son, that was four seconds between your last pair 66

American Shooting Journal // September 2018

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at the RANGE of shots. One more violation like that and you’re outta here!”

In their defense, though, they’ve probably seen some pretty stupid stuff over the years, which has left them jaded.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, I’ve seen some stuff at ranges that is so unsafe it boggles the mind that they are allowed to operate that way.

I shot at one outdoor range where there was no set time for going downrange to change/replace targets.

The shooters would agree to make their weapons safe, then go change them out. One time, when I was shooting there, everyone agreed to go cold and change targets. As we were in the process of changing them out, some bonehead on the far end of the range opened up with an AK-47 (at least it wasn’t the dreaded menace, the SKS!). Everybody freaked out! When confronted, the dude said, “You guys

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were all the way down at the end of the range! It wasn’t like I was trying to shoot you! Jeez!” Surprisingly, the “rangemaster” (the old man with nothing better to do than to hang out at the range all day) didn’t kick him off. This range was one of those places where you bring old television sets, bowling pins, cans and other assorted garbage to shoot. I guess that should have been a clue that it wasn’t the safest place on Earth.

I went to another range where I was stuck next to a guy who was a muzzleloader. He had a black powder revolver with him. His favorite thing to do was to load it up and then shoot it as quickly as possible into the dirt about 10 feet into the ground in front of him. He repeated this process about 10 times, then he packed up and went home, satisfied with the fact that he had a 100-percent hit rate on the dirt. No one else at the range said a word so, apparently, it was a

A splash-back casualty.

perfectly acceptable practice.

ADMITTEDLY, I MAY HAVE BEEN guilty of some LCD-esque behavior too.

One time my SWAT team was at a range, shooting steel silhouette targets. When we set up the targets, we angled them wrong. When set up correctly the steel targets were designed to deflect the round down towards the ground. We managed to

americanshootingjournal.com 69

at the RANGE set them up just right so the splash back (fragments of the rounds) came back at us as we fired. For the uninitiated, splash back hurts, a lot.

A lot of foul language was heard as guys were catching pieces in their arms and legs. One guy caught a good-size piece in his neck. We used a high-speed surgical tool known as a Leatherman to pull the errant fragment out of his neck. After about an hour of this, we switched to paper targets (we’re not stupid, after all).

Once during a carbine class, we had an instructor talk us into going down to the hot side of the range while he cranked off different calibers at us, firing them over our heads.

The point being, you could hear what different calibers sound like as they are impacting around you. I was young and dumb(er) at the time, so I agreed to do it. Thankfully, no one got hurt.

During SWAT school, we did a

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Says the author and Operation Iraqi Freedom vet, “They say the most dangerous thing in the Army is a second lieutenant with a map and compass.”

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at the RANGE drill where officers went to opposite ends of the range and faced each other. A “humanoid” target was placed next to you, to your left, about a foot to your left ... Officers would advance on each other firing two rounds from an AR whenever the threat command was given. If your long gun ran dry, you were supposed to transition to your handgun and fire. I was still in my young/dumb stage at the time, so I liked to run my rifle dry when I was farthest from my target, then transition to my handgun! I had a partner who was a bit of a worrywart, so it made it that much more fun to watch him squirm when I drew my pistol and fired at him. What could go wrong, shooting a target 25 yards away, a foot from your buddy?! One of my other guys on my SWAT team went through the same course of fire during a different SWAT class. They had a guy who didn’t bring an AR, but instead he

As seen at

used a shotgun. He ran the same drill with 00 buck! In case you’re wondering, the company that ran the school is now out of business, for safety reasons.

They say the most dangerous thing in the Army is a second lieutenant with a map and compass.

Once, while serving as second lieutenant in the Army, I ended up on the wrong end of a machine gun range. My driver and I were out doing a reconnaissance of a training area at Fort Bragg for an upcoming operation. I had the map and I navigated us to the receiving end of an M-60 machine gun range. I came to this conclusion when 7.62 rounds were being fired in our direction.

This was before the carbine class where I let the instructor shoot over my head, but I could still tell it was 7.62. My driver, realizing that I had led us into an active range, took evasive action and got us the heck

out of there. He then drove us home without me telling him to do so.

Recon mission over.

So the next time you are confronted by a stupid rule at your local range, remember there is probably a reason (or person) behind it.

Editor’s note: Nick Perna is a sergeant with the Redwood City Police Department in northern California. He has spent much of his career as a gang and narcotics investigator. He served as a member of a multijurisdictional SWAT team as an entry team member, sniper and team leader. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He has a master’s degree from the University Of San Francisco. He is a regular contributor to multiple print and online periodicals dealing with tactics, gang and drug investigations and veteran’s issues.

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American Shooting Journal // September 2018

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women and guns

The Ladies Day Committee included (left to right) Michele Fleming, registration/ guest coordinator; Pam Capers, volunteer coordinator; Yvonne Caruso, Ladies Day coordinator (program coordinator); and Louise Dutton. Not pictured: Jacki Skelton. (MARK ASHMAN PHOTOGRAPHY)

THEY’RE LOVIN’ IT!

Ladies Day at the Range brings experts, weapons-curious women to Florida shooting facility for fun, training, camaraderie.

STORY BY PAUL PAWELA

T

he Bible tells us that the greatest gift is love.

Love is patient, love is kind, love rejoices with the truth, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Ask any good man and he will agree the above statement covers just about every important woman in that man’s life, whether it is his grandmother, mother, aunt, sister, girlfriend, wife or daughter.

In general, men attempt to make their best efforts in protecting the

women in their lives. However, truth be told, sometimes the right person for the job isn’t a man. When it comes to self-defense, many times the best person for the job is a woman.

THE MERE SUBJECT of self-defense and firearms training is rapidly changing with extraordinary women taking the helm, or grabbing the bull by the horns, as it were. Yvonne Caruso is one such woman. Along with her merry band of marauders (who are both men and women), together they have organized one of the best all-around training events for women in the country, in sunny central Florida.

