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Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

westernshootingjournal.com 7

WESTERN

SHOOTING JOURNAL

Volume 2 // ISSUE 11 // July 2014 PUBLISHER

James R. Baker ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Dick Openshaw

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andy Walgamott EDITOR

Rachel Alexander LEAD CONTRIBUTOR

Frank Jardim

CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Burchett, Larry Case, Tom Claycomb III, Christopher von Cocoles, Norman Gray, Phyllis Gross, Scott Haugen, Christine Huntress, Joey Hurst, Mike Nesbitt, Daniel Scott, Bob Shell, Keith Sipmann, Robin Taylor SALES MANAGER

Brian Lull

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Lee Balliet, Becca Ellingsworth, Shawna Flores-Cravens, Mamie Griffin, Mike Herring, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold DESIGNERS

Dawn Carlson, Beth Harrison, Sonjia Kells PRODUCTION MANAGER

John Rusnak

OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING

Audra Higgins

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Katie Sauro

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn

INBOUND MARKETING

Jon Hines

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Heidi Belew

DISTRIBUTION

Tony Sorrentino, Gary Bickford, Barry Johnston ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

ads@westernshootingjournal.com

ON THE COVER Norissa Harman (left) and Jenifer Adams decided to start designing outdoors apparel out of Harman’s garage in Red Bluff, Calif. Now, Girls With Guns has a full-time staff of eight, produces their fashion and accessories from a 5,000-square-foot warehouse, and their clothes are sometimes worn by the Palins. (CLARK MARTEN PHOTOGRAPHY) Inset: Larysa Switlyk has been a tremendous role model for young girls interested in hunting, shooting, and/or archery. (LARYSA SWITLYK) Contact the editor at ralexander@media-inc.com. Get daily updates at westernshootingjournal.com. Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Pinterest.

MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S. Ste. 190 • Tukwila,WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

CONTENTS

VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 11 • JULY 2014

GIRL POWER! In this first of our 3-part series on the top women in the firearms industry, we bring you exclusive interviews with women role models, from business executives and law enforcement to elected government officials and accessory makers who enjoy shooting.

(GIRLS WITH GUNS)

FEATURES 27

Western Shooting Journal Visits Raahauge Hands-on Shooting Sports Fair 2014 We were there in late May for this beautiful outdoor gun show in southern California, where we got to try out all kinds of cool guns, and meet some of the leaders of the gun industry – and we came back with the pics to prove it!

Huge Hunting Handgun Takes Out The Biggest And Baddest

113

The Smooth Duck Hunter

133

Buffalo Bill’s and Custer’s gun of choice is enjoying a comeback in popularity.

COMPETITIONS: The MotherDaughter Dynasty Of 3-Gun Meet top competitors Kay and Lena Miculek, and learn how Lena, at just 17 years old, finally beat her mother to win Mossberg’s 3-Gun Lady Championship.

121

BLACK POWDER: A Beginner Tackles The .50-70

ARCHERY: Hooked On Hunting

139

Gator-sticking Larysa Switlyck, host of TV’s Larysa Unleashed, dishes on her show and how she got into hunting.

The .44 Magnum was king of the hill, but with interest in super-powered revolvers and cartridges on the rise, you’ll want to check out Freedom Arms’ .454 Casull. Yes, it’s the Waterfowl Edition, but with that Advantage Max-4 camo and chambering for 3-inchers, Mossberg’s 930 just may be seen in the turkey woods too.

103

145

SCATTERGUNNER: The Trail Of The Scattergun Our new shotgun columnist, Larry Case, tells us why the CZ Upland Ultra-Light O/U, Mossberg 500 Flex System 20 Gauge, and Remington Versa Max are his three favorite scatterguns.

Fourth of July BBQ Tips and Tricks Want your Indepedence Day barbecue to be the best? Malcom Killebrew of MAK’s Chicken & Ribs in California explains the secret to his award-winning meat – well, everything but the exact sauce recipe, which is a top secret.

My First Mountain Lion Follow along as Christina Huntress stalks her first cougar, a big old nasty trophy tom, in Arizona’s wilderness.

Five Famous American Flags A look back at the patriotic history of the United States through some of our most cherished flags, which were mainly designed during war.

151

Q&A With The Godfather Of The Preppers Well before the Zombie Apocalypse lurched across the land, and way before survivalists could even tell you what SHTF stood for there was James Talmage Stevens. The best-selling author of Making the Best of Basics explains what preparedness actually is, and how preparing for the rise of the undead is a misnomer.

WESTERN SHOOTING JOURNAL is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Ave South Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2014 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

CONTENTS ROADHUNTER: Going Hog Wild Our far-traveling, bacon-hungry hog hunter Scott Haugen details top hunts for feral pigs in California, Texas and Hawaii!

125

ALSO INSIDE 42 55 159 163

What Is All The Brouhaha About FrogLube? Wild Bunch – Not Just Cowboy Action Shooting With 1911s, It Turns Out Yay Or Nay? Automatic Knife For Everyday Carry The Keys To Safe Reloading

DEPARTMENTS 15 17 19 21 23 31 35 99

Editor’s Note News: Bookstore Clerk Holds Off Robber With Handgun Gun Show Calendar Competition Calendar Reader Snapshots Guns Of Our Fathers: Growing Up With A Hunter Father Range Spotlight: Eagle Eye Indoor Range & Gun Shop Product Feature (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

EDITOR’S NOTE

e’re celebrating women and the Fourth of July here at Western Shooting Journal this month. Women have made leaps and bounds in the firearms industry over the past few years, and so in this issue, we talk with and profile a few of the top executives in our p. 63 feature, Girl Power! According to a Gallup poll, between 2005 and 2011, the percentage of women who own a gun increased from 13 to 23 percent. There are now so many firearms businesses catering to women that I frequently hear debates over it. Should you buy a pink gun? Should you buy a smaller gun for smaller hand sizes, or do the recoil and lesser accuracy outweigh any benefit? Do you opt for women-only firearms training? I love the fact women are having

these discussions and options, and Western Shooting Journal is on the cutting edge when it comes to our female readers. I frequently meet people who tell me they’ve never met a female editor of a gun magazine before. Honestly, I’ve now met so many other female gun magazine editors that I don’t think anything of it. I’ve been shooting regularly since about age 22. I’ve also been told by readers that Western Shooting Journal has more female contributors than other gun magazines. Well, we do everything we can to make sure the magazine is as interesting to women as much as it is to men. Did you know that some of the earliest American flags were sewn by a woman, Betsy Ross, and may have even been designed by her? This is despite women’s designated inferior

role in our early days as a country. Check out our feature for the Fourth of July on historical U.S. flags (p. 139). And by popular demand, we’ve brought back the free flag decal for your vehicle window. Happy Fourth of July from the gang at Western Shooting Journal! Hunting trophies at The Safari Club International trailer at Raahauge Shooting Sports Fair.

westernshootingjournal.com 15

PRIMER NEWS // CALENDARS // READER PHOTOS

NEWS

ROCK BEATS SCISSORS, PISTOL BEATS MACE

ARTICLE BY FRANK JARDIM PHOTOS COURTESY OF KCCI

Jessica McDonald shows how she held off a robber with a .40-caliber pistol.

robbery was foiled and tragedy averted in a Fort Dodge, Iowa, used textbook shop on May 21, thanks to quick thinking and thoughtful planning. The quick thinking was demonstrated by 22-year-old clerk Jessica McDonald, who ran off the wouldbe robber with a .40-caliber Springfield Armory XD pistol after he came into the store demanding money and shoving a can of pepper spray in her face. The reason Ms. McDonald could arm herself was because her boss, Paul Tigges, had the foresight to put a loaded pistol in the store safe for the employees to protect themselves in just such an occurrence. The young Ms. McDonald is beautiful, friendly and petite, and probably seemed like an easy target to the rob-

ber, a man in his 50s. He was not satisfied when McDonald told him the store had no cash at 9 a.m. She seized the moment when a ringing phone distracted the robber, grabbed the pistol, pointed it at him and backed away.

Realizing he had made a potentially fatal error in bringing mace to a gunfight, the man fled with McDonald pursing him and yelling to bystanders to call 911. The irony of the story is that Ms. McDonald never thought she or anyone else would ever have to use the weapon. In an interview she stated, “It was shocking to me when I started here that there is a gun, and I always thought it was over the top and we didn’t need it, but I’m very glad that we have it.” Thankfully, Ms. McDonald learned a valuable lesson cheaply during this potentially deadly encounter. Unfortunately, many of her peers remain utterly clueless about the reality that violent crime can occur at any time and any place, and prudent people know the consequences of a lack of preparation. That’s why they prepare. WSJ

westernshootingjournal.com 17

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

PRIMER

GUNSHOW C A L E N D A R

Houston Gun Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center. (WIKIPEDIA)

5–6 Belton Gun Show, Belton, Texas Ft. Worth Lone Star Gun Show, Ft. Worth, Texas Las Vegas Gun Show, Las Vegas, Nev. Longmont Hunting & Sportsmen Gun Show, Longmont, Colo. Missoula Gun Show, Missoula, Mont. Oklahoma TNT Gun & Knife Show, Oklahoma City, Okla. Saxet San Antonio Gun Show, San Antonio, Texas

11 – 13 Bozeman Gun Show, Bozeman, Mont.

12 ACSWW Gun Show, Vancouver, Wash.

12 – 13 Astoria Gun and Knife Show, Astoria, Ore. Boise Gun Show, Boise, Idaho Centralia Gun Show, Centralia, Wash. Del Mar Gun Show, Del Mar, Calif. Ferndale Gun Show, Ferndale, Wash. Fresno Gun Show, Fresno, Calif. Henderson Western Trails Gun and Knife Show, Henderson, Nev. Hunting & Sportsmen’s Gun Show, Loveland, Colo.

Lancaster Gun Show, Lancaster, Calif. Mesquite Gun Show, Mesquite, Texas Oklahoma City Gun Show, Oklahoma City, Okla. Pasadena Gun & Knife Show, Pasadena, Texas Peacemaker Tucson Gun Show, Tucson, Ariz. Prospectors Sertoma Colorado Springs Gun Show, Colorado Springs, Colo. San Angelo Gun & Blade Show, San Angelo, Texas Topeka Gun Show, Topeka, Kan. WAC Monroe Gun Show, Monroe, Wash.

19 – 20

Wisdom Gun Show, Wisdom, Mont.

Brazos Valley Gun Show, Glen Rose, Texas Burleson Gun Show, Burleson, Texas Denver Gun Show, Denver, Colo. Dewey Gun Show, Dewey, Okla. Irving Premier Gun Show, Irving, Texas Lewis Clark Trader Gun Show, Spokane, Wash. Longview Gun Show, Longview, Texas Lufkin Gun & Knife Show, Lufkin, Texas Phoenix Gun Show, Phoenix, Ariz. Santa Barbara Historical Arms Show, Santa Barbara, Calif. Seguin Gun Show, Seguin, Texas Vallejo Gun Show, Vallejo, Calif. Wichita Century II Gun Show, Wichita, Kan.

26 – 27

Oregon Arms Gun Shows, Portland, Ore.

20 – 21 Metcalf Oklahoma City Gun Show, Oklahoma City, Okla.

25 – 27 Kalispell Up In Arms Gun Show, Kalispell, Mont.

Cisco Gun and Knife Show, Cisco, Texas Colorado Springs Hunting & Sportsmen Show, Colorado Springs, Colo. Conroe Gun & Knife Show, Conroe, Texas Heart Land Gun Show, Stillwater, Okla. Kingsland Gun Show, Kingsland, Texas Lubbock Gun & Blade Show, Lubbock, Texas Overland Park Gun Show, Overland Park, Kan. Reno Gun Show, Reno, Nev. Sierra Vista Collectibles & Firearms, Sierra Vista, Ariz. Tulsa Gun & Knife Show, Tulsa, Okla. Utah Valley Gun Show, Provo, Utah

westernshootingjournal.com 19

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

PRIMER

COMPETITION C A L E N D A R

1–6 State Trap Program, San Antonio, Texas

3–6 SASS State Championship Shootout at Pawnee Station, Nunn, Colo.

4 Let Freedom Ring-Warm-Up (cowboy mounted shooting), Gainesville, Texas

4–6 SASS Alaska Territorial Championship Shootout Under The Midnight Sun, Anchorage, Alaska Coeur d’ Alene Regional Shoot (cowboy mounted shooting), Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

5 Firecracker Blow Out/Border Wars (cowboy mounted shooting), Jet, Okla. Shootn for Freedom (cowboy mounted shooting), Loveland, Colo.

Allie “Allie-cat” Barrett, age 17, has won numerous competitions at the NSSF Rimfire Challenge. (TERRY DALTON)

City/Mimbres, N.M. SASS Minnesota State Championship North Star Showdown, Kimball, Minn. SASS Oregon State Black Powder Championship Smokin’ Gunfight in the Badlands, Bend, Ore.

12 No Strings Attatched #3 (cowboy mounted shooting), Ellensburg, Wash. 2014 Great Plains Sectional Championship (pistol), Louisville, Neb.

12 – 13

SASS Oregon State Championship Shootout at Saddle Butte, Albany, Ore. Oregon Trail Shootout, La Grande, Ore.

19 FAS & Furious (pistol), Fairbanks, Alaska Clayfest (clay sports), San Antonio, Texas Youth Safari Day Shoot (cowboy mounted shooting), Corona, Calif.

20 Monthly PTO, International Pistol Matches, Arcadia, Okla. NCOWS Shooting, Greenville, Texas NCOWS Shooting, Mount Ayr, Iowa Roy Rogers Rangers Mounted Shooting Event, Moreno Valley, Calif.

Midwest Regional Revolver Championship, Elkhart, Iowa NCOWS Shooting Match, Greenville, Texas Will Shoot for Food III (cowboy mounted shooting), Wessington Springs, S.D. Let Freedom Ring 1 (cowboy mounted shooting), Gainsville, Texas

Renegade Shootout, Idaho Mid Central Regional Championship (cowboy mounted shooting), Beggs, Okla. Lincoln County War (cowboy mounted shooting), Captain, N.M. Shootout at the Fair (cowboy mounted shooting), Mason City, Iowa Cripple Creek (cowboy mounted shooting), Cripple Creek, Colo. Washington State Championship Shoot (trap), Renton, Wash. Dallas Gun Club Summer Match II (trap), Dallas, Texas Ghost Riders in the Sky (cowboy mounted shooting), Turlock, Calif.

6 – 13

14 – 16

2014 USAS Shotgun National Junior Olympic Champion (trap, skeet), Colorado Springs, Colo.

NRA Silhouette National Championships (smallbore rifle), Raton, N.M.

Road to the Westerns-Jackpot (cowboy mounted shooting), Williams, Ariz.

16 – 17

29 – 30

Western North Central Regional (cowboy mounted shooting), Spearfish, S.D.

NRA Silhouette National Championships (black powder cartridge rifle scope), Raton, N.M.

5–6

9 – 12 NRA Silhouette National Championships (hunter’s pistol), Raton, N.M.

11 – 13 SASS Alaska State Championship, Chatanika, Alaska SASS State Championship Shootout On the Sun River, Simms, Mont. The Geronimo Trail Shootout, Silver

17 – 19

22 – 25 NRA Silhouette National Championships (cowboy rifle), Raton, N.M.

26 – 27 California State Trap Championship, El Monte, Calif. Cedar Hill Jr Gun Club PTO (pistol, rifle), Idaho Falls, Idaho

Castle Gate Robbery, Price, Utah

18 – 20

2014 Hornady Area 3 Championship (pistol), Grand Island, Neb.

NRA Silhouette National Championships (high-power rifle), Raton, N.M.

Visit westernshootingjournal.com for more events.

westernshootingjournal.com 21

PRIMER

TOP SHOTS Keith Sipmann of Arizona shows off some of his tactical skills with his Benelli Nova Tactical 12-gauge shotgun and Glock 34.

westernshootingjournal.com 23

PRIMER

READER TOP SHOTS

Oregon’s Scott Haugen took this giant brown bear in Alaska. It squared 10 feet, 9 inches, and the skull measured 29 1⁄4 inches. The trooper who sealed and measured it said it was the biggest he’d seen to that point of the season. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Christopher Willden fires a Salient Arms Glock19 Tier 1, a MP5 SD with three pieces of brass coming out, and a Rifle Dynamics AK at Strategic Tactical Group, LLC, in Utah.

Laura Koellman enjoys some shooting fun with her M & P15 in Bedford, Texas.

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER!

Beth Wallace, stoked to be on her first hunting trip, looks for rabbits in Lockwood Valley, Calif. She’s carrying an ATI M4-22 and Springfield XD9 sidearm.

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

Congratulations to Keith Sipmann for winning the Readers’ Top Shots contest for June! Each month, the reader who submits the best photo will receive an AmmOMug of their choice from ammomug.com. Submit your best reader photos to us at ralexander@media-inc.com. You can also submit videos for our website.