The event, appropriately called “Ladies Day at the Range,” is hosted by the Central Florida Rifle and Pistol Club in Orlando. CFRPC is considered one of the best ranges in the state of Florida, known for its wide range of facilities that host many state and national shooting events.

Every year the range hosts one special day just for women. In the spring (April), hundreds of women from all walks of life and from all over the state – and even other parts of the country – converge at the range for a common bond. Their goal is to get women to the range, get them interested in shooting safely, and making it fun so they come back for more. The Ladies Day event does all that and then some!

For the price of one ticket ($34), the attendees do not have to be a member of CFRPC, nor do they need to own a gun; all the ladies have to do is show up and let Caruso, along with all the americanshootingjournal.com 79

women and guns volunteers helping her – 187 this year!

– do their magic. Yes, there really is such a thing called magic. Indeed, less than an hour away from the CFRPC is Walt Disney World, aka The Magic Kingdom – just another great reason to make the temporary sojourn to the great state of Florida in April.

DURING THE LADIES Day event, it truly is hard to describe the atmosphere, but there was a glowing savoir faire from all who were present for that special day. Starting promptly at 8 a.m. for check-in and registration, each lady was given a goodie bag provided by the Florida Sport Shooting Association.

The bags contained hearing and eye protection compliments of Southern Safety & Supply, as well as firearms safety brochures and information on the many different sponsors who were in attendance, along with a much-needed complimentary bottle of water. All guns and ammunition were provided for the women; ammunition was provided by Magtech and The Armories.

As with every successful endeavor, there are three stages to getting things going: first the crawl stage, then the walk stage, and now the Ladies Day event is in full sprint mode. When it first started over 20 years ago, they had less than 100 attendees. This recent event in April sold 400 tickets in less than seven hours, selling the event out!

There was so much to see and do, it was truly impossible for one person to see and do everything that was provided at the event. Women who attended had the opportunity to participate in over 18 different events, which included: precision pistol; carbine; introduction to handguns; air pistol; shotgun; smallbore rifle and air rifle; smallbore silhouette; high-power rifle; appleseed; muzzleloading black powder; tac 3-gun; Central Florida multi-gun; IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association); steel challenge (sponsored by Glock); archery; and defensive handgun. Two other programs added this year were 80

American Shooting Journal // September 2018

During the Ladies Day event, attendees had the opportunity to participate in 18 different shooting events, including handguns and archery. (MARK ASHMAN PHOTOGRAPHY)

women and guns

The ladies had a chance to hold many different rifle makes and models (left), as well as inspect their target-shooting results.

the NSSF Rimfire Challenge and First Steps Instruction with SIRT Pistols.

When not enjoying themselves in the shooting events, the women could take a break and have lunch at the picnic pavilion, as there were many different vendors providing food and drinks. Speaking of vendors, there were plenty to see, including: The Well-Armed Woman, Heels & Holsters Ladies Shooting Group, Strong Defenses, A Girl and A Gun

Shooting League, Dogtags N More, Hearologies, UM Tactical, Green Force Tactical, Tijuana Flats Lake Nona, Livie Water, Academy Sports + Outdoors, All Dolled Up Accessories, Locked and Loaded Bullet Jewelry, Qmaxx, and Damsel in Defense.

Sponsors of the event included: Otis, Southern Safety and Supply, The Armories, Florida Sport Shooting Association, Glock, SIG Sauer, KelTec, Magtech, Tim’s Guns and Range,

CCW Safe, Gun Goddess, Remora Holsters, Legacy Sports International, Girls with Guns Clothing, Femme Fatale Arms Ladies Gun Store & Training, Ranger Proof, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum, among others.

To cap off the day, there was the annual raffle, and the prizes that were given to the ladies who won were mind-boggling. Some of the prizes included a Pointer Shotgun custom-engraved with the new Ladies Day logo from Legacy Sports, a Glock pistol, a SIG Sauer P238, a Kel-Tec Sub-2000 rifle, and a Spike’s Tactical Wahine women’s AR-15.

Many other prizes were generously donated by the sponsors and vendors, as well.

It cannot be emphasized enough how safely every one of the stages were run, with complete professionalism and a safety-first mentality. To pull off such a successful, safe and fun event of this size is truly staggering to the mind, which goes to show why Ladies Day at the Range has become a mustdo event for women to experience.

Going back to the greatest gift: love! If we can get women interested in shooting in a safe and fun manner, well, isn’t that the raison d’être of what we do for our women? Ladies Day at the Range goes the distance in accomplishing that and then some!

Editor’s note: For more information on Ladies Day at the Range, contact ladiesdayinfo@cfrpc.com.

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americanshootingjournal.com 83

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American Shooting Journal // September 2018

SUPPRESSOR GALLERY GEMTECH M Model: Aurora II Length: 3.4 inches Le Calibers: 9mm, .380 ACP Cal Mount: Thread mount (½x28 and 13.5x1mm LH)

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86 8 6

American Am Ame A meeeric m rric ri i a an nS Sh Sho Shooting ho hoot oti o ttiin ing ng Jou Journal ou urna al // // September Seep ept pttemb p eem mb m ber er 2018 201 2 20 01 018

she hunts

HUNTING TAHR AFAR

Brittany Boddington goes on the trail of Himalayan big game species in New Zealand.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRITTANY BODDINGTON

I

’ve hunted several tahr in New Zealand, particularly with an outfitter who is like family to me.

Chris Bilkey and his wife Peg run a guiding operation out of Geraldine, on New Zealand’s South Island. Peg is like a second mother to me and I try to visit as often as possible. This time I was not the one hunting. I got my boyfriend, Brad Jannenga, a tahr hunt for Christmas, so we went in early June to get it.

I’ve been hunting in New Zealand with the Bilkeys’ Track and Trail Safaris (chrisbilkey.co.nz) since 2004

and I really wanted Brad to experience the hunt with the people who first introduced me to the country.

New Zealand’s South Island has so much rugged terrain. It’s a spectacular place to hunt tahr, which author Brittany Boddington and her boyfriend experienced this past June, during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter.