RAAHAUGE'S 2014 SHOOTING SPORTS FAIR W

estern Shooting Journal was at the 2014 Raahauge’s Shooting Sports Fair in late May, one of the biggest gun shows in the Western United States. This show is unique, because attendees can actually try out guns before buying them. You can visit booths of major gun manufacturers like Remington, and for $3, test shoot three shots from virtually any kind of firearm – including major cal-

ibers. It’s a small enough show that attendees can interact within minutes with many of the top hunters and shooters in the industry, as we did, and it’s all located outdoors near sunny L.A. You’re not going to find all that at other major gun shows. Although founder Mike Raahauge passed away last year, we remember and commend his amazing efforts in a state which has turned mostly hostile to gun owners. You drive out to

his range, and it’s a peaceful, at-home, Wild West but comfortable feeling. We recorded a pictorial of our experience there, and recommend this gun show to anyone looking for a fun outing in a sunny area where you can be around fellow Second Amendment patriots who love to shoot guns. We had a blast (no pun intended) and promise you will too. Where else can you go to shoot all the cool guns – including the biggest ones – for $3? The California State Military Reserve lets anyone step inside their tank and pose with its .50 caliber.

Five-time Olympic medal winner Kim Rhode kindly let me pose with her medals at the Beretta booth.

California gubernatorial candidate Robert Newman (center) had some of the most interesting staffers. I could not tear myself away from these energetic folks.

This man told us he hears frequently that he looks like the guys on Duck Dynasty, and we’ve got the photo to prove it.

The Cisko Kid, aka Gil Guerra Jr. (mastergunfighter.com ), has won the fastest gun alive contest three times, and holds the world record. westernshootingjournal.com 27

The California State Military Reserve is an all-volunteer association that assists local law enforcement. They kindly let us pose for photos with this .50 cal.

One of the coolest booths was CALGUNS, where AR-15s which had been modified in order to comply with California’s restrictive gun laws were displayed. They looked rather silly.

The best part about Raahauge, in contrast to other gun shows, it is outside in the Southern California sunshine.

I met Paul Schrader, candidate for sheriff of San Bernadino County, Calif. Currently a deputy county sheriff and a Marine Corps veteran, he is running on a constitution platform.

One of the best parts of Raahauge was watching the hound dogs chase a fake raccoon across a pond and up a tree.

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, who was running for governor of California on the Republican platform, greeted fair attendees as they walked up to the entrance.

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

I was extremely grateful for the helpful way Aaron Banks from Freedom Group showed me how to me shoot Remington’s R-25 modular repeating rifle, an AR-10type rifle, and a firearm he himself owns. The scope was so precise I easily made two out of three shots.

One of the hound dogs could climb trees in a couple of seconds, chasing the fake raccoon.

“Montego,” who enjoys cowboy shooting at the Redondo Rod & Gun Club, discovered Western Shooting Journal a year prior at Raahauge, and has been one of our biggest fans ever since.

I was thrilled to meet one of our advertisers, Charmaine Yamamoto of Line-X Monrovia, which makes spray-in truck bedliners.

Show-goers Rene and Christina pose in front of Sig Sauer’s decked-out van.

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LOUISIANA Mark T. Garber, Attorney at Law L.L.C. 337-234-5500 garberlawyer.com

UTAH Alder Law Group, P.C. 801-463-2600 alder-robb.com

OHIO Barney DeBrosse, LLC, Attorneys at Law 614-326-1919 debrosselaw.com

WASHINGTON Law Offices of Bill Baker & Associates 509-327-7567 billbakerlaw.net Law Offices of Mark Knapp 253-202-2081 firearmslawyer.net

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Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

Guns Of Our FatherS

GROWING UP WITH A HUNTER FATHER ARTICLE BY RACHEL ALEXANDER • PHOTOS BY EVELYN MCCOMAS

velyn McComas, who our family knows from church, grew up with a dad who liked to shoot and hunt. Bert Harlow (aka H.A., or Henry Albert) was born in Missouri in 1891. When he was just 3 months old, his father, a doctor, moved the family to Washington state, where they lived on the beach in Silverdale briefly until they found a house. His dad eventually became the mayor of Bremerton. Bert graduated from high school in Bremerton, and embarked on an interesting career. As a young man, he sailed on a ship to China, where he carried his .32-caliber Smith & Wesson – which probably saved his life there. Later in life, he went to college in Bellingham, Wash. He became a teacher and principal in Ellensburg, Wash. Following that, he worked at Standard Oil in Richmond, Calif. In 1946, he moved the family back to Washington, where they lived on Kitsap Lake, which was a great open area for target shooting at the time. He molded and reloaded his own bullets, and taught Evelyn how to help. He would scour books to learn more about the process. The family would joke that they were his “gun bibles,” because he’d read about certain weight and grams to create certain trajectories, and would spout off all the figures. Bert and his brother would sit and argue over them for hours by the fireplace. For years Bert’s shotguns and rifles sat leaning up against the wall next to

Bert Harlow and his friend and coworker Hank Francis of Standard Oil’s Rod & Gun Club return from duck hunting in the 1940s. Bert is on the right with his 12-gauge shotgun.

that fireplace. In later years, he had a rack that held four rifles. The .32 Winchester Special lever action was always

his favorite gun. A Winchester .348 became his favorite hunting rifle in later years. He named an old muzzleloading

westernshootingjournal.com 31

Guns Of Our FatherS pistol he acquired the “Old Blunderbuss.” Evelyn had no idea where he acquired some of his guns. He also had a 12-gauge shotgun and went duck hunting with Hank Francis, who attended the same church and worked at Standard Oil with him. They were both in the company’s Rod & Gun Club. In 1940, while deer hunting in Butte County, Calif., he harvested a 4-point buck, a deer with antlers so symmetrical that he mounted the head over the fireplace. He also had the hide tanned, and Evelyn’s mother hung it over a chest at the foot of the bed. Bert and his brother came home very hungry late one night late after a deer hunting expedition. Evelyn’s mother and the rest of the kids got up at midnight, as their father cut the backstrap off the deer (the part you can get to quickly after harvesting a deer; it is very tender and doesn’t need to age). They had backstrap and eggs at midnight. For the next few days, Bert would

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

Bert Harlow with a 4-point buck he shot in 1940 using his .32 Winchester Special, the gun that probably saved his life in China.

hang the deer in the shop adjacent to the house to age the meat. He’d wash it down with water every day, smell it and cut out anything that might be spoiling. Bert avidly read gun catalogs, and once came across a rifle with a rolling block action. He was so intrigued by it that Evelyn bought him one as a gift. He never actually shot it; his curiosity just made him want to see how it worked and add it to his collection. Toward his later years, he and his hunting partner became discouraged with the sport because it had become so crowded, so for a couple of years they crossed over the Cascades to Okanogan County, in north-central Washington, to avoid the hordes. Bert handed down the guns down to Evelyn’s son and his grandsons before he passed away, keeping them all within the family. One grandson received the reloading tools and molds for bullets, and the family tradition lives on. WSJ

westernshootingjournal.com 33

range spotlight

EAGLE EYE INDOOR RANGE & GUN SHOP ARTICLE BY FRANK JARDIM • PHOTO BY EAGLE EYE INDOOR RANGE & GUN SHOP

n the northwest suburbs of St. Louis, Mo., just off I-70, you’ll find Eagle Eye Indoor Range and Gun Shop. The building at 851 Pic Parkway in Wentzville, Mo., looks suspiciously like a Burger King, because that is exactly what is was before Tom Schlansker bought it and turned into the area’s newest and most technologically advanced range and gun shop. I’m very glad he did, because this country needs shooting ranges a lot more than it needs 2,000-calorie lunches. When I first started shooting in the previous century, indoor ranges were often not the most pleasant places to practice. I remember the introduction of nylon-clad bullets in an attempt to reduce the lead contamination in the air. My experiences in dim, stuffy, indoor ranges led me to avoid them for decades. Technology has changed a lot since then, and nowhere is it more apparent than at Eagle Eye. They have created an indoor shooting experience that is really delightful and safe. Dangerous microscopic airborne-lead dust from bullet impacts, as well as ricochets, are all but eliminated. They hired Action Targets of Provo, Utah, to design a facility that is state of the art using their Total Containment Trap (TCT) system. Each of the 12, 25-yard shooting lanes has an Advanced

AR500 armor-plate bullet-trap system to capture projectiles, fragments and dust. A dual HEPA air filter ventilation system removes 99.9 percent of airborne contaminates, which means Eagle Eye Range air is cleaner than the air in most homes. It’s also climate controlled to ensure a comfortable range environment year-round. This is a full-line gun shop that carries a lot of major brand firearms, accessories and ammunition. Guns are rented by the hour for as little as $10. Unlike a lot of ranges, Eagle Eye lets you try as many different guns as you can in the hour-long rental period. Naturally, you must buy the ammo from the range for the rental guns. When you are trying to decide which gun is right for you, this try-beforeyou-buy option allows you to make informed decisions. They also rent machine guns. You can shoot a 30round magazine through one of their many classic Thompson Submachine Guns for $30 for the first magazine and $27 for each additional magazine. If you fancy a belt-fed light machine gun, they have both a WWII Browning M1919 and a Vietnam era M60. Eagle Eye holds a manufacturer’s Class 07 FFL, and has a nationally renowned, full-time master gunsmith with over 25 years experience on staff. Their services are too extensive to fully

list in this story. They can restore your grandpa’s 1892 lever action, mount a scope on your Model 700 or tune up your competition race gun in-house. They also offer the full range of firearms refinishing services, from traditional hot bluing to Cerakote and everything in between. They even manufacture their own brand of Eagle Eye silencers in rifle calibers from .30 down and pistol calibers from .45 ACP down. If you want instruction, Eagle Eye offers a full curriculum for beginning youth and advanced marksman, including the class required for issue of a Missouri concealed weapons license. All instruction is done in-house, and oneon-one sessions are available and quite popular with inexperienced women shooters seeking self-defense training. By the time this goes to press, Eagle Eye will have had their grand opening, but don’t feel like you’ve missed out. Every month, they hold a “poker shoot” where, for $8, shooters can test their skills with seven rounds at a target displaying all 52 cards in a standard deck. The prize is a new gun from their inventory. Shooters compete at 10 yards with the gun to be awarded as a prize, and the best hand wins. So far, they have awarded a Springfield XDS, a Glock 42, and a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. WSJ Editor’s note: For more information, visit eagleeyeusa.net. Their 16-person staff keeps the facility open seven days a week. Their hours on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can contact them at (363) 887-GUNS (4867). westernshootingjournal.com 35

GUN REVIEWS

HUGE HUNTING HANDGUN TAKES OUT THE BIGGEST AND BADDEST Freedom Arms’ .454 Casull ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY BOB SHELL

If you want a top-drawer hunting handgun and have the bucks, the powerful .454 Casull might be it.

ithin the last few years, a number of super-powered revolver cartridges came out that have been hyped by various gun makers. They include anything from the .480 Ruger to the .460 and .500 Smith & Wesson magnums. Some of them do equal or exceed the .454 in power, but at a cost of more recoil or weight. As far as factory revolvers, the .44 Magnum was the king of the hill until the .454 came out in 1957. Dick Casull and Jack Fulmer experimented with a .45 Colt caselengthened 1⁄10-inch to prevent chambering in a .45 Colt. Specially modified Colt and Ruger revolvers were made to handle the pressures involved in this cartridge. Freedom Arms came out

with a high-quality, five-shot, singleaction revolver for this cartridge. The Model 83 is built like a safe and will last a lifetime. Because of the high pressures involved, only the best built guns will survive for any length of time. If you want a top-drawer hunting handgun and have the bucks, this would be a good option. The .454 is designed as a hunting handgun, capable of taking the biggest and baddest out there. It has been used

worldwide on everything that walks. The downside is the recoil isn’t for the faint of heart. When you drive a 350-grain slug at over 1,500 feet per second, something has to give. The recoil is brutal with the heavy loads. A trip to the range proved interesting in several ways. When I do a T&E (testing and evaluation) on a gun, when possible, I have several other people shoot it to get a good overview of performance. In this instance, most people were reluctant to try it with full loads,

THE .45 COLT ROUND CAN BE LOADED TO HANDLE LARGE GAME WITHOUT CLEANING OUT YOUR SINUSES. westernshootingjournal.com 37

GUN REVIEWS and I can’t blame them. Some of the other victims shot it once or twice and had enough. One of my friends was struck in the head, as he wasn’t holding it correctly and quickly realized his error. We found out that shooting a lot of heavy loads will cause your hand to get red and swollen. I put on a set of rubber grips which helped out. Those who are able to handle the recoil quickly realized that they were shooting a real gem. The trigger pull is very light and crisp, which aids in accuracy. To help wring out the best, I put on a Leupold VX-3 scope, which also performed well during the shooting sessions. With such a gun, a cheaply made scope should be avoided as it will eventually come apart. With a Leupold quality scope, problems don’t exist. With the better loads, groups at 100 yards will rival some rifles. Another fine quality of this gun is the ability to shoot .45 Colt and .45

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

Schofield ammo. Most of the shooters involved in this test appreciated that fact. The .45 Colt ammo is much easier on the hand and performs well. Keep in mind that if you shoot shorter ammo in it, thoroughly clean the cylinder before returning to the .454. Failure to do that can result in dangerous pressure spikes. The other option is to purchase an extra .45 Colt cylinder, which I did. The Model 83 comes in several calibers and there are some options and accessories available. I shot a fair share of the hot loads in order to obtain the data I needed, but it was done over a period of time to avoid unnecessary pain. I don’t want to scare anyone off, because you can shoot .45 Colt loads and get excellent results without the recoil. The .45 Colt round can be loaded to handle large game without cleaning out your sinuses. They perform well and almost anyone can shoot and enjoy them. I highly recommend using them for a vast majority

of your shooting and save the .454 ammo for show or a hunt for dangerous game such as a grizzly. That would be a legitimate use for the full-power loads. There is a good selection of bullets suitable for this round. If you are reloading full-power loads, caution is necessary when selecting a bullet. If it isn’t stout enough it can separate leaving a piece of the jacket in the barrel. Trying to shoot the jacket out will give you an opportunity to see how expensive a replacement barrel is. With lower power loads, common bullets can be used, which is easier on the hand and pocketbook. WSJ Editor’s note: For more information, visit freedomarms.com. Bob Shell is a writer for international magazines, whose areas of expertise are old guns, reloading and various product reviews and similar topics. He owns a small ammunition business which specializes in hard-to-get and obsolete ammo.

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GUN REVIEWS

THE SMOOTH DUCK HUNTER Mossberg’s 930 Waterfowl Edition ARTICLE BY MIKE BURCHETT Mossberg 930 Waterfowl Edition.

o you have the desire to own a well-built, American-made semi-auto shotgun? What if it was dipped in Advantage Max-4 camo? Well, the Mossberg 930 Waterfowl Edition will be sure to check all these off your wish list. Sporting a 28-inch ported barrel, tang-mounted safety and large slide stop controls, you will be ready for a cold morning’s duck hunt with one hot shooting shotgun. If you’re not a waterfowler, mount a scope to the drilled and tapped receiver, and change the choke to an XX-Full and start calling in gobblers on in the turkey woods. I received my sample with anticipa-

tion. I was concerned the gun might have feeding issues with low-base target loads, since it is chambered for 23⁄4and 3-inch magnum shells. I was afraid the recoil spring would be too stiff to allow the low-pressure rounds to cycle well. I was wrong. Anything I fed it, it ate. And boy did it love to eat. Magnums mixed with target loads fed like a dream. Not a single hiccup. Between two trips afield, two trips to the range and just a trip out in the brush, I had no failures to feed, failures to extract or jams of any kind while cycling more than 250 rounds. The weather had no effect either, as one trip was 15 degrees, and another

The Mossberg 930 proved capable for the duck hunting author and daughter. (MIKE BURCHETT)

Manufacturer: Mossberg & Sons Model: 930 Waterfowl Edition Barrel length: 28 inches Action type: Auto Loading Finish: Advantage Max-4 MSRP: $759

gave us the opportunity to be nearly drowned by buckets of rain. At first look, the 930 looked huge. The extra inches on the barrel leads you to believe you won’t be able to reach everything. I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that even I, at only 5 foot, 7 inches, was able to handle it with ease. I was comfortable because the factory-installed fiber-optic sights aligned as though I had been using the shotgun for years. The ported barrel makes for a bit less recoil. My 15-year-old daughter used this beauty on ducks and without a single complaint about recoil. In fact, the only one complaining was me. She wouldn’t let me use it. I was stuck using her youth-model 20-gauge pump. If you’re in the market for a new shotgun, check out the 930. This model is available in many configurations like the High Performance Autoloader, with a capacity of 13, or the new Duck Commander edition. Mossberg has given us many options for all the needs in our shooting lives. Be safe, protect your ears and share your passion with someone new. WSJ westernshootingjournal.com 41

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Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