NEW ZEALAND IS SPECIAL for a variety of reasons. One major one is that there are no snakes or predators to speak of. They have possums and some pigs but no real predators that big game animals like tahr, chamois and stag need to worry about. These animals thrive in the beautiful green mountains that dot the island nation.

Another reason New Zealand is a wonderful place is because of its agriculture, which is considered to be the largest sector of tradable economy.

New Zealand is covered in lush green grass and white sheep with a scattering of alpaca and stag farms.

The nation’s lamb is known to be some of the best in the world, but the hunting leaves it all in the dust.

With the seasons there opposite of ours in the Northern Hemisphere, we hunt New Zealand in our summer.

My favorite time to hunt there is June, when it is cold but not too cold. If we get lucky in early June we’ll catch some of the first snows that push the animals americanshootingjournal.com 87

she hunts Not a bad view in the twinkling twilight of New Zealand.

down from the cliffs to the grassy hillsides, which makes for spectacular hunting conditions. On this trip we arrived when the weather was beautiful and green, with very little breeze.

We hunted hard for the ďŹ rst two days and we passed on quite a few beautiful tahr because Chris wanted to make

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sure that Brad got a good one for his ďŹ rst hunt in New Zealand. The hiking was steep but the landscapes were so beautiful that you actually wanted to climb higher to see the spectacular sights that this country is known for.

OUR LUCK CHANGED ON the night of day

Heading uphill to get close to the tahr.

americanshootingjournal.com ame me eric ricans ans an n hoo ootin ngjo gjourn urnal. urn al.com al. com om m 8 89 9

she hunts two. A nasty storm rolled in right as we packed up the vehicle to head back to the house. It rained on us as we drove home and I worried that the next day would be a slippery and soggy mess. I was wrong.

The storm only brought us rain, but atop the mountains it snowed like crazy. The next day we arrived at daybreak to start hiking and found the most beautiful winter wonderland of fresh powder. We hiked in the soft snow and I grabbed handfuls along the way to eat fresh snow cones as we hiked.

I swear Chris is part mountain goat by the way he climbs. It is incredible to watch but darn tough to follow.

We zigzagged across the snow as he hurried to catch a better glimpse of tahr at the top of the mountain.

We had several unsuccessful climbs, most likely due to the fact that we were just a little slow and breathing too hard to go unnoticed by the tahr.

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The hunters take a quick Kiwi selfie.

americanshootingjournal.com 91

she hunts We decided to check the front side of the mountain we were hunting.

This side of the mountain faced the sun and the tahr tended to stay on the colder backside. But because of the snow we found a large group of them that had moved down to feed on some grass in the melted snow.

Brad and Chris made pace up a ravine that ran down the side of the hill that the tahr were on. I stayed on the spotting scope at the last ridge before the straight climb up the hill. It was the end of the day and the final push would be best with as few bodies as possible.

I watched as the guys slipped slowly and carefully up the draw. The tahr were feeding and the males were chasing the nannies around in circles.

They were completely unaware of our presence. Brad and Chris got to where there was no cover left and I watched as they crawled slowly over the last 50 yards to put the tahr at around 250 yards, a perfect shooting distance.

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With the help of guide Chris Bilkey, Brad Jennenga prepares to take a shot at his first tahr.

Brad got settled and Chris made sure they were on the same animal.

When they were both comfortable, Chris gave the word to shoot when ready and Brad shot.

I instantly caught sight of a tahr sliding down the mountainside. It was a perfect one-shot kill on a nice old bull. The experience was tough and cold but more memorable than any

easy hunt I’ve been on.

We made memories as we struggled toward our goal, a tahr that has earned a place of honor on the wall at home.

Editor’s note: Los Angeles native Brittany Boddington is a hunter, journalist and adventurer. For more, check out brittanyboddington.com and facebook.com/brittanyboddington.

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ROAD HUNTER

PRONGHORNS: AMERICA’S DESERT GEMS

One of the biggest challenges faced by pronghorn hunters is spooking entire herds. These open-country animals have keen eyesight and will often flee at the slightest sign of a threat.

With gun or bow, getting within shooting range of antelope is where the thrill and challenge lies – here’s one expert hunter’s strategies.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

W

hile pronghorn seasons are underway in some places, the hunting is getting set to kick-off in other Western states. I don’t know if the abundance of pronghorns or their unique features are to credit for their popularity, but I field a growing number of questions from fellow hunters, eager to learn where and how to hunt these desert gems.

It’s more than just their beauty and lifestyle that sets pronghorns apart from other big game; it’s the multiple ways that they can be hunted that really makes them special.

The weather is usually nice during pronghorn season, and animals abound, so even if you blow an opportunity, there’s almost always another chance. Take one of my recent hunts where I blew a stalk on a non-

No matter what your age or experience level, antelope offer one of North America’s most enjoyable hunts.

typical buck of a lifetime, but kept after him, and later that day was glad I did.

As often happens when stalking a herd of speedgoats in knee-high sagebrush, my first stalk went awry.

But later in the day, when I found the buck through the spotting scope, bedded all alone in a little bowl that offered relief from the high winds, I knew I had a chance. It took a long time to close the distance, but when I did, there was the buck, still bedded and all alone.

Cutting the distance to 200 yards,

I laid prone, waiting for the buck to stand and offer a clear shot over the sagebrush. There was no doubt he was the same buck we’d been after all day, evident by the right horn that jutted out of his skull at a 90-degree angle. When the buck stood and turned broadside, I shot ... and missed.

Fortunately, the bullet smacked the dirt behind the buck, which pushed him closer. This time I compensated a bit more for the 40-mile-per-hour crosswind, and the bullet found its mark. americanshootingjournal.com 97

ROAD HUNTER

Pronghorn yield great eating meat when properly cared for in the field, and abound in many Western states.

PRONGHORN ALLURE One of the allures of hunting pronghorns is the multiple ways they can be pursued. Whether singling out a trophy buck on a spot-and-stalk mission, sitting on a waterhole early in the year,

or utilizing a decoy during their aggressive rut, there’s never a shortage of ways to tag an antelope.