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WHAT IS THE ALL THE BROUHAHA ABOUT FROGLUBE THE SECRET BEHIND THE WILDLY POPULAR FIREARMS CLEANING LUBRICANT

urrently, over 2,000 regional dealers and distributors distribute FrogLube, which are mostly the smaller independent, small town resellers. It is an American made product, conceived, designed and manufactured by a Service Disabled, Combat Veteran Owned Small Business Enterprise and directly supported by the sales generated bytens of thousands of performance seeking, gun owners, military troops, law enforcement officers, competitors and firearms maintenance professionals. Larry Lasky, the manufacturer of FrogLube, stumbled into the business of firearms lubricant completely by accident. A former Navy SEAL Captain, he’d served 32 years in the military, finally retiring from service in 2008. He started a consulting business, where he was approached by a dealer of biologically-friendly lubricant used by mechanics in heavy industry, who wanted him toexpose a natural lubricant to military buyers. From this, he developed his own formula, and to make a long story short, the attempt to reach out to the U.S. militaryfailed miserably. Lasky continued shooting with active duty SEALs at a private facility in San Diego. One day, he was using it at the range, and the guys asked about his “secret goo.” It was raining, and the back of his pickup was filling up with water with his guns in it, but he wasn’t worried. That was very attractive to them, being maritime operators who frequently expose their weapons to the ocean environment . He went through a 10-month evaluation period where his buddies tried using it and reported their feedback during their exploits in the mountains, deserts and oceans where they deployed. The report back was that it was awesome. At that point, he decided to form a company with his wife to mass produce the goo. Lasky maintains that many people learn tactics, but very few people actually master the functional operation of their gun. Contrast this to racecars, where the racecar mechanic is NOT the racecar driver. There is a performance aspect of guncare that is neglected. Lasky formulated the lubricant originally just to avoid rust. Your gun should be ready to go all the time if you’re in law enforcement, you can’t rely on just wiping off the rust once a year. Through his solution, he was able to prove that eliminating malfunctions can be done. FrogLube is an antioxidant, so it stops rust. It is bio-based, not just biodegradable. That means the ingredients are already degraded into a natural state. It’s not going to change your firearm. All the other products out there have some sort of petroleum base. The MSDS safety sheet accompanying them will reveal this, and will declare that there is toxic material, or that It burns. Out in the woods, Lasky says he uses his old gun lube to start fires. Firearms exposed to intense chamber pressure, 1000F in a closed chamber, and cycling hundreds of times in mere seconds during full auto,creates a lot of reaction in a small space over a short period of time. Under heat and pressure, metal can change shape and form, which means your ballistics will change. This isn’t good for someone concerned with accuracy. You need to control the variables. Snipers and hunters want to control variance so all they have to deal with is variance they can measure such as velocity, distance and elevation. FrogLube moves around in the metal. When it gets hot, it “sweats” to the surface. But it’s dormant when cold. Lasky says it is actually seasoning the metal. He sees perfection as a path instead of a destination-the product is always undergoing some type of testing and evaluation. The ingredients are all food grade and a closely guarded secret. Lasky compares it to making gourmet food, and insists on pharmaceutical grade production quality. Lasky asks, “Would you put $2 gun lube in a $10,000 gun? You wouldn’t put generic tires on a Ferrari.” A growing number of innovative and performance driven companies wanting to avoid the use of toxic and preservative lubes and drive up the value of their guns are co-manufacturing with “FrogLube Inside”. FrogLube eliminates the need of preservatives inside firearms, which unless removed, might result in unexpected performance over time. FrogLube products comply with military tech manual guidance. FrogLube views the Mil-spec product standards as the minimum allowable standard for firearms performance. The reason is that MIL-SPEC allows for malfunctions, some amount of rust to form, and unacceptable levels of toxicity. Following the technical manual guidance for maintenance and lubrication ensures the gun will always perform! FrogLube testing is designed to put stress on their products for areas such as cleaning interval, high volume shooting and long distance accuracy. In some cases, guns aren’t cleaned until they malfunction, which may be several thousands of rounds fired. Testers have gone hundreds of rounds between cleanings without issues, or a change in accuracy. Currently, to attain consistent accuracy FrogLube recommends the shooter clean the gun every 100 rounds. FrogLube formulations also comply with the requirements of the NRA instructor guides and standard armorers practice for the operation and maintenance of firearms. After just one initial application, people will notice performance gains. It allows guns to be shot at any temperature, even minus 40F. You can spend lots of money trying to gain performance, like adding various components that attach to your gun, or you can focus your investments on something you can place inside your gun. The Performance gained from a $25 bottle of FrogLube product will greatly exceed that of replacing a $100 buttstock on an AR-15. FrogLube has taken the mystery out of the equation. Full performance is gained from it’s proprietary two-part system of solvents and lubricants. An ‘all in one’ strategy fails to meet the logic test. How does lube react when mixed with other products? What happens when the gun is over lubed? How about low-no lube operations like winter when excess is supposed to be removed? Can you remove something by cleaning it off with more of the same thing? The military uses two products and so does FrogLube. You know FrogLube CLP will integrate with FrogLube Solvent. FrogLube was initially developed as a non-toxic alternative to WD40. What began as the “green goo”, Lasky came up with the name “FrogLube” one night when he realized the significance of the presence of frogs. If environmentalists found frogs in an area, then it meant the area was in ecological balance.. Frogs are found everywhere around the world, just like firearms. For more information, visit froglube.com.

westernshootingjournal.com 45

BLACK POWDER

A BEGINNER TACKLES THE .50-70 Buffalo Bill Cody’s Personal Firearm Of Choice Is Alive And Well ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT very good cartridge to get started with. We can call it a very good blackpowder cartridge to get started with because of a short list of needs and characteristics that are all on the positive side for the .50-70. First, brass is readily available, by Starline as well as some other sources. The Starline brass is very good and will last a long time, especially with black-powder loads for the .50-70. Bullets or bullet moulds are also available, and the most commonly used bullet style is the copy of the old government bullet, a 450-grain, grease-grooved job that should be sized to .512 inch for modern barrels. Reloading dies are another item that is easy to find, and for the .50-70, dies are listed in categories that do not command premium prices. These points simply mean that a shooter can get equipped to shoot and reload ammo for the .50-70 without a tremendous strain or drain to the pocketbook. Also, let me mention that most of the components can be found at Buffalo Arms Company. I get a lot of my own supplies from Buffalo Arms, and recommendations for them are quickly made with no hesitations. Wander through their on-line catalog at buffaloarms.com. John Weger after firing his new .50-70 in competition.

e might say a lot of things started with the .50-70. That was our country’s first centerfire cartridge in general use by our military. It was introduced in 1866 and served our nation officially until it was replaced in 1873 by another cartridge, the .45-70. During that time, and of course later too, it was a well-recognized sporting

cartridge and is credited with taking part in buffalo hunting, especially during the early 1870s. Some noted sportsmen selected the .50-70 as their personal choices; Buffalo Bill Cody and George Armstrong Custer were two of them. Today, the .50-70 is enjoying a comeback in popularity. For someone just getting into the sport of black-powder cartridge shooting, the .50-70 is a

WHILE .50-70 CALIBER RIFLES might not be encountered every day, there are some very good ones currently available. The most recognizable are the Sharps replicas, and I’ll mention those made by Pedersoli (available through Cimarron Arms Company and others), plus the American-made rifles by Shiloh Sharps and C. Sharps Arms, both out of Big Timber, Mont. Another way to get a good .50-70 is to rebuild one of the old military westernshootingjournal.com 47

black powder rolling blocks by Remington, or simply buy an original old .50-70. Getting a new one, however, gives you the advantage of having a new barrel. The old rolling blocks were favored by many shooters, including Custer and Buffalo Bill. Of course, there are the old original Springfields too. Many of the old barrels were rifled with a rate of twist at one

but that is more at home with the .5090 and much heavier bullets, for longrange shooting. While I include this information to cover all of the bases, most of us have had no trouble with shooting our .50-70s with the 450-

This is John’s Sharps 1874 Sporting Rifle by C. Sharps Arms.

grain bullets out to 200 yards.

turn in 42 inches, and that is on the slow side. Even so, most of the new barrels for .50-70s are given a rate of twist at one turn in 26 inches,

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

with a round barrel from C. Sharps Arms. That’s a very fine rifle and while it was being made for him, which takes

THE SHOOTER I’LL REALLY BE “picking on” in this story is John Weger, a young fellow I know personally, and he partnered with me on more than one occasion where he borrowed a rifle of mine before actually deciding on what he’d get for himself. His final decision was to go with a .50-70, an 1874 Hartford Sharps

only a few weeks from C. Sharps Arms, John was gathering the tools needed for loading the .50-70 cartridges. John was lucky enough to find some used reloading dies as well as a used bullet mould for the .50-70. Getting those saved him a little bit of money, and instead of buying a sizer/luber for preparing his bullets for loading, he lubes his bullets in a pan and then loads them into the cases unsized. In John’s rifle, shooting unsized bullets is working very well, and with

Sharps Mod. 1874, 1875, 1877, "A?@ &GO 19DDK DKG L@= ,=EAF?LGF "=H:MJF

info@;K ;K@9JHK9JEK ;GE c OOO ;K@9JHK9JEK ;GE K@9JHK9JEK ;GE E c OOO ;K@9JH HK9JEK ;GE PP.O. .O. B Box ox 88 8855 c B Big ig Timber, Timberr, MT 59011 59011 c Phone: 406-932-4353 406-932-4353 c FFAX: A AX: 406-932-4443 406-932-4443 westernshootingjournal.com 49

cast bullets on the soft side, let’s say 20-to-1 lead and tin or even softer, there is no damage to the rifle’s barrel. Somewhere in his shop or garage, John had a ½-inch gasket punch, and that’s all he needed to start punching wads out of empty milk cartons. Having some card wads can be considered essential to black-powder cartridge shooting, and one advantage to outfitting a .50-caliber rifle is that a common ½inch diameter punch usually works fine. (For my .44 caliber rifles, the .44-77 or .44-90 Sharps, I use a 7/16-inch punch.) WITH THOSE FEW GATHERED tools or items, John was ready to start loading. Of course, he got a batch of Starline brass and some Olde Eynsford 2F powder, plus some large rifle primers. For starting loads, he began using 60 grains (by volume) of the O.E. 2F, and even that load needed a little bit of compression to properly seat the bullets. The best way to compress the powder charge is

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

to use the standard expander die and compress the powder with a card wad over it. Compress the powder only enough that the bullet, when seated over the card wad, has no air space beneath it. You will probably compress the wad and the powder just a little more when seating the bullet, especially in new or non-fire-formed brass cases. Then, with a box of 20 loaded rounds, John was ready for his first shots with that new .50-70 rifle. That ammo shot OK, for starters. With that ammo, John was able to get his gun’s peep sight zeroed in fairly closely, as well as getting the set trigger adjusted to where he likes it. Yes, there is a break-in period for those new barrels, and John used this ammo for that too, wiping or cleaning the barrel after every shot at first. Shooting that ammo also gave John some fireformed brass to reload, and for accurate blackpowder cartridge ammo, fireformed brass is the best. With the fireformed brass, you don’t want to resize the cases, not for a singleshot rifle. Instead, you clean the cases (a standard step for all black-powder reloading), and then bell the mouth of the cases just a little so they can easily receive the bullets. After priming the cases, you put in the powder charge, compress it with the card wad, and then seat the bullets with your fingers. The final step is to crimp the mouth of the cases on the bullets very lightly, just enough to hold those bullets in the cases. That’s how John loaded his ammo with fired brass, and somewhere along the line he increased his powder charge to 65 grains (by volume). Increasing the powder charges added a little bit of speed to the bullets, although higher velocity wasn’t the main idea. The added powder helped make his loads more consistent with better groups on the targets. John was able to prove how well his new gun was shooting at the very first black-powder competitive rifle match he entered with that .50-70. We were shooting side by side and he almost stole the show by coming in second westernshootingjournal.com 51

black powder

The .50-70 is a fine performing black-powder cartridge.

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

place. Of course, I had to comment, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not too bad, for a beginner!â&#x20AC;? John just grinned and he will certainly treasure the Ralph Heinz painting print (donated by C. Sharps Arms) that he picked as his shooting prize. Let me point out that where he really pulled ahead of most other shooters, including me, was at 200 yards. The .50-70 is really a fine black-powder rifle cartridge for someone just getting into BPCR shooting, because rifles using this cartridge are generally easy to handle, the recoil is not severe, and the ammo is not terribly temperamental to reload. All of those things make the .50-70 a very good black-powder cartridge rifle to get started with. In addition to that, although there is no factory-loaded ammo available, custom loads and all necessary components are easy to get. The same goes for loading tools and bullet moulds. In fact, we can say there is nothing really difficult about a .50-70. WSJ

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AN INTRODUCTION TO

WILD BUNCH Early 1900s-era 1911 Match Different Than Cowboy Shooting ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY JOEY HURST, AKA DUSTY BODDAMS, SASS #1907 PHOTOS BY BILLY BOB EVANS, PRESIDENT OF COMANCHE VALLEY VIGILANTES IN CLEBURNE,TEXAS

ever heard of such a game? Heard it’s cowboy shootin’ with a 1911? Well, let’s set the record straight! First off, Wild Bunch matches are not cowboy matches with 1911s, but they do share all the good common traits. For in-

stance, Wild Bunch is shot at the same locations, sometimes on the same day as a cowboy match. Wild Bunch matches utilize the same targets as cowboy action, but with different target presentation. In addition, you will see some specialty targets presented, and smaller targets that you won’t see in cowboy. There is a different round count than found in cowboy shooting. The inspiration for the Wild Bunch stages are drawn loosely from a movie directed by Sam Peckinpa called The Wild Bunch. I say loosely, because basically it’s the time-frame era that is portrayed. Competitors costume in the

early 1900s era, with a lot of shooters choosing military garb that would be movie correct. That means if it looks good, then it is good. You can dress just about how you want, as long as you have a World War I or earlier look. Many of the cowboy shooters who indulge in both games just wear what they always wear. Some folks go all out, and look like General Pershing should be barking orders at them. The military look is easily and cheaply found. Just buy a set of khaki work clothes from Walmart, add a campaign hat and some collar insignias or/and canvas military leggings and you’re set. Leather can be as simple as using your single-action army holster and adding some mag pouches or getting a correct reproduction of a military WWI rig complete with canvas pouches. Before we get any further, I thought I heard a small whine, “Golly gee mister I’m not dressing up, that’s silly!” The costuming requirement is a

Billy Bob Evans, president of Comanche Valley Vigilantes, fires his 1911 during a match. westernshootingjournal.com 55

Slowazz Molasses, aka Dusty Boddams (author) working on some targets with his .45.

small part of Wild Bunch, but yet because of the fun we have playing a gun game based on a certain era, I feel it’s quite appropriate. The really funny thing is when you talk to someone and they are against costuming because they are not going to play “dress up,” and I ask them this: Do you have a specific outfit that you wear hunting? Do you just have one outfit for all your hunting? What do you wear to an ISPC match – how about an IDPA match? How about a 3-gun match? Ever go to a wedding, funeral, court appearance, New Year’s Eve ball, the stock yards, bowling or workout? Ever

played golf or seen a golf game? The point is, all the above require a certain wearing of attire, which, as you have guessed, is costuming! Now onto the fun part. Here is what Wild Bunch matches are like, and what it takes to play the game. Wild Bunch is considered a plus match, meaning it is a harder more challenging match than a cowboy match.This is a game for the more seasoned shooter, and like all SASS matches is not the place to learn gun handling. Target presentation for all guns will be farther out than cowboy, and there will be more of them. Pistol

targets will be no closer than 7 yards, and could be out as far as 25. Rifle targets are no closer than 15 yards and could be out 30 to 40 yards. The round count for pistol is usually 20 to 25 per stage. Rifles are up to 10 per stage, and shotgun is around six per stage. We usually shoot five or six stages per day. Wild Bunch action shooting was started with a good solid set of rules; since it was a plus game it would also be a big-bore game that had a solid conservative power factor to make the game have as level of playing field as possible. Categories for shooters are kept simple. There are traditional men’s

THE INS AND OUTS OF WILD BUNCH Hardware is a 1911 stock mil-spec without any modifications, which is considered a traditional class pistol. Traditional class is shot one-handed, .45 ACP only. The 1911 modern class is basically a 1911 enhanced with beaver tail, sights, checkering, etc. There is no laser, comps, no round butt, aluminum frame, etc., and there is a weight limit. This is considered a modern-class pistol and it may be used with one or two hands, .45 ACP only You are also allowed to shoot the stock mil-spec pistol in modern class and use both hands. Both classes are government model 5-inch barrel only. For the rifle, any SASS legal-lever-action rifle in .40 minimum caliber. The shotguns legal for Wild Bunch are Model 93/97 repro-

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

ductions, original model 1897s or its reproductions. All original Model 12 Winchesters are acceptable in any configuration. Trench gun and riot gun models of the above are all allowed. All shotguns must be 12 gauge only. All pistols and rifles are subject to power factor. Ammo must make a minimum power factor of 150. This is the absolute floor, and any less will get a match disqualified for scoring purposes. All seasoned competitors do not try for the power factor floor, but rather try for a power factor in the 160s or greater to ensure that power factor under any condition will always be met. Of course as in cowboy, safety is the number one priority, and lead ammo is used in the match.