In terms of Western big game, pronghorns occupy an easy habitat to hunt. Rolling terrain studded with sagebrush and golden grasses make it simple to locate animals, then make a game plan. The land is easy to walk and ideal for hunters young or old, fit or not. Success rates run high.

Bucks are very territorial and can be patterned on preseason scouting missions. I’ve observed bucks making scrapes, chasing does and establishing territories as early as May. Such antics continue through the summer months. I’ve returned to these same areas in August, September and October to take those bucks.

Water, food and open terrain are what pronghorns need to survive.

Their eyes and fast feet are their protection, and they rely on exposed vantage points to detect danger.

For hunters, be it with gun or bow, figuring out how to slip within shooting range based on the animal’s behavior is where the thrill and challenge lies.

ONE ON ONE Whether hunting on foot, from a blind or behind a decoy, one of the most exciting elements surrounding pronghorn hunting is singling out a specific buck, and sticking with him until the tag is filled. No doubt, the open country plays a large part in this approach.

Optics are perhaps the most important tool when focusing on a particular buck. Being able to locate and accurately evaluate a buck is important, and not always easy.

Pronghorn bucks, I believe, are the second most difficult of all North American big game animals to trophy judge, only behind bears.

To size up a buck requires getting

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ROAD HUNTER a close look at his horns from all angles, and knowing what to look for in terms of height, mass, curl and prong length.

Once a target buck is pinpointed, plan a stalk. Take into consideration the wind, the angle of the sun, how the terrain can help hide you, and how many other antelope eyes are out there. Observe the behavior of the buck, for nothing will build your hunting skills faster than watching animals, undisturbed.

BLIND HUNTING One season, it took eight straight days of my sitting in a pronghorn blind before I fired an arrow at a buck. Every day outside the blind, the mercury hit the century mark, making it considerably hotter inside the blackwalled contraption.

On average, more than 30 pronghorns a day visited the waterhole. Several of these animals were within 10 yards of the blind, the closest a mere four paces. Being able to observe so many relaxed animals provides an education that can only be gained by devoting time to the field, and holding out for a big buck allowed me to watch so many animals. Eventually I got a big buck, and grew even more hooked on hunting these great animals.

Sitting in a ground blind is one of the best ways to hunt, observe and learn about pronghorns. It also offers one of the highest percentage shots for archers and gun hunters, alike.

The best part is, if you’re in a good hole and animal numbers are high, the action can last all day long. You’ll sometimes see lots of other wildlife at the local watering hole, from bighorn sheep to mule deer, sage grouse to rattlesnakes.

DECOY THRILLS No matter what you’re after, there’s no arguing that one of hunting’s greatest thrills is convincing an animal to come your way, be it through the use of calls, decoys, or 100

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both. Pop a decoy in view of a rutcrazed pronghorn buck and there’s no telling what he’ll do. Note that antelope decoys should only be used during archery season, or in archeryonly hunting areas.

“Why is there a warning sticker on this thing?” a buddy whispered as we crept behind an antelope decoy, getting ready to place it within view of a buck. I smiled, pushing my index finger against my lips. Minutes later the decoy was up, and the buck spotted it. Ears perked and hair on his neck and rump flared, he came to us on a full sprint.

My buddy reached full draw, trying to place his sight pin on the approaching buck. At 8 yards the buck stopped, flared his wet, black nostrils, turned and ran. No shot was taken. “Now I know what that sticker’s for – these things will give you a heart attack!” he stuttered, still shaking from the adrenaline rush.

Truth is, many hunters have had rutting bucks approach to within a few feet of a decoy; some have even

Haugen has taken many pronghorn in multiple states, but ranks this nontypical buck as his most prized, one he got after hours of slowly stalking through open sage.

Shots can be long on pronghorn, and having shooting sticks that elevate you above brush is a good idea. Here, author Scott Haugen takes aim at a Wyoming buck, resting his .260 Nosler into Bog Pod’s shooting sticks.

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ROAD HUNTER had the decoy knocked out of their hands. It’s one of hunting’s greatest moments, and takes antelope hunting to a whole new level.

The key to using a decoy is getting it into position where the buck will see it, without first busting you. To achieve this, use the terrain to hide your approach, then place the decoy on a rise, so the live buck can see it.

The objective is to create the illusion that a challenging buck suddenly appeared, enticing the live buck to rush over to investigate, or fight. If he chooses the latter, hang on.

SPOT & STALK In recent years, spot-and-stalk hunting, both with bow and rifle, has become a favorite way to pursue pronghorns. On a recent hunt with my father, wife and our oldest son, we all took nice pronghorns via spot and stalk. Each hunt was uniquely different, and that’s what makes this

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approach so fun.

For rifle hunters, being able to comfortably shoot out to 300 yards, even 400, will greatly increase the odds of tagging a big buck.

Big bucks are smart, bedding and carrying out their daily routines in the most open of terrain.

Having adjustable shooting sticks is another important tool for rifle hunters, as holding steady on that long shot is essential for accurate shot placement. If you like having a bipod mounted on your rifle, get the one that extends the highest, for oftentimes you have to shoot over tall grass and sagebrush. There’s nothing more frustrating than making a great stalk on a pronghorn, only to not be able to shoot due to an insufficient rest.

Pronghorn hunting is addicting, one of those things that when you try it, and do it the right way, hooks you for life. My son, when he was 6 years

old, took his first pronghorn buck in Texas. My dad, nearing 80 years of age, still can’t get enough antelope hunting, no matter where in the west we may be hunting together.

With so many ways to hunt them, and so many animals to observe, pronghorns offer one of the country’s most enjoyable adventures. From guided, private land hunts, to do-it-yourself public land excursions, there’s no shortage of pronghorn hunting opportunities for all to enjoy.

Editor’s note: To learn how to skin and cape pronghorns, and other big game, check out Scott Haugen’s popular Field Dressing, Skinning and Caping Big Game DVD. Order at scotthaugen. com, or send a check for $20.00 to Haugen Enterprise, P.O Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489.