and women’s classes, and modern men’s and women’s classes. Remember how I said it’s not cowboy with a 1911? Well, one more thing to remember is Wild Bunch has its own set of rules with its own range officer certification. If a mag or a round is dropped, it can be retrieved. Of course, we don’t have the space or time to cover the rules, but if you go to the SASS website, click the Wild Bunch tab and open the rules – it’s all right there for you. I would like to strongly encourage anyone planning to attend a Wild Bunch match to look over and read the rules. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SHOOTING A STAGE. The stages are always different with variable round counts and target presentation. You will take your action-open long guns to the loading table along with your empty, mag free, holstered 1911, and start preparations for competition. Having already been briefed on round count for this stage, you know that you need 10 rifle rounds, so with the rifle on the loading table pointed in the safe di-

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

One of the top lady shooters in Wild Bunch, Miss Cubbie, takes careful aim.

rection, you load 10 rounds chamber empty. Racking the slide on the Model 12, you load six, being careful to make sure the chamber is empty and the hammer is down. When unholstering the 1911, verify chamber empty, hammer down, then a fresh mag loaded with five rounds is seated in the pistol (a maximum of five rounds per magazine is the rule for Wild Bunch). Six more mags with five rounds in each mag are held in reserve on your belt. You will be called to the line, where you stage the rifle and shotgun at the specified loca-

tions and proceed to the start area. Hands on table, you’re ready to go. Shooter, do you understand the course of fire? Let’s dance! Beeeeep! Drawing your .45, you commence taking out the bad guys (in this case, it’s the steel targets presented to you). Double tapping the first target group, your gun quits working – dangit! – slide is locked back. No wait, it’s just empty ejecting that spent mag, replacing it with a charged one. Now the slide is locked back again, but it has to be to move to the next target engagement, so moving to it ejecting that empty mag again, new one in place and engaging two stationary targets and a falling tombstone plate rack, a Nevada sweep is commenced for 10 rounds. Making sure the slide is locked back, the pistol is placed on the table and left there as you run to the rifle – 10 shots, 10 targets down! Now, stepping over to the shotgun six reactionary plates; six shells, no problem. Steel commences to falling and now the stage is over. You lay the

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shotgun down, walk over, pick up the pistol, show clear, and holster retrieve the rifle and shotgun and head over to the unloading table to clear those as well. Whew! You got that first one out of the way. The day continues on, and the stages just get better until suddenly it’s realized the match has ended. To no one in particular and to everyone you tell them that was the most fun gun game you have ever played and that you are now addicted – welcome to Wild Bunch! Capt. Bruce Jarrett, plays the part well. He was the Wild Bunch is being shot all winner of the 2014 Texas over the country right now. If you state costume contest. have a cowboy action shooting club close to you, the odds are great that they are shooting matches now or they will in the future. From a practical standpoint, Wild Bunch is a great game. You are shooting at reactionary targets. You are getting lots of trigger time with the star of the show, the 1911. There are lots of mag changes and lots of different-sized targets with various target presentations. You get to run the pump guns at speed, fully stoked and the lever rifles thrown in for good measure. There is no retaping of targets or scoring of paper, and there are great high-round count stages. It has the most level playing field of any shooting sport. It is not an arms race, optics race, no gimmicks and no plastic speed technology. All this and a maximum amount of fun. Various clubs have an open class to allow new shooters the opportunity to bring any 1911 along with any pump shotgun and any SASS legal main match rifle and compete in a match or two, not shooting for score, to see if they like the game and want to gear up. I invite anyone interested in this great game of Wild Bunch to contact their local SASS club and make plans to attend one of the matches being held across the state. The camaraderie found and the friendships made are outstanding. Wild Bunch truly reminds me of cowboy action shooting 20 years ago. What does this statement mean? Well, everything or nothing. I guess you would have had to been there and done that. WSJ Editor’s note: If you have more questions, feel free to contact SASS or any of the Wild Bunch ambassadors listed on the Wild Bunch wire, at sassnet.com/wildbunch. 60

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

Just some of the many women of the shooting and hunting world whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been featured in Western Shooting Journal.

GIRL POWER!

PART 1 OF 3

Women Shoot Through The Glass Ceiling

he firearms industry is undergoing significant changes these days: Women are the fastest growing demographic. There are more female gun executives, firearms company owners and law enforcement professionals than ever before. Guns are also no longer as intimidating to women, thanks to the rise of clubs and classes catering exclusively to women and plenty of positive female role models excelling in competitions. Western Shooting Journal has always taken a strong interest in the role of women in the firearms industry, and

ARTICLE BY RACHEL ALEXANDER

you may have noticed we have more female writers than most gun magazines. In the following pages and in our next two issues, we are bringing you interviews with and stories on some of the leading female role models in our industry, from law enforcement to business, elected government officials to accessory makers. What makes them tick? How did they become successful? How are their experiences different than those of men? We explore all of these areas and more as we meet some of the most amazing women and hear their stories.

WOMEN

GUN EXECUTIVES

O.F. Mossberg & Sons executive Linda Powell with Western Shooting Journal associate publisher Dick Openshaw. (BRIAN LULL)

LINDA POWELL

JOYCE RUBINO

Director Of Media Relations

Vice President Of Marketing

’ve known Linda Powell for a while now, thanks to Western Shooting Journal’s relationship with Mossberg. Linda is the director of media relations for O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., and can always be spotted at Mossberg’s SHOT and NRA Show booths with a big smile on her face. She’s always ready to talk to anyone about the company that is the world’s largest manufacturer of pump shotguns and the face of Duck Commanders. Linda got into the firearms industry somewhat randomly. She’d been in the medical field, but was looking for a change of pace, another industry to get involved in. Another large gun manufacturer moved to North Carolina, about 20 miles north of where she lived. She thought it was a good opportunity to work for a large corporation at their headquarters. Little did she realize they’d also give her the opportunity to get out in the field, arranging for her to go hunting. She had never shot a gun, other than a BB gun. She didn’t know the difference between a rifle and a shotgun and had never hunted. Fortunately, it wasn’t a requirement for the job. She gradually worked her way up through the company, from administrative assistant to senior manager in the PR department, and now she’s one of the main faces of Mossberg. Linda told me there are a tremendous number of opportunities for women in the gun industry. Being a woman is an advantage, because companies are looking to diversify. At the same time, women should be comfortable with themselves. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Accept criticism and suggestions. Overall, Linda says she’s been very positively received and welcomed into the industry, and people have gone out of their way to help her. What little negativity she has encountered has been by very narrow-minded people. Linda’s favorite gun is a Mossberg MVP .308 Win – it’s her go-to gun. She also shoots a lot of 12-gauge shotguns, but fell back in love with the 20 gauge, with its lighter weight, lower recoil, and versatility for both home defense and bird hunting. She says the key to successful shooting is getting a gun that fits you; it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman. Details to look for include length of pull, weight and balance, particularly in a long gun. Find a good retailer, dealer or friend who is willing to help you. Ranges will let you shoot guns as loaners. Do

ne of the most well-known female executives in the firearms industry is Joyce Rubino of Colt. I had an opportunity to ask her about her journey up the ladder, and how the industry has changed for women over the past five to six years.

RACHEL ALEXANDER How did you begin your career at Colt?

JOYCE RUBINO I started with Colt 35 years ago as an administrative assistant. I was a young lady looking for a job with good benefits where I could advance my career. I wanted to get my bachelor’s degree in business, and Colt offered a very generous tuition-reimbursement program. At that time, I had never handled a firearm, and was not particularly interested in learning. However, I did attend school at nights while working for Colt, and eventually completed both my bachelor’s degree and my MBA. Over the years, I have been fortunate to move up through the organization and I am currently the vice president of marketing.

RA When did you first start shooting? JR I only started shooting about six years ago. My responsibilities were changing within the company, and I needed to understand our product lines better. The best way to do this was to start shooting. I started

Colt executive Joyce Rubino. (COLT)

westernshootingjournal.com 65

the research and get a gun that you’re going to be comfortable with. I asked Linda how women can get into the firearms industry. She said that depending on what industry you’re interested in, having a degree in marketing or sales helps. Being knowledgeable about the industry in general and the product is also important. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is not doing their homework before going into a job interview or new position. target shooting with Colt pistols, mostly .45 caliber, and then tried shooting other Colt products, such as revolvers and semi-automatic rifles. I have since expanded into other products we don’t actually produce, such as shotguns, and I’ve tried a little bit of hunting. I have tried a lot of products and styles of shooting, but I can’t say I’m very good at anything in particular. However, I continue to learn and shoot as often as I can.

RA How do you see women in the firearms industry today? JR There has definitely been a noticeable increase in the number of women working in the industry in the last five years. It’s very evident when you attend trade shows and industry events. At the same time, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of women consumers purchasing their first firearm. Women are not as intimidated to learn about firearms. There are now so many more product options specifically designed for women at smaller gun shops, as well as larger retail sporting goods stores. Manufacturers in the firearms industry have taken a really good look at what is unique or different for the female shooter, especially when it comes to handguns. For example, many women have smaller hands or not as much strength in their hands or upper body, which has led to different designs and features from manufacturers. In the last five years, the demographics of this market has dramatically changed. Also, one aspect of shooting that I didn’t realize had become popular with women is in the area of hunting. I was reluctant to try hunting at first, but then learned how easy it was to become involved, especially where I live in the Midwest. Again, I’m not very accomplished at it, but it’s been fun to try a new aspect of the shooting sports.

There are quite a few women within the firearms industry, and Linda recommends getting to know and work with them. Find out about what obstacles they’ve faced and how they’ve dealt with them, as well as the positive things that have happened along the way. This industry is so much about networking. Network locally, with conservation groups, local gun clubs and ranges. Maybe accept a lowerlevel position initially that was not the one you had in mind – it worked for Linda. WSJ quality and craftsmanship that you find in all of our products. We have a broad offering of handgun and rifle products for the military, law enforcement and consumer markets.

RA What are the best parts about your job? JR It’s the opportunity to get out in the industry and attend so many events, such as trade shows and competitive shooting events. I have an opportunity to tell my Colt story and how I’ve grown with Colt through my career, and now I’m an avid shooter. It’s also an opportunity to talk to customers or potential customers and listen to their stories and questions about Colt and our products.

RA Do you have a favorite gun, and what kind of shooting do you like to do?

JR My favorite gun has to be the first one I purchased back in the mid-1980s, the Colt Mustang in .380 ACP. I didn’t even shoot then, but I loved the design of it and had to have one. We discontinued making this handgun for a number of years, and recently reintroduced it. I played a role as part of the team that brought the Colt Mustang back into production about three to four years ago, and that was exciting. I originally started out pistol target shooting, and now I really enjoy shooting sporting clays with a shotgun. I enjoy the camaraderie of this shooting sport, and I got my husband and boys also interested and they tried it. The club I have belonged to has a Ladies Night on Tuesdays, and you can go out with instructors for two hours and learn different techniques. It’s a great way to learn and meet other women shooters.

RA What would you recommend to women brand new to firearms?

JR If they are interested, but hesitant about getting started, RA What gun do you recommend for women? Big or small? JR I always encourage women to get to a range where they can test fire different types of guns, different calibers and different brands. The decision is so unique to the individual shooter, and it depends on their intended use and how comfortable they are with the fit and features. Pistols have been a big seller in the marketplace most recently, but now I hear more questions and requests for revolvers. It’s important for women to understand the difference and then decide what product and caliber is best for them.

RA What makes Colt unique from other gun manufacturers? JR Colt’s heritage and tradition for over 175 years. It’s the

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

there are many groups available that will help you learn and try different guns to shoot. Many are available on weekends, and they range from groups at the local level to well-established programs through the NRA and NSSF, such as their First Shots program. There are so many programs now with an outreach specifically to women.

RA Do you have any advice for women interested in the firearms industry?

JR Familiarity with firearm products does go a long way. However, if you have an interest or passion about the shooting sports, it can help you get hired, even for entry level positions within a company. WSJ

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WOMEN

IN LAW ENFORCEMENT Rhonda Lawson

chose to step into, but rather something I found purposeful. Since our organization structure is by succession, I ran for first vice president in 2012, and was elected by membership for that position, and through succession became president in 2013.

Rhonda Lawson (right) of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives. (NAWLEE)

honda Lawson is the president of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives. She became the Texas Department of Public Safety’s first female Texas Highway Patrol captain since it was created in 1935. She is currently captain of emergency management operations. I asked her to tell us a bit about NAWLEE and how she rose through the ranks in law enforcement. RACHEL ALEXANDER What made you de-

cide to go into law enforcement?

RHONDA LAWSON During my junior year at the University of North Texas, I got a part-time job as a dispatcher at the University Police Department. I had a bird’s-eye view. RA How did you become president of

NAWLEE? RL I wanted to become more involved and give back to this great organization of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, which I had benefited from both professionally and personally. This was not something I simply

RA What does NAWLEE do for women? RL NAWLEE is the first organization established to address the unique needs of women holding senior management positions in law enforcement. Our mission is to serve and further the interests of women executives and those who aspire to be executives in law enforcement. NAWLEE offers leadership training through our annual conference, and external training with other partnered law enforcement organizations. NAWLEE also provides mentoring opportunities for women in midlevel management positions and those new to senior management positions and roles. NAWLEE provides opportunities for men and women in senior management to better understand how to retain and mentor in their organizations. Lastly, NAWLEE provides an empowering opportunity to network with so many trail-blazing women who have achieved a high level of professional success. RA How does women’s lesser physical strength affect them, particularly in the training academy? RL You can’t group all women in the category of having lesser physical strength. Everyone has physical limitations in some manner. One just has to find the fortitude and inner strength to work the best you can with what you have.

westernshootingjournal.com 69

RA Are women finally increasing in the

highway patrols? RL Overall, there is an increase; however, the numbers are not as significant as we would like them to be. That has been the burning question for the last 30 years. One might speculate the low numbers are attributed to flexibility of schedule, family and children, possibility of being stationed in less populated

areas or large distances away from family, pay, danger, lack of role models and mentors, etc. RA Do you carry a weapon, and if so,

what?

RA What is the toughest part of your job? RL Seeing devastation in people’s lives, and when incidents occur that you have no control over that impact people in a negative way.

RL Yes, a SIG Sauer. RA Do you like to shoot or hunt for fun? RL I like to skeet shoot – it’s much

more relaxing.

RA What is your favorite part of the job? RL There are several; watching a little

child approaching a police officer and not be scared, knowing that we can

SHELLEY ZIMMERMAN, Chief of San Diego Police Department Shelley Zimmerman had 31 years of law enforcement experience with the San Diego Police Department when she was appointed to chief earlier this year. She is now one of only eight women police chiefs in major U.S. cities, and the firstever female chief in SDPD history. An assistant police chief with SDPD prior to her appointment, she was sworn into office in May. Zimmerman credits her career choice to the influence of her father, a WWII veteran who served in three theaters. Adam-12 was her favorite TV show growing up, and she enjoyed reading Joseph Wambaugh’s books about cops. In high school, she had a police scanner and would listen to it with her brother. As a college student, she took jobs as a security guard. She was surprised and gratified for the appointment, telling an audience at the La Jolla Community Center’s Distinguished Speakers Series, “Me, a kid from Cleveland, with this dream job … how did I get here? I have lots of experience and training, but so do others.” Zimmerman is an avid sports fan and triathlete, and loves participating in long bicycle rides for charity. She trained for the Triathlon Challenge last fall at La Jolla Cove, to raise money for prostheses for injured first responders. “I like giving back to my community,” she said. “It’s who I am.” She is described by Scott Chipman, one of the founders of Save PB, a neighborhood advocacy group that worked closely with Zimmerman when she was captain of SDPD’s Northern Division, as “very approachable and very no-nonsense.” Her brother, Bud Zimmerman, says about her, “People just like her and like being around her.” Now age 54, she was born in Cleveland and graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in criminal justice. She joined the SDPD in 1982. She’s also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. She’s worked in vice, narcotics, internal affairs and held the field lieutenant position. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of her long career in law enforcement was her early work infiltrating a high school. She had such a youthful face at age 24 that she went undercover to investigate drug dealers. She pretended to be a new student at Patrick Henry High School, buying

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

San Diego Police Department Chief Shelley Zimmerman. (SDPD)

marijuana joints from kids. More than 70 kids were caught in the sting in 1984. She was so effective that as the arrests were going down, one student exclaimed, “Shelley, you can’t be a cop. I voted for you for homecoming queen!” An-

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other student later facing expulsion was required to confront her with his mom. He said, “I hate you. But I respect you. I realize what I’ve done.” Since the sting, he’s stayed away from drugs. When Zimmerman served on the vice squad, she went undercover as a prostitute. She laughs, “I must have done a great job because my sergeant said, ‘Zimmerman, you’re the best prostitute out there.’” After that, she got to patrol the beaches, where she got so familiar with the seals she would give them names. Awards she has won include San Diego Press Club Headliner of the Year for her undercover work, the San Diego Business Journal’s Woman Who Mean Business Exemplary Award

for civic involvement with the business and residential communities, and the San Diego Police Foundation Women in Blue Award for her commitment to making San Diego one of the safest large cities in the United States. In 2013, she received the Gold Key Award from the San Diego County Hotel Motel Association. She loves what she does, and says, “Being a police officer is having a front row seat to the greatest show on Earth. I never imagined … I love it.” Editor’s note: Chief Zimmerman recommends nextdoor.com to become more involved in your community and safer. Some information for this article came from the Voice of San Diego.

still make a positive difference in a citizen’s life, seeing the professional growth development of your personnel, and lastly, knowing that tomorrow is never promised – “today” I get to go home at the end of “this” day.

with several officers, responded to a disturbance. While outside with other officers trying to sort out the details, an unknown person(s) shot several rounds in our direction. Angels were with us that night!

RA What was the most terrifying situa-

RA Do you have any advice specifically

tion you’ve encountered on the job? RL When I was a city police officer patrolling in a highly active area, I, along

for women considering a law enforcement career? RL Of course I would encourage any-

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

one – not just women – to seek a career in law enforcement. However, women today still only make up 11 percent of law enforcement. Seek out a citizens’ police academy in your community, or visit with a recruiter from any law enforcement agency at the city, county, state and federal level. This will give one a broad perspective and overview of law enforcement opportunities. WSJ

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WOMEN BUSINESS

OWNERS Kate Woolstenhulme

Kate Woolstenhulme took her knowledge of renovating high-end jets and transferred it to designing concealed carry purses. (DESIGNER CONCEALED CARRY)

n 2009, Kate Woolstenhulme took a huge career leap, from renovating high-end private jets to starting a company called Designer Concealed Carry. She had been frustrated by the lack of selection when it came to women’s purses for carrying concealed handguns. Most of them were too obvious – anyone looking at the purse could tell it was concealing a firearm. Others were just too plain or frumpy looking. Kate grew up on a ranch in Idaho where she often went shooting. As an adult, she worked in areas like real estate where she felt very vulnerable, but concealed carry wasn’t allowed. She would enter vacant houses with people she didn’t know. She remembers being at the University of Utah when serial woman killer Ted Bundy was there. Living in Miami with her husband, they encountered a lot of people who came from violent countries or gang activity, so Kate felt the need to carry concealed to protect herself.

westernshootingjournal.com 75

Designer Concealed Carry purses start at $329 and run all the way up to $4,000 for crocodile and ostrich handbags. (DESIGNER CONCEALED CARRY)

And as she likes to say, “Most women are not going to put it in a huge old holster on the back of their pants.” With a job that involved updating modern business jets with style, she couldn’t show up to meetings with high-level executives carrying some boring, cheaply made basic purse. Carrying a basic boring black or brown purse in Miami didn’t help convince people to spend $500,000 with her to upgrade their jet. The nice department stores offered stylish purses, but the pockets were not the right size or in the right size for access. At gun stores, Kate observed many of the purses did not have a wide enough zipper opening for her to get her hand in and out of quickly. Kate had experience designing a lot of function into tiny spaces for jets, so thought, “Why can’t I do the same for concealed carry purses?” She began working with craftsmen and engineers to design an elegant purse that completely disguised a firearm. The zipper – which is located on the exterior firearm pocket – is carefully hidden within the design so as not to show. There are also locks on the zippers, located at both ends since some women are lefthanded. The holster is adjustable to fit various sizes of guns. Kate explains that a concealed carry purse is really technically a holster, so you have to draw at a right angle and thrust the 76

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

handbag away. Additionally, all of her purses are designed with adjustable shoulder straps, unlike most purses, since in order to draw properly, the purse has to be in the right spot, near your hip. Women looking for a concealed carry purse don’t always know what they need to look for, and the guys who teach them usually don’t know what to tell them. When you carry a handgun, you need to think whether it functions for the job. Kate has thoroughly analyzed the technical function, and worked with women in law enforcement, who asked her to tweak the basic design to include features they required for their work. A writer for the NRA publications told her he liked that the holster pocket has Velcro on both sides, so it can hold the heaviest gun without it twisting in the purse. And, using the second zipper to put a flashlight or pepper spray in the security pocket assures quick access to those safety items as well. There are four slots in every bag. Keeping the top one for a hotel key allows a woman to keep her eyes on her surroundings, rather than down, which is a vulnerable position. There is a key clasp on every bag, located in the same top area. Kate explains that a woman doesn’t want her keys in her hand when walking to the car, as someone may easily knock them out

of her hand. It’s better to keep your hand on the keys inside the purse where either the unlock button or the alarm button could be quickly pressed. There are three open pockets and a zipper pocket for a phone, baby bottle, makeup, etc. Almost every purse has loops for pepper spray or baton (law enforcement), or flashlight, comb, etc. Kate doesn’t include a cable in the strap, like some other concealed carry purses. She thought it was more prudent to avoid it, because the force against a cable that would not give way would likely cause a bad fall or anger the attacker to further action. Kate uses her purses on a daily basis herself, testing them all out first. She listens to customer input and will modify accordingly. Her Santa Fe purse was designed to change the hang to cross-body easily, but it wasn’t working for larger or taller women for cross-body as the strap was not long enough for them. So now it fits those women properly, it just doesn’t adjust as quickly. Many men are buying their wives these $4,000 handbags. They want them to carry, and yet look sharp too. Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t get much word-of-mouth marketing, because no one wants people to know they carry concealed! The purses can be used for more than just concealed carry. Everyone

Woolstenhulme was among the many vendors at the NRA Show. (DESIGNER CONCEALED CARRY)

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

has something they need to lock up – such as medication. You can use it to lock up your wallet on new dates, prevent your wallet from being stolen out of your grocery cart at a store, or protect your passport while traveling. Kate recommends putting expired gift cards in the zipper pocket, maybe some cash in a cheap wallet too. If someone tries to rob you, throw them all of that while your true wallet remains secured in the locking pocket. Kate has a wide variety of price ranges. Her high-end is $4,000 crocodile and ostrich handbags – something you won’t find anywhere else. She just introduced two new similar lines under $1,000, the Couture and Safari lines. They are calf hair printed with animal patterns combined with leather, which is a huge trend in highend handbags. These all feature suede lining and high-end buckles. Of course, the bulk of her sales are in the more affordable $329 to $349 range, and she offers coupons. WSJ

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westernshootingjournal.com 79

TEXAS’S FIREARMS INSTRUCTORS FOR WOMEN

WOMEN POLITICIANS

overnor Susana Martinez is a bit of an anomaly. Although New Mexico is not a politically conservative state, she was elected to the highest office in the state in 2010 as a gun-toting conservative Republican Hispanic female. She is the first woman to be elected governor of

Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico. (GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)

New Mexico and the first Hispanic female governor in the U.S. Governor Martinez is quite proud of her shooting ability, posting a video online in 2011 of her passing a concealed weapons permit training test with a 100 percent score, using both a .45 and a .38. At age 18, she carried a firearm on duty as a security guard for her father’s company, patrolling a Catholic bingo with a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum. Her father was also a deputy sheriff for El Paso County. Prior to becoming governor, she worked in prosecution, becoming a district attorney in southern New Mexico. She was a Democrat until 1995, when she and her husband realized they were really Republicans. She has worked tirelessly as governor to

Susana Martinez

repeal a law that provides driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants because of the public safety aspect connected with preventing identity fraud. Martinez may be presidential material. She is a rising star in the GOP, with one of the highest approval ratings of governors in the nation, at 66 percent. Even 44 percent of Democrats in New Mexico say they approve of her. She is someone to watch, and not to underestimate. She could be a powerful voice for gun owners and the Second Amendment. WSJ Editor’s note: Next month we will profile Pam Roach, a powerful Republican state senator in Washington who enjoys taking her constituents out for annual shoots.

westernshootingjournal.com 81

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Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

GRADUATING FROM THE GARAGE How Two Friends From Northern California Found An Outdoor Apparel Niche

During filming of their upcoming show, Universal Huntress, Jenifer Adams (left) and Norissa Harman bagged this impala in Africa. (GIRLS WITH GUNS)

here’s nothing quite like summer in northern California – if you love triple-digit temperatures on an almost daily basis. But here were friends Jenifer Adams and Norissa Harman, in the latter’s two-car garage in the Tehama County town of Red Bluff, living out a dream – albeit a sweltering dream – in the summer of 2008. The then-20somethings wanted to combine their love of the outdoors with a sense of a fashion and creativity to produce a line for sportswomen. Born from this

blending of ideas was a company they called Girls With Guns (gwgclothing.com). “We pulled out all the vehicles and we had box fans (running),” Harman recalls. “Of course, it was summertime when we were pumping out our products. And around here, we’ll have 118-degree weather, and we would be sitting here in shorts and tank tops, not in any high fashion whatsoever. But that’s what we were doing and it was fun.” Five-plus years later, a fun and

harmless idea between friends is now a growing enterprise. Girls With Guns graduated from the carport to an actual office space, then a larger one, and continued to get bigger until the company began sending out products from a 5,000-square-foot warehouse. Besides being able to buy from the website, Girls With Guns apparel is available in multiple states’ local outlets and chains like Scheels All Sports and Sportsman’s Warehouse. They have partnered with Montana Silversmiths with their jewwesternshootingjournal.com 89

dery business when I was 21 years old, so I kind of had all the means and the access to get shirts and hats and all that stuff. I already knew that market, how to get it and that was a little bit of a jumpstart for us. I had the name already trademarked. Jen had the same love and passion for shooting as I did. She was the famous sales agent here in Tehama County and she was very savvy at sales and marketing. We kind of had the same drive and vision toward business and shooting sports. At the time, we never imagined that we’d be here today. To see where the company’s evolved, from my garage and my home office where we worked every night on everything, it’s kind of amazing. It’s been fun to see where it’s going. When we started with little money, it’s really taken off. CC How did both of you grow to love “We want to make outdoor fashion fun and trendy for everybody. I don’t know how it’s going to go,” says Norissa. “We’re just enjoying our journey and hoping people are seeing our brand all over in the homes of every country girl.”

elry products. Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin wore GWG apparel on her outdoors reality show and sported their belt buckle on her appearance with Jimmy Fallon. The girls also are selling accessories like luggage, and The Sportsman Channel is currently filming a TV show, Universal Huntress, where Adams and Norissa will get to hunt and explore the world (it’ll debut in 2015). Their friendship has made them “love each other like sisters,” Adams says, and they will be soon sister-in-laws; Jen is engaged to Norissa’s brother. “We were family long before that happened years ago,” Adams says with a laugh. The girls behind Girls With Guns, just back from a hunting adventure in New Zealand, chatted with us about their journey: CHRIS COCOLES So how did this idea get

off the ground? JENIFER ADAMS We started working to-

gether at my real estate office, and we 90

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

did a fundraiser that was called Shoot For Purpose and it was for breast cancer awareness. The first year I was the secretary-treasurer, and Norissa was the vice president. We raised $15,000 in one event in one day. And through that Norissa already had this plan in place for a name – Girls With Guns. And she kind of just said, “I’m not really sure how to go about this on my own; I have an idea. What do you think?” And I’m a business-minded person. That’s what I do and that’s what I love. And I already had a real estate business going. So I told her I’d help her out for a year and we’ll see how it goes. And by August (our apparel) was in Scheels and they were asking for more. We were working 12 to 14 hours doing our day job and then at night I’d go to her house. We’d work out of her garage filling orders and doing designs. Eventually we got to the point where we built enough revenue that we could jump on an airplane and flew to China. We started learning about manufacturing and import-export and all those things. NORISSA HARMAN I started an embroi-

the outdoors so much? JA I grew up in the real, real northern

California, in Modoc County (Adin; population: 272) in the mountains. I graduated high school with 15 people in my graduating class. I lived on a small cattle ranch with my family. So I was a total country girl. We had alfalfa, chickens, goats, sheep; we had everything. I was a cowgirl who did rodeo. That’s how I grew up. It was really outdoorsy. My dad did a lot of hunting, but I didn’t get involved in hunting. I’d go with him but it was usually my dad and brother’s thing. But when I was 29 and we started the company, I’d always been a shooter but never hunted anything. I got my hunter’s ed and my license. I started on birds the first year and by the next year I was killing my first buck. And then I was on my way to (hunting in) New Zealand. And I’ve been addicted ever since. NH I grew up in Nevada and my family than moved here to (Red Bluff). I never hunted growing up because that’s not what my dad was into. My dad was a fisherman and he would trek his kids all over. We would camp and we would fish for hours and hours and hours. It was fun; that’s

what we did. The older I got and started dating my husband, that’s how I started getting into hunting. He hunted a lot and traveled with his family, so if I wanted to spend any good quality time with him that would be the way to get his attention. After I shot my first buck and a couple of pigs, I thought, “This is kind of fun.” I love it now. When we got back from New Zealand I messaged him and said how I get it, and I don’t know why. CC Did you both have expectations and high hopes it would be successful? JA You know, I will have to say at first I just thought it was just something fun I was doing with my best friend. My business was my real estate company. I made good money and a good living. But my passion, my intrigue was with Girls With Guns. I’m kind of a tomboy and it got me a little more involved in the fashion world. It was something that I was able to put my own spin on, and Norissa had her

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

own style. Right now I’m our operations director and she’s our creative director. Those are the roles that we fell into. As best friends we were able to work together and started taking the things we were good at, and that’s what we did at our jobs. CC Lots of hard work went into this,

no doubt. NH What kept us so involved and en-

gaged in this. Jen and I were just talking about working and the hours we put in working two jobs; we’d work all day and then come back and work until 12, 1 or 2 a.m. I’m not sure how we made that because even now I get extremely exhausted. And I feel like there’s someone always watching over us or to help us achieve our goals. CC So did it help make this a seamless

process that you were such good friends. What’s the old adage: Never get into business or a project with a close friend? It sounds like you two meshed right away.

JA I can’t say it helped. But Norissa

and I just stayed three weeks together at this woman’s house in New Zealand where we hunted. And she said to me, “I’ve never seen two people fit better together like two pieces of a puzzle. You two just complement each other.” We’ve heard that a lot, but just the way she said it and put it was definitely awesome. We’re totally different personalities, but with different strengths and weaknesses, and I think that’s what makes it work. When she’s on I’m off and vice versa. But we’re a team and that’s how we treat it. That’s how we treat our entire team at GWG headquarters. They’re growing with us. CC Was there a single moment when

you collectively thought something was brewing with this project? NH It’s funny when people tell us we’re moving up, and Jen and I just take every day as we can. I think we’re still in denial and that we’re still a small company. We still have that small

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town mentality and we still don’t realize how big it’s gotten until we’re across the country or in another country when someone says they follow us or greet us by our name. That’s when we realize how big it is. JA I think it was when we moved into the warehouse. We all had offices, and we had a part-time crew with two part-time employees. And I realized that we needed a team. And within three or four months we had a staff of five, including Norissa and I. I had let go of my real estate business, and we brought on three more people. It was almost like an overnight thing though it seemed to happen about a year ago. It was always growing with new stores. But now it’s growing so quickly with the popularity, and how women are so excited about the outdoors. It’s really awesome, because women are truly gearing up for the outdoors. CC So how did you get from Norissa’s garage to this spacious warehouse? JA We actually did a few baby steps.

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

My broker at the time had a 600square-foot little building and he gave up six months of free rent. It was one of those cool, “I’m in your court” and “here you go” (situations), and after that we started paying rent. And then because Scheels wanted to come on and we got our manufacturing underway, we ended up going into the space next store, which was 900 square feet. And then we ended up occupying a place across, which was 1,800 square feet, and we were renting from (the original real estate broker) at that time. We just had some amazing people along the way who have stopped to help us. That allowed us to do that jump, and then, finally, we realized we had to get into a real warehouse. Right now we have eight full-time employees, not including all of your independents like our design team and such. We have anywhere from 10 to 20 temps that come in twice a year for our seasons when our shipments come in. It was pretty surreal.

CC How did your relationship with

Sarah Palin blossom? JA She’s actually somebody Norissa

and I both look up to as a role model. People may have their different views on what they feel about her politically, but what she’s done for being a voice of women is huge. We never asked her to wear our clothes. She spoke in Anderson at a logging conference and we attended. We gave her a bag full of goodies that were hand-pressed in the garage by me and embroidered by Norissa. We’d only been in business for about a year and four months. We ended up giving it to her, and that following December we got an email; it was surreal. She was going to wear us on the show. One time would have just been amazing. Now, we sent her a box of clothes for her and (Palin’s daughters). We receive hand-written notes back from them. We’ve seen Bristol wearing us on her show, and we’ve seen (Sarah Palin) all over wearing our stuff. She actually buys

our stuff. We were recently asked to outfit her so we went and met her and (husband) Todd and spent the day with them. It was pretty amazing. NH I’m not sure if she realizes how important and special it was to us. CC From what I’ve gathered, you two are very different personalities, right? NH I think that’s why our company has become what it’s become; I think I have some great ideas and I wasn’t much of a risk taker. From the beginning our friendship has been like that. I think that’s why it works for us, and I think why the show’s going to be great. You’ll see in the show there’s one of us that’s more of an adrenaline junkie, and I’m the scaredy-cat. JA I’m very much a risk taker; and she’s very conservative. I’m kind of a go with the flow and a planner both at the same time. Norissa and I work together day-in and day-out, and we’re very like-minded even with our opposite personalities.