Follow Scott and his adventures on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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FEDERAL PUT NEW SPIN ON A CLASSIC The frontal placement of its lead core makes the Trophy Bonded Tip a better bullet.

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ullet evolution has a complicated history, involving many pioneering and entrepreneurial individuals who set out to build a better mousetrap. That’s just part of the American spirit; if something is good, someone else will try and make it better. Jack Carter was just one of those guys.

Unsatisfied with the performance of a 500-grain Hornady bullet some decades ago, Jack – a retired IBM executive who loved safari and all that came with it – decided to create a bullet that would give him the performance he was after. Mind you, Jack was no metallurgist nor engineer, but he had an inquisitive mind and

was most certainly a driven soul. His brainchild was the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, a flat-base bullet of pure copper, with a lead core from the nose halfway to the base, with the two components bonded together to prevent separation upon impact.

The Trophy Bonded Bear Claw was a good, strong bullet, perfect for big, dangerous beasts.

Jack Carter sold the rights to his bullets, in design and name, to Federal Premium, which has done a great job keeping his vision alive and in hunters’ hands. While I am a huge proponent of the original design, Federal has expanded and expounded on the idea, and one of my favorites is the Trophy Bonded Tip. It is modern, it is well-designed, and it is very effective in the field.

THE TIE-IN TO the Trophy Bonded design is the core design. Carter’s bullet design kept the lead core to the front of the bullet, which actually aids in straightline penetration, and the Trophy Bonded Tip maintains that idea. Unlike the original design, it is a sleek, boattail design, with a translucent orange polymer tip to resist deformation and increase ballistic coefficient. The copper jacket is grooved – to reduce fouling and to enhance overall accuracy – and the entire affair is plated with nickel, for a unique and immediately recognizable look.

That frontal lead core does a couple of different things. Keeping the weight forward will most certainly help the bullet stay in a straight line, postimpact. When a bullet has its weight forward, it acts much like a frontamericanshootingjournal.com 107

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(Left) Now available in component form, the Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Tip is perfect for the most popular big game rifles. The .308inch 165-grainer is a perfect all-around choice.

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If you have a bullet with the majority of its weight rearward, it will behave like a rear-wheel drive car in snow; the rear end tends to kick out to the side, taking it off the line of travel. I’ve had

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this experience with all-copper bullets – especially at high velocities – where a bullet may exhibit a tendency to travel along a line that will deflect shortly after impact. I’ve seen a deer shot just behind the shoulder, in the textbook fashion, fall to the shot as if God had

struck them with a thunderbolt. Upon autopsy, I’d found that the bullet turned nearly right angles after initial impact, smashing into the spine (hence the instantaneous kill). While I was fine with the way that worked out, I’m sure you can see how things could have

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bullet bulletin The .30-06 Springfield is an excellent allaround cartridge, made even better with modern bullets like the Trophy Bonded Tip.

Even fast cartridges, like the 7mm Weatherby Magnum, are well-served by the Trophy Bonded Tip.

For those who wish to extend the versatility of their favorite deer cartridge – like the .280 Remington shown here – the Trophy Bonded Tip will easily handle larger game like moose and elk.

.277- and .308-inch diameters, and in popular bullet weights, the Trophy Bonded Tip can be loaded in the rarities like the 7x64 Brenneke, 7x61 Sharpe & Hart, the .300 Holland & Holland and .300 Savage. Should the common calibers – such as the .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .3006 Springfield, or 7mm Remington Magnum – not perform with factory ammunition, handloading these bullets should easily deliver the accuracy you’re after.

The Trophy Bonded Tip is one of those hunting bullets that will deliver high weight retention and excellent expansion – the skived ogive and thickening jacket as you head rearward help to allow the front end to expand to respectable dimensions – among a wide scope of impact velocities. The super-magnums, which can generate impact velocities as high as 3,400 feet per second, as well as the common, moderate velocity cartridges, which at long distances will see impact velocities as low as 1,700 fps, are well served by the Trophy Bonded Tip. The bonded core design handles being smashed into thick hide and dense bone, yet will still impact the soft, fluidrich flesh and give the necessary expansion and penetration to ensure a quick kill.

If you haven’t yet tried the Trophy Bonded Tip in your rifle, I highly recommend that you do. You may just find a bullet that handles the majority of your big game hunting – from deer to moose – in a seriously accurate fashion.

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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

ON A HOT STREAK Ammo, Inc.’s visual ammunition technology is a game-changer.

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mmo, Inc. was birthed in early 2017 when its three founders came across a great opportunity to acquire the assets of a distressed ammunition company based in Payson, Arizona.

“The three founders loved the industry and really felt that by applying their knowledge from other successful ventures that they had been a part of, it would be a great way to get into a complacent industry and make a mark for themselves,” explains Ammo, Inc.’s Jay Grdina.

Since its formation, the company has grown to become a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative ammunition products.

One such product line is Streak Visual Ammunition, a ground-breaking technology that gives the shooter the ability to see their projectile as it travels downrange. As a shooter, it is an experience unlike any other in the industry.

“Streak uses an advanced nonincendiary phosphor that is adhered to the back of the projectile to create its glow effect as the projectile travels.

The light from the discharge of the round is enough light to activate the phosphor and allow the shooter to see the projectile as it travels downrange,” explains Grdina. “The viewing window is only for the shooter and those within 15 degrees of each side of him. Because Streak can only be seen from behind, as a military application

Streak Visual Ammunition from Ammo, Inc. is a ground-breaking technology that gives the shooter the ability to see their projectile as it travels downrange. “After shooting Streak ammo, you pretty much are hooked,” says the company’s Jay Grdina.

Streak is a perfect fit to replace traditional tracers that are able to be seen from the front, invariably giving away the shooter’s position.”

This product shows how technology applications can really dominate in the ammunition marketplace, as it has become Ammo, Inc.’s most popular line.

“After shooting Streak ammo, you pretty much are hooked,” says Grdina. “It makes shooting regular ammo feel boring.” He adds, “Besides the cool factor, Streak allows the shooter to quickly adjust and increase their accuracy.”