CC So what was New Zealand like? NH The first time we went we were

stag hunting, and it was only the second time we’d been out of the country ever. It was pretty eye-opening for us. To go back this year we realized how the terrain is different. And it’s an outdoor mecca; people train there for triathlons; running, biking and kayaking. There is good food and good wine. There’s an energy that you can feel when you’re outside. I just love it; it’s a spiritual place. CC You’ll soon be traveling all over the

world filming the show, but where do you get away in California for you outdoor fixes? JA I do a lot of hunting in Modoc County where I grew up. I just went and hunted with my dad and future brother-in-law last fall and took my first mule deer. Duck hunting up here is huge in my family; my cousins, my fiancé and my brother are duck-hunting addicts. I love it now too. We actually just put our dog in training; he’s

an amazing 9-month-old Lab. So next year is going to be awesome. When I want to get away, I go to Modoc County because there are so many open spaces. CC I’m looking forward to watching your Universal Huntress. Just talking to both of you it looks like this will be fun. NH The show is basically going to be real time; we’re not going to re-enact anything. We’re just going to go out there and be real. I’m not going to profess that I’m perfect by any means. I get to learn about different countries and different animals. We’re growing up on TV; the friends and the family who get to see us every day, we get to share that with them. I hope everybody loves that, so we’ll see. JA It’s just going to be us. When we met our producer and he pitched for us to come out and fly to South Africa and see how we did hunting with him, he said, “All I want you to do is be yourselves because that’s what your fans love.” So we’re going to be Norissa and I being Norissa and I; we’re going

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to be goofy, but we’re going to be serious about our hunts and fun. We’re going to see the world and you’re going to see if through our eyes. CC Give me a short description on what you think your products represent? JA It’s not really too hard for me to describe because it’s really mine and Norissa’s lifestyles combined: it’s a little bit of redneck, a little bit of fashion. We love the outdoors; period. And we love guns, so it’s not just about guns of the outdoors; it’s a universal brand and it’s about the women who love to wakeboard, who love to snowboard or work out or shoot. We want women to love our brand because it’s all about the outdoors and empowering women.

We’re just enjoying our journey and hoping people are picking up our brand all over in the homes of every country girl. CC I get the feeling no matter how successful you are, you’ll always be just down-to-earth Jen and Norissa from small-town northern California. JA Oh yeah. Just because our company is doing well doesn’t change the person that I am. That’s very important to me to stay the same person. We’re just normal girls. NH What you see is what you get. I’m not any different than I was four years ago; I’m not changing. I think I’m a down-to-earth person. Hopefully that shows; sometimes we’re big dorks, and we love to just laugh and have fun.

CC Where do you see this company going? NH Of course we’d love to keep building the brand, and that’s been our goal. We want to make outdoor fashion fun and trendy for everybody. I don’t know how it’s going to go.

CC This last question I think is the

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

most important one: Do you hope you are role models for women who want to be involved in not just an outdoors apparel company in what’s been a male-dominated genre, but any kind of business venture?

NH We have people approach us and tell us they want to take a chance and a leap to try something new in their life. And also we like to see young girls coming up with their own business ideas, either in the same industry as ours, or in a whole different industry. They’ve followed us so much and thinking, “If they can do it, we can do it.” JA You know what’s funny? I have people tell us how we have been an inspiration because they see us working so many days and into the wee hours of the morning trying to build our company. And just now this year we’re finally able to relax a little and enjoy this. Norissa and I up until last July were doing this on our own. So it is really awesome to show that hard work does pay off, and that’s the American Dream. That’s really important because that’s what Girls With Guns is all about. As for what’s male-dominated, that doesn’t mean anything to me. Women are taking over the hunting world. I’m excited about it. WSJ

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Western Shooting Journal How did you get into custom grip manufacturing? Ed Strange No one was making anything I wanted to put on my guns. We own a tattoo shop, and my wife Lisa is an artist. The passion and care that goes into permanently customizing a person’s body is exactly the same as the works of art we create with custom grips. We customize all kinds of components, not just handgun grips. Spring plugs for 1911s are big for us , and we’ve had a field day turning plain black ARs into real head-turners. WS With this being our annual Women and Guns issue, what can you tell us about your experience with the fastest-growing westernshootingjournal.com 99

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HOOKED ON HUNTING Charismatic Larysa Switlyk Of Reality TV Makes Hunting Less Intimidating ARTICLE BY TOM CLAYCOMB III PHOTOS BY LARYSA SWITLYK

think that sometimes I’m in my own little world, and don’t think outside of the box, so to speak. I’m totally blessed. I had a dad, granddad and uncles who took me hunting and fishing. I was shooting a shotgun before I could reach the trigger. I had to hold the stock under my arm and hold it almost in a “shoot-from-the-hip” position. It’s hard to reach the trigger when you’re only six or seven years old. I think we messed up bad letting field and game departments set regulations where kids can’t start hunting until they’re 12. By then, they’re off on other ventures. And some of those ventures aren’t good. So what would it be like if your dad or uncles never took you outdoors? It’d be tough to get into. Now think about this. What if you were a girl who came from a non-hunting family? Wow, that would be even tougher. How would you even begin to get into hunting? Well, to answer this question let’s ask Larysa Switlyk. I met Larysa at the Professional Outdoor Media Association Convention last year in Columbia, S.C. One thing led to another, and we’re going to do some seminars together. As we speak – type, I’m on the plane Larysa Switklyk proves women can excel at hunting, even if they weren’t brought up in the sport. westernshootingjournal.com 103

leaving Vegas. I was just at some seminars at the Safari Club International Convention, and after one of them, we got to shooting the bull. She had told me this story before, but it hit me anew as to how unique it was that she even got into hunting, as she shared her story with Lori, the event planning coordinator at SCI. Larysa doesn’t come from a hunting/fishing family, so you can imagine how badly it freaked her family out when she turned into a hardcore outdoorswoman. In fact, now she has two TV shows, Larysa Unleashed and Larysa Gone Fishin’, and is nationally known. But instead of me telling the story let’s interview her and get it straight from the source. TOM CLAYCOMB OK, what possessed

you to even begin hunting? LARYSA SWITLYK With my passion for

Larysa has been a tremendous role model for young girls interested in hunting, shooting, and/or archery.

travel and adventure, I found myself backpacking through Australia and New Zealand after leaving a CPA job in New York City. I booked myself a hunt in New Zealand, never having shot a rifle before in my life. I’ve always wanted to try hunting, but never had the opportunity until I made my own. I instantly fell in love with the

LARYSA UNLEASHED What better way to learn about hunting than from an attractive, charismatic female huntress? By featuring a positive role model for women as the star of a hunting show, this show is sure to get more women interested in hunting. Larysa Switlyk travels all around the world on the hunting reality TV show, Larysa Unleashed; throughout Africa, Europe and North America. The 29-year-old has hunted roaring red stag in Argentina, Spanish ibex in Spain, deer in Wisconsin with Congressman Ron Kind and participated in an all-ladies elk and mule deer hunt in New Mexico. Passionate and energetic, she is enticing to watch and will lure you in. Switlyk hunts with both firearms and a bow, and enjoys bowfishing. She is completely at home in the outdoors, which she refers to as her office. She calls the swamps of Florida her backyard. The show is all about the adrenalin rush from hunting and extreme sports. Larysa loves extreme sports, and so hunting was a natural progression for her. The show is presented in an educational format, so amateurs or those new to hunting will learn quite a bit about the sport.

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On the show, Larysa explains why people hunt, the importance of conservation, cultural experiences, and the rules and regulations behind it all. The show discusses the species being targeted, their habitat, location, and why they are targeted, along with encouraging youth and female involvement in the outdoors. Her fishing show, Larysa Gone Fishin’, contains equally exciting and extreme tales. If you’d like a fun and entertaining way to learn about hunting and fishing, especially if you are a woman or child who might be intimidated by traditional hunters’ education, check out these shows.

HOLSTERS SHOWCASE

hunting lifestyle, and knew instantly it was born in me. TC Were your family and friends supportive? LS Not from the start. I grew up with three older brothers, and my parents are probably the least outdoorsy people you will ever meet. After returning home from New Zealand, I was proud of my hunt and showed my family and friends photos, thinking they would also be proud of my new-found pas-

Larysa harvests a mule deer.

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I FEEL TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE TOO QUICK TO JUDGE ABOUT SOMETHING THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. sion. I instantly got criticized and put down, which confused me, until I found other hunters who accepted me. That is when I realized there is a whole different world out there that accepts hunting. The people who are so quick to criticize lack education. I started my television show with the mission of educating nonhunters and sharing my passion to influence other females and children to get involved in the outdoors. I figured if I can change my family’s viewpoint on hunting, explain to them why I hunt and get them eating the meat I bring home, then there are a lot more people out there like them who I can also change. Now my family is my biggest fans, and I’m glad I could introduce them to the outdoor lifestyle; but trust me, it didn’t happen overnight. TC Wow, that’s amazing. So that

would explain your passion to help educate nonhunters and to encourage women to get into the outdoors? LS Yes, my first goal is to share my passion and love for hunting and fishing, and my next goal is to encourage more females and children to get involved in the outdoors. I want the kids away from the computers and video games and enjoying the outdoors. I’m not telling people they need to go out and hunt. I just want to get more families outside; spend time together and teach their children the safety behind guns. Kids’ cell phones should be replaced with a bow or a fishing rod. The world is so consumed and dependent on technology these days that they are spending less time with their families. I want to educate the nonhunters why people hunt and fish, how we

feed our families with the meat, and the conservation behind it all. I feel most people are too quick to judge about something they know nothing about. If I can at least introduce to them the facts, they can make their own educated decision about hunting and fishing instead of instantly thinking negatively about it. I figure if I can change my own family’s viewpoint, I can change a lot more people out there and my TV show is a great vehicle for that! TC When we first talked about doing some seminars together, I remember the first topic you wanted to talk about was something on the order of “Helping Women Break Into The Outdoors.” In a nutshell, what would you say to a new girlfriend who doesn’t hunt? LS First off, you need to at least give hunting a chance. Like me, you might not know you love something until you try it. I would like to talk about tips on how to go about trying it, how

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Larysa hunting ‘gators.

HOLSTERS SHOWCASE

to stay safe and how to avoid bad situations because in the long run, hunting is still a male-dominated sport. There are a lot of female groups out there where you can learn to shoot a gun and go on hunting adventures with other females, which is sometimes the way to go when you are first getting into it, because you might feel more comfortable getting taught by other women. TC How did you jump from the position in question one, to where you now hunt internationally and have two TV shows? LS A ton of hard work, time, money and the will power to never give up, no matter how many times I get told no or that I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do something. I got my real estate license so I could have more freedom than with my accounting job, and after a big sale, I would fund all my adventures myself. I learned the business side of things, flew to Vegas and snuck into the SHOT Show about five years ago

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to see if this industry was something I wanted to get involved in. I learned as much as possible, tried to hunt as often as I could and started filming my hunts. I asked a ton of questions, learned quickly what information to believe and what not to, made a ton of mistakes, but never gave up. I did a lot of the work myself, started surrounding myself with good people, had a few mentors along the way, took my time, and didn’t rush things. I continued to prove myself in the outdoor industry, taking advantage of every opportunity that presented itself, as well as making my own opportunities. I got a good entertainment lawyer behind me to protect me, pushed myself, practiced more and more on camera, started picking up sponsors and finally took the jump and haven’t looked back. Is it more work than I ever expected? Yes! But is it worth it? Every second! I turned my dream into a reality, I built a strong foundation, I did it all myself, and I’m going to continue to grow and share my passion and story in the outdoor industry and beyond. I’m living proof that if you work hard enough and put your mind to it, you can make your dream come true and live it! Go ahead, unleash it! TC Wow, well that’s an amazing story,

Larysa. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview. I look forward to working with you in the future. How can the readers follow your adventures? LS Check out my website for updates on my adventures at larysaunleashed.com. They can watch Larysa Unleashed on the Sportsman Channel April on Sundays at 12:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. Larysa Unleashed will air on Destination America in July through September on Saturdays at 7 a.m. I also fished for Team Bass Pro Shops during the Madfin Shark Series, which aired in April through May on the Outdoor Channel. WSJ

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COMPETITIONS

THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER DYNASTY IN 3-GUN Meet Top Tier Competitors Kay And Lena Miculek ARTICLE BY ROBIN TAYLOR

Lena Miculek-Afentul beat out her mom, Kay, to win the 3-Gun ladies professional championsip. (3-GUN NATION)

uddenly, 3-Gun competition is everywhere. Just look at the ads in this magazine. Every firm from

At just 19, Lena MiculekAfentul has claimed more prize money than any other female 3-gunner alive. (BECKY YACKLEY)

DPMS to Stag Arms has a “3-Gun Ready” rifle – to say nothing of the pistols and shotguns flying off store shelves. Shooters are flocking to the “3 Gun Nation” banner, and that rush of new blood, teamed with the marketing power of the 3 Gun Nation TV show, has transformed the sport. Kay and Lena Miculek have “caught the wave,” teaming up with Kay’s husband Jerry to form “Team Miculek” – arguably the most formidable trio in the history of 3-Gun competition. Based in small-town Princeton, La., 30 minutes east of Shreveport, the Miculeks have taken to the road.

They’re touring like a rock-and-roll band, working 26 major 3-Gun shoots, training events, SHOT Show, etc. “I can only look ahead two weeks at

Mom Kay Miculek forms one-third of the formidable “Team Miculek” in 3-Gun. (BECKY YACKLEY)

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COMPETITIONS most, or it scares me,” says Lena. When I rang Kay’s cell phone, I caught her in the “Team Miculek” motor home, headed from the Hornady “Zombies in the Heartlands” match to the CMMG 3-Gun in Bonnesville, Mo. Jerry was driving, and Lena was “crashed out in the back.” Top-tier practical shooters travel often, but not like this. The Miculek family traveling road show is something new, and so far, it’s working. They’re taking a share of the prize money at the regional 3GN events, and Lena beat out four of the top women 3-gunners in the country, including her mother, to take the $25,000 ladies’ prize at the 3GN Nationals. S&W, Mossberg, Freedom Munitions, CheaperThanDirt, Hornady Mfg., and a long list of others have piled on to help power the Miculek

Kay Miculek built her reputation on pistols – the high-tech “Open” pistols her family built. (JODY LEWIS)

bandwagon. Jerry Miculek “signature model” revolvers, shotguns, and compensators are on store shelves across the nation. Lena has joined Kay as an instructor at the “Babes with Bullets” ladies-only training camps. She also teaches seminars on 3-Gun, and Jerry’s a regular feature on the Outdoor Channel’s Impossible Shots.

Lena wasn’t always into guns, and once walked away from shooting, but has returned, with a vengeance. (MICULEK FAMILY)

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LENA’S NOT QUITE LIKE HER MOTHER Known as a precise technician, Kay built her reputation on pistols – specifically the high-tech “Open” pistols her family built. Kay drove her raceguns to multiple national pistol titles, two world titles, and won gold with the American teams at the IPSC “World Shoot” in England, Brazil, Indonesia, and Greece. Along the way she married Jerry, one of the great masters of our time. The two have worked and competed together ever since, winning match after match for their primary sponsor, S&W. Their daughter Lena rode along for

that adventure, but not always willingly. “Imagine being absolutely immersed and surrounded with something from the time you were born,” says Lena. “The whole ‘it’s so exciting’ thing had pretty well worn off.” Lena grew up a few hundred yards from Clark Custom Guns. You drive by her house, her uncle’s house, and her grandparents’ house (all famous gunsmiths) to get to Clark Custom. Past that, you’re on the Shootout Range, which is owned by the Clark’s and Miculek’s. “Guns were everywhere” feels like an understatement. “When I was 15, 16, I decided to totally leave (shooting) behind,” says Lena. She spent some time thinking over what she wanted to do outside of shooting, then realized that “life was pretty darn boring without it.” She experimented with pistols for a while, first with raceguns like her mother’s, then revolvers like her father’s, before trying 3-Gun at what turned out to be the ideal moment. Talking to her, you

COMPETITIONS

Lena has found 3-gun to be the most intriguing of the shooting sports. (BECKY YACKLEY)

quickly realize 3-Gun is “her thing.” “This is the most challenging thing I could ever do!” she gushed. “The shots are long, you have to shoot offhand rifle, shoot on the run, shoot at point-blank; one time I had a 117-yard shot with a pistol. Overall, it’s a lot more intriguing to me.” At just 19, Lena Miculek-Afentul has claimed more prize money than any other female 3-gunner alive. She’s done that, and won the ladies’ title at

’S R LELER M U MB THTU

the shotgun World Shoot in Hungary all within less than three years. Having told you that Lena was raised in the game, please don’t get the feeling Lena’s skills “just happened.” In fact, her first year as a 3-Gunner looked like a blooper reel. “I was really bad, I mean terrible. Ask anyone, I was really horrible.” Kay Miculek is one of the more soughtafter ladies’ trainers in the country, but when you’re “Kay’s daughter” and you don’t shoot well, people ask awkward

LENA’S GEAR: The whole Miculek family shoots the Mossberg 930 “JM” shotgun (for Jerry Miculek), but they set up their guns differently. Lena’s has a Nordic Components mag tube under it. She loads shells two at a time using Carbon Arms twin loaders – the same ones she took to Hungary for the World Shoot. She’s customized her S&W M&P 15 rifle with a Hyperfire trigger, 16-inch Barnes barrel, and Barnes handguard. It’s loaded with 77-grain Nosler hollowpoints, courtesy of Freedom Munitions. Her pistol isn’t stock either. Her M&P Pro in 9mm wears Hi-Viz sights, a tungsten guide rod, steel mag well, and extended basepads.