Other popular Ammo, Inc. lines include the Jesse James Black Label and Jesse James TML lines, created with the renowned motorcycle/ firearm designer and builder.

“Our Jesse James lines have been doing really well with our retailers,” says Grdina. “Not only do Jesse’s products have a unique look, they also have superior performance and reliability. It’s great working with Jesse – he is super supportive of his lines and the company, and he is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to design and performance.”

The company’s OPS (One Precise Shot) line is also quite popular for law enforcement and self-defense, while their American Hunter line, designed by famed hunter Jeff Rann, just launched and the initial feedback has been amazing, says Grdina.

Ammo, Inc. started with the goal of creating better ammunition through technology, and they have truly done so with their innovative, high-quality product lines that are popular with military, law enforcement, sportsmen and civilians alike.

“We strive to create a high-end experience for our consumers – from our in-store displays and marketing efforts, packaging, fit and finish of products, and most importantly, the performance and reliability of all of our products.”

Editor’s note: Check out ammoinc.com to see their full product lines and to get a detailed look at each line. americanshootingjournal.com 115

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Product FEATURE

NEW DEVICE HELPS PREVENT FRIENDLY FIRE ACCIDENTS SafeShoot product warns hunter when someone, something in line of fire.

STORY BY BRITTANY BODDINGTON PHOTOS BY SAFESHOOT

I

got the chance to spend some time with the guys at SafeShoot at this spring’s NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits and their product is something worth talking about. They have developed a device that attaches to a firearm and will let the shooter know when there is someone or something in their line of fire and give them a sign that it is not safe to shoot. They aim to help prevent friendly fire incidents, not only in hunting but also for the military.

The technology makes a lot of sense for people hunting with bird dogs, for example. If each dog is fitted with a SafeShoot device, then the bird hunter will know if a dog crosses his line of fire. This product is not right for the lone hunter in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, but rather for the group of hunters going out in the same area. Texas hunting ranches are another good example of an area that could use this type of technology because they often have multiple hunting parties out at the same time in areas that sometimes share a fence line. This device (if carried by all members) would let the hunters know if there is someone in another area or behind brush that could be potentially harmed if they shot in their direction.

According to the website (safe-shoot

SafeShoot attaches easily to a firearm and will indicate when someone or something with a corresponding device is in the line of fire.

.com), “SafeShoot alerts shooters visually and audibly thus assisting in preventing a fatal outcome.”

The device works on radio frequency and will alert the shooter if they point their firearm within 3 feet of either side of the device and up to around 900 yards. The signal will pass through anything the bullet will pass through.

I interviewed Conrad Evarts at the SafeShoot booth and he gave me the rundown on what he sees for the future of SafeShoot.

“There was a time before we used hunter orange or tree-stand harnesses,” he said. “In five years, we will look back and SafeShoot will be the standard of safety.”

The truth is that every now and then bad things happen, even to the most experienced hunters and guides.

As Conrad stated, “Any pro will tell you that the most dangerous part of their job is an excited hunter with a rifle.” This statement is true in a lot of different circumstances. I have seen

accidental discharges by new and seasoned hunters alike, and I have also seen shots taken that could have gone terribly wrong.

The beauty of SafeShoot is that the device does not render the gun inoperable when pointed in an unsafe direction, but rather gives the shooter the information to make an informed decision before they pull the trigger.

There are situations where a shooter may need to take a shot for safety reasons, even if he knows that there is someone nearby; the shot in these situations could save lives. My concern when I first heard about the company was that in a dangerous game charge or in a military hostage situation, that if the device prevented the person from shooting in the vicinity of bystanders then there could be some devastating results. But I was relieved to know that this device simply gives the shooter all the information they need to make the best decision possible.

SafeShoot’s CEO Amir Nadan developed the product because of americanshootingjournal.com 117

PRODUCT FEATURE his time as a brigadier general in the Israeli Defense Forces. The website describes the origin of SafeShoot by saying, “After being exposed to tragic friendly fire incidents, SafeShoot was founded by a group of seasoned entrepreneurial minds. They decided to devote themselves to finding a solution to friendly fire incidents in hunting, law enforcement and military operations.

By combining their expertise in technological development and management, along with a thorough background in military and a genuine love for outdoor activities, SafeShoot’s founding team has developed a unique and comprehensive solution to friendly fire incidents.”

For now you can preorder a dog defender or shooter device. The product is not officially out yet but hopefully it will be soon. The units are not cheap – they start around $399 – but then again, who can put a price on safety? I’ll be interested to see the

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SafeShoot units start at around $399, and as author and experienced hunter Brittany Boddington writes, “Who can put a price on safety?”

launch of the product and hopefully get it into the hands of shooting schools like my very own She Hunts Skills Camp. I think it would be a

great addition to our firearms training program and many others across the nation. SafeShoot has a great idea and I can’t wait to see it in action.

americanshootingjournal.com americanshoo hoo ootin oo ti gjo tin jjo journ ourn urrn ur n nal. al com al m 119

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Guns &

Accessories

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BLACK POWDER

THE PROBLEMS WITH ODD BALLS

What seemed like a good deal on a coffee can full of cast round balls at a ‘gunsmith’s garage sale’ leads to lessons learned during competitions.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT

A

t a recent “doin’s” for flintlock smoothbores, my shooting was simply very poor, but I do have a good idea why. Yes, you might say I have a good excuse, but we won’t use it that way because I really should have known better. A better way to say it would be that I thought I could get away with somewhat of a shortcut and it backfired!

When gunmaker Dave Dolliver was getting out of the muzzleloadermaking business (he has retired), he was selling just about everything from his tools and machinery to his books.

Included in that “gunsmith’s garage sale” were some good-sized coffee cans filled with cast round balls of all general (and some unusual) sizes. I made sure those coffee cans of lead balls went back to my base camp and my first intention was to melt them all down and cast bullets for my own guns. Well, some sort of reasoning or simple laziness got in the way and I devised ways of using those alreadycast bullets.

FOR THE 20-GAUGE, I PICKED out several round balls and “checked” them for size by simply trying them in the muzzle of my 20-gauge Northwest gun. This gave me a rather good supply of ammo for that gun and I figured I was ready to hit the trail.

Some of those round balls were .600 inch in diameter and the bullets I

Round balls for the 20-gauge; they looked like they’d fit …

generally used, wrapped in a .015inch greased patch, are .595s. The .600s would load just a bit stiffer, I could feel the difference, but then some of those already-cast round balls would load very, very easily. I’m guessing those were .590s or even .580s … But I thought that shouldn’t make a real big difference with the trade gun because we’d be shooting at targets that riflemen will consider to be rather generous.

My shooting on the trail, and on the paper targets too, certainly proved me wrong. On one of the paper targets at the Trade Gun Frolic of western Washington state’s Evergreen Muzzleloaders club I remembered shooting five shots, with three of them using the tightly fitting balls and the other two with the loosefitting balls. I even considered using a thicker patch with the loose balls but, frankly, I wouldn’t know the difference

until the patched ball was already started at the muzzle.

That paper target had three very good hits, all close to the center, and two complete misses. At first, I didn’t want to give complete credit to the tight-fitting balls for those three good hits. But those must have been the ones that gave me those few points.

Another shooter, trying to express kindness, suggested that the other balls might have gone through those same holes. That would have been a grand idea, but such thoughts were washed away because one of the shots that missed didn’t completely miss; it barely clipped the edge of the paper at the very top of the target.

We were only to shoot at 10 targets on the trail for the Trade Gun Frolic and I have to realize that I did most of my shooting with the loosefitting balls. My score, as we finished americanshootingjournal.com 125

BLACK ACK POWDER Mike Moran’s often-used 20-gauge “canoe gun” with a 20-inch barrel.

shooting at those 10 targets, was only frankly, I don’t four hits. hits Just J speaking k recall ever doing that badly with my favorite Northwest gun before …

What size were those loose-fitting balls? I really don’t know and, speaking almost bluntly, I don’t care. They weren’t the right size and that’s all that matters. What this really sheds light on is the fact that, in my gun and most likely in most others, the ball size is much more important than what I had Moran (here) offered author Mike Nesbitt some advice on loading all those odd-sized cast round balls.

id d it to be. previously con considered BUT THERE’S MORE to this story and maybe the “other side of the coin.”

Another of those coffee cans full of cast balls held bullets of smaller sizes.

Those were being “dipped into” for bullets to use in my J. Kunz-style .50-caliber rifle. I’d “sieve” the bullets by trying them through a .50-caliber loading block; if the bullets passed through one of the holes in the loading

block, I guessed they were about the right size. Then with a bullet pouch filled with balls gleaned from the variety in the coffee can, I’d be off to the next rifle match.

Using those bullets was actually very good. Some would start at the muzzle much harder than the others and I assume those were .495s, while my usual or standard ball size for that .50 is .490 inch. While that difference was noted, I could really tell no particular difference in the performance. All of my shooting was offhand and maybe some difference might have been detected if the rifle and ball sizes had been tested from a benchrest. Anyway, it was that good shooting with my rifle that “led me down the path” with the odd-sized balls with the trade gun at the Trade Gun Frolic.

So, I must admit to a very elementary lesson being learned, or relearned. We can all easily understand why shooting the proper-sized patched balls in our trade guns would certainly be the best. That’s so basic, you might be wondering why I’m even relating this story about such a subject. The fact is, at least just as basic, I tried to get away with shooting the smaller balls because it was the easiest thing to do. Now I know better. Those oddsized balls that I have remaining will be melted down and recast with my Rapine .595-inch mold which will give me a good supply of trade gun balls for future shooting.

WHILE AT THE 43rd annual rendezvous

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BLACK POWDER of another Washington muzzeloading club, the Paul Bunyan Plainsmen, Mike Moran and I were lounging at his camp when our conversation wandered to this very subject. Mike commented that he had experienced almost similar doin’s when using patches that were too thin. He said that a thin patch will often “collapse” at the muzzle, curl to one side, and let the ball fall down the bore on its own. That, of course, is not what you want to happen if you are counting on getting a good hit with your next shot.

Of course, we could just shoot the unpatched ball out of the gun and start over again with a fresh load. That isn’t always possible, particularly while on the hunt or in some matches. Even so, we could do that if we were just sighting-in or trying loads. And if we were trying loads, clearing the old load completely before shooting again would be rather important.

Because patches have been

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mentioned, let me volunteer that I favor the .015-inch-thick lubed patches (as sold by my favorites, Bridger’s Best from The Gun Works) when shooting round ball out of my trade guns. If we compare those to the also very popular .010-inch patches, the slightly thicker .015-inch patches are just a little tougher (as if that should make any difference) and they are able to carry just a little more lube. Having a little more lube can make a difference in loading for subsequent shots.

I’ll probably always wonder if those smaller balls that gave me so much trouble at the Trade Gun Frolic would have shot more accurately if I had wrapped them in .020-inch patches when they were loaded. As it was, I had no idea what size ball I was going to get when I’d reach into the ball pocket while preparing the next load. So, this will remain simple speculation about the .020-inch patches because I really don’t want to do any testing of this nature.

Nesbitt throws some birdshot at a flying clay and registers some hits.

I’m more concerned with casting some .595s for the trade gun and loading those with the .015s, which are my ingredients for good loads. Even so, I will probably always wonder …

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HUNTING & FISHING HOUSE AT LAKE CLARK

Interior 4 bedroom, 2 full baths, cedar sauna, formal dining area with seating for 8, spacious living room with large picture windows, full size washer & dryer, wood burning heater, and LP heater, basement with plenty of storage. Kitchen with all modern amenities, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, oven, propane refrigerator, and stove.

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907 570 1309 Ideal for ďŹ shermen and hunters who want all the comforts of home.

Contact: Luda Gashenko Email: melaw329@gmail.com

Cedar siding, metal roof, carport, dock for boats and planes, garage with the generator room, front & back porch with charcoal barbeques, diesel industrial generator, septic tank, water well, 2 Honda ATVs, 15ft aluminum boat.