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questions – often while mispronouncing your name. (For the record, it’s “Michuleck” not “Mickalick.”) That constant scrutiny had a silver lining. It wasn’t fun, but Lena says “because of that family dynasty pressure, I’m a much better shooter now.” As a competitor, Lena brings her father’s speed and the her mother’s precision into one fearsome package. She‘s so good, she’s becoming a darkhorse threat to win some overall 3-Gun titles. She placed third overall in “tac

optics” division at that Hornady “Zombies in the Heartland” shoot. That’s third overall against every man and woman in the division – at a match drawing 470 people! “I remember when she was the reluctant little dragon,” says USPSA great Lisa Munson. “That’s changed. She’s putting the heat on us now. She has a competitive side that’s amazing.” Like alligators, the Miculeks blend into the background until the proper moment. When that timer goes off, the

It’s been intriguing watching this mother and daughter compete against each other. (BETTY YACKLEY)

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laid back part disappears, and “something else” makes a dramatic appearance. In Lena’s case, even her mother struggles to beat her. “Maybe when I was in my prime, I would have given her trouble, but I don’t think so,” says Kay. “She’s wicked fast with a long gun.” SPORTSMAN’S TEAM CHALLENGE BACKGROUND I asked Lena about her flair for long guns. Curiously, she credits the littleknown sport of Sportsman’s Team Challenge. Lena joined an “STC” team as an 8-year-old, shooting .22 rifle, .22 pistol, and shotgun. “The hardest rifle target is a 1-inch by 1-inch star at 90 yards, shot with a .22 rifle,” she says. “There’s a diamond also. It’s 1 inch on each side.” Most of us couldn’t hit that diamond from the bench, yet STC shooters take the star shooting offhand – under time pressure. Difficult aerial shotgun targets also appear, again under time pressure. “That definitely helped, same with shotgun,” says Lena. LIVING ON THE ROAD Jerry, Kay, Lena, and Lena’s husband Brock will spend most of 2014 on the road. Their longest “away” will span 28 days. “I started counting matches the other day and lost count at 26,” says Lena. With each match lasting an average of three days, plus travel, there’s not a lot of ‘home life.’” “When we’re home, those few days are spent working on the travel plans and getting ready for the next event,” explains Lena. “It’s an amazing amount of work just planning. Plus we have to do all the normal people things too, like mow the grass.” And when that’s done? She had to think about that. “Doing nothing is really nice,” she says. “I enjoy that in a weird way. Plus working on the house.” Once they’ve had a chance to recharge, the team breaks out the video cameras to do YouTube videos. Look up the “miculek dotcom” channel sometime. You won’t be disappointed. WSJ westernshootingjournal.com 119

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MY FIRST MOUNTAIN LION Stalking A Big Old Tom With Dogs In Arizona’s Wilderness ARTICLE BY CHRISTINA HUNTRESS AND PHYLLIS GROSS PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA HUNTRESS

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“Dedicated to my grandfather for teaching me everything I know.”

he sky was beautiful the morning of December 19, 2013, when I met with Bud and Travis, two amazing hound trainers and breeders. We had decided to take that day to improve my hunting skills with working hounds. As usual, when I leave for a hunting day, I carry a mountain lion tag with me. I always

thought one day I would cross paths with one. Sometimes being ready has its rewards. We arrived outside of Lake Pleasant, in the northwest Valley of Phoenix, Ariz., around 7 a.m., and once parked, the training began. First, Bud and Travis unloaded their hounds and applied collars with tracking devices to each one. They ran a check on their equipment, then proceeded to load the 15 hounds into

their cages. After 30 minutes, we started driving down the road searching for tracks. Bud was opening the road in his Polaris while Travis and I followed in another vehicle. Soon, they agreed to split up, continuing to communicate through walkie-talkies, as we went on searching for any signs. Travis and I walked around many of the washes looking for any indication of tracks. Around 8 a.m., we fiwesternshootingjournal.com 121

nally located some tom tracks that were so clear and crisp, they shined. At this point, the dogs started to pick up the scent from the cages; barking and howling, they were impatient to be released. Travis notified Bud of our location, and once he arrived and inspected the tracks, he confirmed that a large male mountain lion had been in the wash recently. Bud and Travis agreed to turn the hounds onto the tracks. Within minutes, the hounds started to run and jump over each other from side to side, stopping only to smell the ground before continuing to run down the wash. The howls started to change. A LITTLE FARTHER AWAY, we came up to a cattle carcass where we spotted more tracks. Soon I could understand the mode of communication of the dogs, as they worked together to locate the scent, one just as eager as the next one to reach the goal first. Shortly afterwards, the lead dogs went off on a run. As we watched, we noticed a huge increase in their pace. We sped up, thinking they might have come upon the tom. But then suddenly, we lost the sound of the dogs. I started to worry about them, wondering what could be the cause of this silence that seemed to last for minutes. The dogs stopped. We could hear them again as we came to the opening in the canyon. The rush was on! As we climbed through a dry waterfall and creek bed, we realized the high canyon walls were blocking the Christina Huntress’s trophy tom was an old battler estimated at 10 to 14 years old, based on tooth wear.

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sound of the lead hounds. Soon, we could hear all the dogs again. Within minutes, we could see them up on top of a cliff where they had a large mountain lion surrounded. We rushed to the cliffside, climbing straight up through the bushes and cacti. Adrenaline was now flowing in our veins. Rocks were breaking and sliding beneath our feet as we attempted to reach the top. When we finally got there, pushing close to 11 a.m. as we reached top of this 70-plus-foot cliff, we came across sheer rocks on both sides of the mountain. The dogs were climbing around like mountain goats, barking and howling. Some boulders masked the hounds from where I was perched, but I could see the mountain lion. As I approached the edge, where Bud was waiting for me to see the huge tom, I had no idea just how large and close I was to it until I pulled myself up on to the boulder. Surprised by the proximity – 7 feet – I drew my Glock 17-inch 9mm and shot the tom, hitting center chest, with the bullet exiting between his shoulder blades. He jumped over the dogs, off the cliff away from us, falling straight down. I heard him hit rocks and outcrops as he fell hard and fast. I had no idea the dogs would go back down off the cliffside so fast. Bud chased them to ensure they were not injured if the mountain lion survived. Travis and I continued to try and pull the dogs off the cliff the safest way without losing them off

the rocky unstable edges. We then heard one of the dogs barking and howling. Travis and I looked down from a lower saddle of the cliff. I saw the mountain lion attempting to cross the wash about 50 yards beneath us. I was very concerned about shooting him again at this distance with the dogs so close. I carefully aimed at his shoulder and fired another shot, finally killing him. Bud reached the tom first, and tossed him at the bottom of the wash. Then he carried him to Travis and I when we reached the bottom of the cliff. At the moment that we started examining it, we could see just how old this mountain lion might be. It had only one canine tooth left. There were scars all over its body, and one eye was severely damaged from a possible fight at some point during his life. A broken toe had healed sideways. Arizona Game and Fish later estimated his age between 10 and 14 years old. The skull is now being measured with more accuracy by experts to determine if it is a possible record size. Even if it turns out not to be, the hunt was well worth every minute of it. WSJ Editor’s note: Christina Huntress extends special thanks to Arizona Elite Outfitters, Sportsman’s Warehouse, HOGAN, Glockmeisters, Machine Gun Tours, and Wess Taxidermy. Not only is Christina a hunter, she is also a national and international 3Gun shooter who has been in many competitions. Read more about her on arizonafemalefirearmcompetitors.com.

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GOING HOG WILD Battling Western Boars

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

unting wild hogs in the West is one of our family’s favorite adventures. This time of year, nice weather, warm nights and lots of hogs means you can’t help but have fun. Over the years, we’ve hunted pigs throughout many regions of the country. Though there are a few small pockets of feral hogs scattered in some Western states, the best bets for good hunting lie in California, Texas and Hawaii. Wild pigs are one of the few North American animals that qualify as both big game and predator. Introduced to the U.S., pigs are reportedly second in popularity only to the whitetail deer, in terms of nationwide hunter participation. California ranks third in pig populations, behind Florida and Texas, respectively. But California is big, with a high concentration of swine in the northern half of the state. Pigs can be hunted year-round in California, and spring and summer are prime times to get in on the action. With summer gracing the grassy slopes and brush-choked ravines of northern California, now is a good time to head afield. I’ve taken boars throughout northern California while hunting spot-and-stalk, with muzzleloader, bow and when trailing a pack of hounds.

Scott Haugen put the hammer down on this northern California pig as it fed through a lush creek bottom. Focus your hunting efforts around food, shade and water in summer, and you’ll put pork in the freezer. Haugen dropped this boar with his Nosler Custom .260, one of his favorite pig guns.

As air temperatures heat up this time of year, search for hogs rooting around and hanging out near water holes.

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ROAD HUNTER The action is fast paced and always exciting. I’ve actually hunted pigs in six countries around the world, and the only time I’ve been charged and knocked to the ground was in California. The hogs here are big and mean. As summer temperatures rise, hit the hills before sunup and glass for hogs moving to their bedding area. From there, plan your stalk. Mid-day hunting, though hot, can be very productive. In these conditions, pigs burrow themselves into the labyrinth of cut banks amid dried creek beds, where a 20-degree drop in temperature offers relief from the sweltering heat. It may require a hunter to cover

Nosler’s Zach Waterman settles in for a shot on a nice boar, which he connected on. Shooting sticks offer great stability when making open-country shots on feral pigs.

WILD HOG HOT-SPOTS

RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA

In the lands surrounding Redding and Red Bluff, Calif., wild hogs abound. When acorn crops are good, hogs will spend all fall and winter in the hill country of this region. When spring grasses begin to green, hogs stick around. Between the brush and deep-cut creek beds, plenty of cover allows hogs to thrive here. It can be hot this time of year, so if the family is along, allow time to go fishing and visit the local water park.

PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA

For years, hog hunting has been good around Paso Robles, where they run rampant in the region’s vineyards. If you’re thinking of taking the family on a hunt, this is it. Between the early morning and evening hunts, there are plenty of parks, beaches and vineyards to provide something for everyone. There’s a lot to see and do in this stretch of California.

WEST TEXAS

Texas likely offers the best hog-hunting opportunities in the country, as pigs range statewide. But the plains and mountains of west Texas are likely the best of the best when it comes to finding high numbers of hogs. Be sure to allow time to visit many of the fascinating historical sites and museums in this part of Texas.

EAST TEXAS

The brush country of east Texas offers exceptional hoghunting opportunities. Here, amid the thick bottomlands, lies tough terrain to negotiate, but it’s teaming with hogs. The northern part of the state also offers great hog hunting, and in this region, the land is more open, making for good spot-

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With green-up comes lush grass which hogs may flock to. As the ground dries out, search for pigs in shady draws and moist creek bottoms.

Western Shooting Journal // July 2014

and-stalk action. Because there are no closed seasons, hog hunting can be enjoyed any time of year in Texas.

HAWAII

Hawaii is rich in pig life, and they thrive on many of the islands. Some of the best hunting is found on the Big Island, from the Kona region all the way down to South Point (bonus fact: it’s the southernmost point of the U.S.). Due to dense habitat, the high-percentage hunts happen behind a pack of hounds. When in Hawaii, leave time to deep-sea fish, snorkel, hang out at the many beaches and swim with the manta rays at night. This is a trip the whole family will enjoy.

several miles on foot, tediously picking apart each drainage for any sign of pigs, but when it comes together, the rewards are big, as hogs congregate in large numbers. EURASIAN BOARS DOMINATE PRIVATE LAND in California, but there are public land opportunities in the Cow Mountain Management Area and Laguna Mountains in the central part of the state, and the Tehama Wildlife Area in the north. A call to state and federal wildlife agencies might also land you on a landowner’s piece of real estate that is experiencing property damage by pigs. Knocking on doors can pay off, but be patient and don’t be surprised if asked to pay a trespass fee. Texas offers a wide variety of places to hunt hogs, and with no closed seasons, opportunities abound. I’ve hunted them from the Mexico border up to the Panhandle region, and around much of west Texas. I enjoy the

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ROAD HUNTER spot-and-stalk opportunities in the open country of the northern and western portions of the state. In south Texas, brushy country dominates, and if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind battling cacti, the action can be great. My boys love walking brush-lined roads in the evening, waiting for hogs to pop

out and graze on green grass. Hawaii is also a hotbed when it comes to pig hunting. In terms of offering the best pig hunting that can be combined with a family vacation, Hawaii wins top pick. To hunt in Hawaii, you must possess a Hunter Education Certificate, no matter what your age. Start

Noslerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zach Waterman connected on this northern California hog with a .325 Nosler Custom rifle, a lethal pig gun.

researching your hunting areas before hopping on a plane, as different islands have different regulations. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to set aside time to explore the many fascinating sites that make Hawaii so unique, especially those off the beaten path. As with all pig hunting, the best action is early in the morning and late in the evening, allowing all day for fun in the sun. While summer usually marks a period between spring and fall hunting season, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t despair. Hop in the truck â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or board that plane â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and head to hog country. Not only will you come away with wonderful hunting adventures, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be loading the freezer with some great eating game meat. WSJ Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: For signed copies of the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular big game hunting adventure book, Life In The Scope: The West, send $15 (free S&H), to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or order at scotthaugen.com.

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THE TRAIL OF THE SCATTERGUN Shotguns, Relationships, And The Inner Man ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY LARRY CASE

Delaney Ellis with her spring 2014 gobbler, harvested with a Remington Versa Max. Her uncle Chris Ellis added this Osceola, also with a Versa Max, to his collection for a grand slam.

once had a good friend who related many of the things we deal with in life to the realm of the outdoor world. Shooting, hunting, and fishing all served as a backdrop to his earthy observations. If a buddy was having marital woes, he might compare that to a turkey hunting scenario and say “He’s been flushed off the roost and he ain’t comin’ back.” If a task was particularly arduous, he would declare it was “like puttin’ a wool sweater on a bobcat.” You get the idea. As I stumble into the years, I find myself doing the same thing. So, if you catch me comparing human beings, life, and all that goes with it to shot sizes, choke constriction and barrel length, I hope that you can forgive me. I acquired it honestly at the knee of some old codgers who were the real deal. Unapologetic, straight shootin’, baggy-pants shotgunners.