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Xtreme Components for the Xtreme Builder Gas Blocks and Tubes • Charging Handles Forward Assist Kits • Bolt Carrier Groups Dust Covers • Muzzle Devices • Pistol Grips Anti Rotation Kits • Buffer Tubes and Springs AXCTACTICAL.COM • sales@axctactical.com • 480-924-5200 130

American Shooting Journal // September 2018

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

CDNN SPORTS AR-15 556 S&W A3 stripped upper See us on page 34

LAYKE TACTICAL LT-10 lower receiver See us on page 71

THORDSEN CUSTOMS FRS-15 Gen III featureless AK-47 stock kit See us on page 17

VELOCITY TRIGGERS 3-pound curved trigger See us on page 130

SPINTA PRECISION 4.5-inch 9mm cold hammer forged stainless steel barrel See us on page 62

WMD GUNS NiB-X bolt carrier group See us on page 118

NIGHTFORCE OPTICS ATACR 4-16x50 riflescope See us on page 92

SPIKE’S TACTICAL Enhanced lower parts kit See us on page 83

LUTH-AR

AMERICAN BUILT ARMS COMPANY A*B Pro 5.56mm complete NiB assembly with manganese phosphate extractor See us on page 96

AXC TACTICAL Hive enhanced pistol grip See us on page 130

Model MK12 complete upper barrel assembly See us on page 9

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American Shooting Journal // August 2018

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

FROM FARM TO M-AR-KET

Timber Creek Outdoors makes rifle accessories right on the family’s Oregon homestead.

The Ambidextrous Safety Selector, or Ambi SS, is Timber Creek’s best-selling product.

PHOTOS BY TIMBER CREEK OUTDOORS INC.

T

imber Creek Outdoors Inc. is a family-owned company specializing in AR accessories. While the Springfield, Oregon, company was technically established in 2015, their journey in the outdoor/firearms industry started in 1979, when family patriarch Dewayne Tiller bought a patent for a plastic medical device and an injection molding machine to produce the device. Tiller soon realized, however, that he wanted to make products his family could be passionate about.

“Our family lives for the outdoors and it did not take my dad long to come up with a product he could manufacture in the outdoor industry,” explains Timber Creek’s Tyler Tiller.

“Over the next 35 years, we developed products for the fishing, archery and firearms industry. Becoming an OEM manufacturer, we did business with some huge names in the industry, such as Cabela’s, BowTech Archery and Leupold. In 2014, we decided

that our machine shop, which only made molds for the plastics side, was being underutilized. We made plans to open our CNC shop up to OEM work and start production machining.

An individual came to us with a napkin drawing of a Ruger 10/22 part.

After receiving a purchase order, we developed that product and went into production. That customer did not follow through and we were stuck with over $20,000 of uncoated products that were otherwise worthless to us.”

After a quick family meeting, the Tillers decided to get the parts anodized and sell the products themselves, turning this misfortune into a new business venture.

“Our manufacturing facility is located on the family farm, Timber Creek Ranch, and we could not find a name more fitting,” says Tiller.

“On January 17, 2015, Timber Creek Outdoors was born. After years of manufacturing parts for other people, we finally had our own brand! As we reached out to local gun shops, we discovered the exciting AR market and saw an opportunity to put our years of

product development experience to work. Fast forward three years, we now have over 60 products and 800 Timber Creek dealers nationwide.”

One of the initial products Timber Creek produced for the AR industry was a skeletonized trigger guard, still one of their most popular products.

“At the time we were the only manufacturer on the market to produce a trigger guard that was machined to remove all the material possible and truly skeletonized. This product was not only a sexy add-on to any modern sporting rifle, it was also affordable,” says Tiller.

The Oversized Trigger Guard was their best-selling product until the fall of 2017, when the company launched the Ambidextrous Safety Selector.

“The Timber Creek Ambi SS solved many common problems associated with ambi safeties,” explains Tiller.

“We provided one long lever and one short lever so that you do not get contact on your trigger finger. These levers are also modular so that a lefthanded shooter can reverse them. Our safety also gives the user the ability to americanshootingjournal.com 133

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

All of Timber Creek’s products come in nine different stock colors, making it fun and easy for shooters to customize their ARs. (Right) The Tiller family owns and operates Timber Creek Outdoors.

choose between standard 90-degree and 45-degree short throw. Pairing that with a look that customers love and unmatched mechanical function, the Timber Creek safety flies off the shelf and consumers love it.”

Up next for Timber Creek is a charging handle that has been in development for almost a year. Says Tiller, “We have made it through the prototyping stages and are in production! Our plan is to release the charging handle as soon as our patent is filed. If we do not hit any delays in the patent filing process, these charging handles should be available through dealers nationwide

this month.”

Tiller says that the number one thing their customers like about Timber Creek products is the color options. All of their products come stock in nine different colors, and there are five additional custom colors available to dealers.

“This allows the average person with a tactical rifle to have a rifle that reflects his or her own personal taste, as well as making that rifle different from others on the range,” explains Tiller. “In addition to our color options, shooters love that our parts will reduce the weight of a rifle, are affordable, look cool, and are 100-percent made in the USA.”

Timber Creek Outdoors is a young company that is enjoying its growing success in the outdoor industry. But, says Tiller, “None of our growth over the last couple years would have been possible without the support of our faithful dealer network. Lastly, we love to hear from our customers.

Whether it is a picture posted to one of our social media pages, a long email on new product suggestions, or a short and sweet message sent to us, we want to hear from you!”

Editor’s note: For more info, new products or to find a local dealer, visit timbercreekoutdoorsinc.com.

Top Quality Custom Built AR Weapon Systems at a great price Hand Guns Shotguns Bolt Action Rifles Firearm Accessories Cleaning Gear Gunsmithing

Grunt model

chambered in 5.56 with a 16” barrel

601 104th St SE Minot, ND 58701 | Phone: 701-839-0005 134

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American Shooting Journal // September 2018