I fear that in the living laboratory of human relationships, nothing may be as important as the first impression. Knowing hunters, shooters and shotgunners as I do, I understand that if someone is going to write about the things they love, if they are going to join you on the same trail, they want to have some confidence that the writer knows a .410 shotgun from a .338 Win. Mag. I know that some introduction is in order. INTRODUCTION AND BONAFIDES For much of my misspent youth, I could be found scurrying through the woods and fields gripping a shotgun. It probably went in a typical order; .410 first, several 20 gauges, some 16s (my Dad loved those), and when I went to the 12 gauge, well, I thought I was really hell on wheels. Ahh … the fleeting glory of youth. There are no Olympic recruiters

stalking me, but I have shot some shotgun competition. I am on any day a better trap shooter than sporting clays or skeet, which may not be saying much. I don’t seem to have gained an AA27AA rating yet in trap. I must also confess to spending the last 35-plus years as a state conservation officer, what some call a game warden, and I have been a firearms instructor for rifle, pistol, and shotgun for many years (man, it seems to have gone by really fast). I have spent more time in the turkey woods than I have in a duck blind, but certainly enjoy them both. I’ve hunted grouse and have had pointing dogs for many years, so light, fastpointing shotguns have a special place in my heart, as we will see later. If you want to spend a day following the beagles chasing cottontails, I’m your man. Are we getting on the same trail yet? INCREASE THAT ARSENAL You should know that I firmly believe you can never have too many guns – especially shotguns. So before we get out of this first session, dear reader, I am going to propose some choices to fill any empty slots in that gun safe. Notice! If you are going to have trouble in this issue with wives, girlfriends or boyfriends, contact me immediately! I have an entire program, in Powerpoint that I can send you for dealing with these issues (I don’t think any of it has ever worked, but I can send it to you). REMINGTON VERSA MAX This shotgun has been out since 2011, and it is a beast. I would say that if you want one shotgun that will shoot anything, the Versa Max is it. Want to westernshootingjournal.com 133

SCATTERGUN TRAIL The Remington Versa Max.

shoot clays with light 2¾-inch loads? How about turkeys or waterfowl with 3-inch magnums? (Are you really mad at them today, as my Dad used to say). The Versa Max does it all. As many of you know by now, the secret in this gun is the Versa Port gaspiston system, and this system was revolutionary in the world of shotgun actions. It has seven ports and two gas pistons, which allow the gun to cycle any size load with efficiency. Basically, what this system does is self-regulate gas pressure based on the length of the shell; the cool thing is that as it is doing this, the system also greatly reduces recoil. If you are shooting lighter loads in a Versa Max, you will not notice much recoil. This shotgun comes in several camo patterns and configurations now, including the Sportsman model which is the same basic shotgun without a few whistles or bells. MOSSBERG 500 FLEX SYSTEM 20 GAUGE Mossberg came out with the Flex System of transforming shotguns and rifles in 2012, and it is impressive. The basic concept is that the stock, recoil pad and forearm are quickly detach-

The author’s original Mossberg 500 20 gauge.

with the stock replacement and forearm; the mechanism is secure and the buttons do not detract from the lines of the gun. You can go from a hunting gun to clay targets to a home defense weapon – bing, bang, boom. I like it. What is new for this year is a line of 20-gauge FLEX 500 shotguns. I am impressed with these offerings and I am going to tell you why. First, I think that there are a lot dads and moms out there wandering in shotgun limbo as to what they should buy for a kid’s first shotgun. Now, boys and girls, I am going to preach a little bit here, but lis-

Federation, 4H camps, Youth Day on the Range functions and more. I always see smaller kids, or maybe ladies of smaller stature who are eager to shoot, but whatever guns we have that day may just not be a good fit. I think these Mossberg 20 gauges, with stocks that can be shortened or lengthened on the spot are good options. Don’t get me wrong, I am not touting these shotguns as only a kid’s gun. This past spring gobbler season, I carried a 500 20 gauge for half the season – lay down your heavy 12 gauge sometime and pick up one of these 20s and you will see why. CZ UPLAND ULTRA-LIGHT OVER AND UNDER I have saved this shotgun for last, and if I begin to gush a little, I am just going to ask you to forgive me. While wandering around the NRA Convention in April, I was chatting with the folks at the CZ-USA booth, and I glanced over and saw this shotgun on the rack. The gun winked at me and I was done! The wow factor is pretty high when you pick up this shotgun. This gun is a 12-gauge over-andunder with 28-inch barrels (also comes in 26 inch) and it weighs 6 pounds! That’s right, I said 6 pounds. An alu-

The new Mossberg 500 20 gauge features a Flex system for adjusting the length of the stock.

able without tools. This is done with TLS technology (Tool-less Locking System). So, you want to put on a different size recoil pad because you are going to add or subtract a coat while in the field. Push a button, insert a new pad and you are done. Same procedure 134

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ten to me. Anything we can do to get more kids and just people in general shooting, we need to do it! If this includes helping a parent pick out the right starting gun, so be it. Next, on the list of why I like these 20 gauges, is that I have done a lot of working with kids and new shooters at various shooting functions. Jakes Day events for the National Wild Turkey

minum alloy receiver, no side ribs between the barrels, and a 6mm top rib (average is 8mm) all go toward making this gun as light as possible. The receiver is cut from a solid block of metal on a CNC (computer numeric controlled) machine – this means the moving parts will work with precision. To me, this is a huntin’ gun and it is made to be used, as Dave Miller, the

SCATTERGUN TRAIL The CZ Upland Ultra-Light Over and Under.

shotgun guy at CZ, assured me. One of the features that attests to this is the black-matte non-reflective finish. That is an important detail because of what I am about to tell you. For some time, I have been scheming about the perfect turkey gun. I know of more than one good turkey hunter who hunts with an over-andunder. The current trend in turkey guns is to have an extremely tight-choked shotgun to kill turkeys at long range. The problem comes when the gobbler steps out (as often happens) at say, 18 to 20 steps. Your shotgun that shoots a coffee-can-sized pattern at this range

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can account for some misses. How about if you had an over and under with one barrel tightly choked for those 45-plus-yard shots, and the other barrel more open for the close ones? I’m telling you, this is the way to go, and the Upland Ultra Light may be the gun for you to try it on. I’m going to. If you are a walk-all-day grouse or ringneck hunter, or a run- and gunturkey hunter, you need to take a look at the Upland Ultra Light from CZ. FEEDBACK WANTED One last thing – I really want to hear from you. I believe that you, the reader, should have a voice in what we talk about here. Do you want to go technical? If so, we will crawl into the guts of

any shotgun you choose and talk about choke sizes, back boring and forcing cones and pellet deformation until the bovines comes home. You want more basic stuff and the right shot sizes for different game? How about tips on how to break your first 100 straight? The point is, you just have to tell me. Know that I consider you my brothers and sisters in camo. I’ll be waiting on the trail. Have your boots cinched up and a water bottle and candy bar in your vest, and bring a few extra shells, I’ll probably be out. WSJ Editor’s note: The author is a lifelong shotgunner. When he misses, he usually admits it, and when he hits it, he tries not to brag.

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FAMOUS FLAGS

ALL AMERICANS SHOULD KNOW A Look Back At The Red, White And Blue History Of America ARTICLE BY FRANK JARDIM

don’t know if you can be a patriot and not get choked up a bit when you see Old Glory flying in the breeze. My thoughts go first to the sacrifices of our military forces, because without them, we could not protect and preserve our unique way of life from outside aggression. The design of our flag represents our republic. The 13 stripes remind us of our nation’s birth, with the brave rebellion of the original 13 colonies from Great Britain. A star represents each state in the blue field

of the union that collectively make up the United States of America. I ask you to ponder for a moment the significance of that. The collective talent and treasure of the 50 states, working together in areas of common interest for their collective good, within the governing framework of our Constitution, allowed the United States of America to become the most productive and powerful nation on Earth by 1918. Here are a few our great nation’s most famous flags for your July 4th enjoyment.

The Gadsden Flag Before the familiar stars and stripes became official, our military forces went into battle under many unique flags. Perhaps the most famous of them is the one presented by Continental Colonel Christopher Gadsden to the fledging U.S. Navy’s commander-inchief in December of 1775. It was intended as a personal standard to be flown on the flagship. The coiled rattlesnake was by then a familiar element in the imagery of the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin suggested the rattlesnake had many qualities in common with the new republic. Among them were lidless eyes that were always vigilant, and a peaceful nature unless provoked. The Don’t Tread on Me slogan has resonated with Americans since the Revolution. It appears repeatedly in our political history, and most recently, it was used symbolically by members of the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party.

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Stars & Stripes/The Betsy Ross Flag The first official flag of the U.S. may or may not have been made by widowed Philadelphia upholster Betsy Ross. The legend emerged around 1876 during the nation’s centennial, and was based on family oral history rather than hard facts. Betsy Ross did make flags for the new nation, as did many other upholsterers, tailors and seamstresses. She is known to have changed the design of the stars from six points to the more practical, fivepointed stars which are much easier to sew. Whether she and Colonel George Washington ever knew each other, much less collaborated on the first flag’s design has never been documented. Sometimes, history doesn’t let the facts get in the way of a good story, so to this day, many believe she designed and made the first American flag. One thing is certain, this flag is the one that represented the new nation starting in 1777, through the majority of the Revolutionary War, and afterward, until 1795, when Vermont and Kentucky joined the union, increasing the number of stars to 15. It should be noted that not all flags of this period had their stars in a circular field. It was but one of many styles.

The Star Spangled Banner Currently on display in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., this is the flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. It inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that has since become our national anthem. This massive 30-inch by 42-inch garrison flag was made at the request of the fort commander, Major George Armistead, in preparation for the impending British attack on the city. Fort McHenry guarded the entrance to the harbor and stood in the way of the British. Major Armistead’s intent was that the British fleet should see the huge flag from a great distance as a matter of American national pride rather than tactical advantage. On September 12, 1814, the British launched an attack with 5,000 troops supported by cannon fire from a fleet of 19 warships. By the evening of September 13, intent on forcing their way into Baltimore’s inner harbor, the British began a 25-hour bombardment of the fort, but could not neutralize it nor compel the surrender of the defenders. Unable to seize the harbor, the British broke off their attack and withdrew. The proportions of this flag seem a little peculiar, because, in addition to its 15 stars, it has 15 stripes. The extra stars and stripes represented Kentucky and Vermont’s entrance into the young republic.

Custer’s Last Flag During The Battle of Little Big Horn In the black hills of southern Montana Territory, on June 25, 1876, a 263-man force from the 7th Cavalry Regiment, led by Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer, attacked a group of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians. When Custer learned the Indians had discovered his force, he feared they would disperse and escape, so he ordered an immediate attack. He grossly underestimated the size of the Indian force, which outnumbered him four to one. The Indians had many repeating rifles, while the cavalrymen had only the standard single-shot 1873 Springfield Carbine. The result was an epic defeat, resulting in the death of Custer and his entire force. Tattered, bloody and bullet riddled, this flag was discovered under the body of a fallen cavalryman by a burial detail three days after the battle. The flag is swallow tailed to reduce wind drag and make it easier for a mounted man to carry. It measures a compact 27½ inches by 33 inches. It sold at Sotheby’s auction in 2010 for $2.2 million to a private collector.

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COMPANY PROFILE

Northern Valley Gun & Home Defense Tell us about who you are. What are your interests and passions in life? We are a father-and-son team. Lee (dad) is married, has two sons, and, besides working, loves to shoot at the range, fish and hunt. Lee is also an assistant pastor, a reserve sheriff deputy, musician and videographer. Nathan (son) has a lovely wife, three awesome kids, and, besides work, also loves bird hunting, fishing, camping and pizza. Both have passion for helping people have a safe and fun time hunting, as well as providing both supplies and training for personal safety. We are motivated by a strong commitment to family values and Constitutional principles. What made you decide to get into the gun business? We both enjoyed shooting, have a great deal of respect for law enforcement and the Constitution. So, when it appeared rights guaranteed in the Constitution were being systematically taken away, we felt it was time to start Northern Valley Gun and Home Defense as a way to show support for the 2nd Amendment, get the message out that shooting can be fun, teach firearm safety and responsibility, and work to provide great prices on equipment and supplies for shooting sports and personal defense. What makes your business popular and what kinds of products do you specialize in? We try and make our business fun and interactive. We are active on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, regularly giving updates and having quarterly product giveaways. Because ammo was difficult to find for quite awhile, we have mostly given away 9mm and .22 ammunition. In addition to the giveaways, we also host a monthly shooting club – teaching safe weapon handling, equipment care, shooting, and reviewing laws and personal responsibility. Lastly, we focus on customer service and satisfaction.

Lastly, we have free shipping on all orders over $20 – that’s a great deal! What kind of less lethal products do you carry? Some of the other less and non-lethal defense products we have available are a wide assortment of pepper sprays, stun-guns and Tasers, batons, tactical flashlights, training supplies and home security products (security cameras, etc.). From a home security standpoint, it is our strong opinion that deterring a home invasion through home security systems is always better than having to defend yourself and family once they break in.

Lee (left) and Nathan. Of the over 12,000 products available on our website, we mostly specialize in handguns and long guns. Having said that, we have a tremendous amount of peripheral products such as gun safes, knives, ammo, holsters, clothing and non-lethal defense products (to name only a few!). Out of the thousands of websites selling shooting equipment, what do you do to separate Northern Valley Gun from the competition? We work hard to give the customer a great online experience, great prices (by working with low margins and higher volume), and a vast resource of wholesaler products behind the scenes to choose from. We only display on the website a small amount of the products available. For items people are looking for but may not find on the Northern Valley Gun website, we encourage use of our “request a search” button. We will diligently search our wholesalers and web for the product and, if available, will present it at the best price possible. In addition, we are the only site to offer the Whoa-Doggie dog shock-absorbing system designed to protect your dogs and the investment you have in them.

What are some of the most popular handguns sold by Northern Valley Gun & Home Defense this year? This year, the 9mm Springfield XDM and Beretta Nano, as well as the Walther P22 in .22 caliber, have been our most popular models. We’ve taken these to the range and absolutely love them! Long guns? For long guns, the Mossberg 835 has been popular and we have a great price on them. Also, the Rossi Youth Shotgun/.223 combo has been a popular option as young people get into shooting. What would you like the readers of Western Shooting Journal to know about the ecommerce business? I think an advantage we hold over brick and mortar is the vast range of products available. With our more than 12,000 products available direct on the website – plus many times more with our wholesalers – I believe we have most everything the shooting sports enthusiast and personal defense markets are looking for. And, because our overhead is low, we can provide it at great prices. Did I mention that shipping for $20-plus orders is free, and for most states, it’s also tax-free! For high-quality firearms and supplies at near wholesale prices, Northern Valley Gun is definitely the way to go.

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The Iwo Jima Flag

The second flag raised on the top of Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima by five U.S. Marines and one U.S. Navy corpsman on February 23, 1945, became the most famous American flag of World War II, when photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the image with his Speed Graphic camera. Before the 35-day battle to capture the island was over, half of the men in his photograph were dead. The total American casualties were 6,821 dead and 19,217 wounded. Of the 22,060 Japanese defenders, 18,844 were killed. Only 219 were captured during the battle. An astonishing 3,000 of the enemy retreated into the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elaborate cave system to commit suicide or hide in fear from the U.S. forces, who they were led to believe were a barbaric enemy. The last holdouts didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t surrender until 1949, four years after the war ended. This flag is on display at the USMC Museum in Quantico, Va.

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BBQ TIPS & TRICKS Break Out The Grill For The Fourth Of July! ARTICLE BY RACHEL ALEXANDER • PHOTOS BY CANSTOCKPHOTO

hile visiting Raahauge’s Shooting Sports Fair in May, I had lunch at MAK’s Chicken and Ribs. The barbecue pork ribs were probably the best I’d ever had in my life. I talked to Malcom Killebrew, the owner, about what his secret is. He said two words: slow cooking. Malcolm smokes all of his meat. His motto is, “If it ain’t smoked, it ain’t barbecued.” His story begins decades ago, and his start in cooking was strongly influenced by his grandparents who owned a restaurant. They came from Texas, where barbecuing is life. Malcom opened up his own restaurant in 2006, which took off so well that the owners of A&W Root Beer wanted to franchise it – they’d never seen a mom-and-pop barbecue do so well. But he was pretty happy

with how things were going, so never took them up on it. Malcolm’s barbecue includes ribs, pork, including pulled pork and whole pigs, beef, tri-tip, brisket, and chicken. Pork ribs are his specialty. People who don’t even eat ribs change their mind about them after they’ve tried his ribs. What kind of sauce he uses depends on the event. He can’t reveal the ingredients, because it’s his own top-secret marinade. Growing up, he realized his grandmother’s special sauce tasted yucky plain, but once he put it on the meat, it was something else. He notes that you don’t want to use a lot of sauce – you want to complement the meat, not overbear it. Otherwise, you can’t taste the meat. He smokes his meat, depending on the type, with hickory, oak or mesquite. He’ll use orangewood when

he wants a sweeter taste. It takes four to five hours minimum to smoke ribs properly. He aims for a texture where the meat doesn’t completely fall apart when you bite into it. It will fall apart, but still stays on the bone. The longer you smoke it, the better the meat is and the more tender it will be. Malcolm’s grills are all custom made. He does not use direct heat. He smokes the meat at about 225 degrees. Some smoked meat has a red Malcolm Killebrew barbecues up a storm. (RACHEL ALEXANDER)

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ring, a smoke ring, which looks like it’s not cooked thoroughly, but that actually means it really has been smoked through well. Malcolm’s catering service is so popular he hasn’t advertised in five or six years. He has four units busy every weekend. People in Texas will fly him out to do an event. He generally services the Los Angeles and surrounding areas, but will go wherever to cater an event if the price is right. He also participates in a lot of barbecue competitions, and has won many awards. Malcolm finally shut down the restaurant portion of the business last year, but continued the catering side. Based in southern California, he has catered to casinos, veterans, a party for the Orange County Water District, the Ritz Hotel, events for kids, a party at Las Vegas Raceway, political fundraisers and events. His primary customers are cowboys and cowboy events, such as Raahauge. He services Raahauge every fourth Sunday, as well as any weekend when he’s not out of town catering another event. WSJ

QUICK AND EASY BABY BACK PORK RIBS Makes one rack of ribs

Ingredients 1 cup mesquite chips, soaked 1 (2-pound) slab baby back pork ribs 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder 1 ⁄2 teaspoon ground thyme 1 cup barbeque sauce

Directions Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect heat – a pile of charcoal on one side, nothing under the food. Once it is going, throw some soaked mesquite woodchips on it. Remove the membrane from the ribs if the butcher has not already. Combine the salt, pepper, paprika, chile powder and thyme; rub onto the ribs. Cut the slab of ribs in half. Place the ribs over indirect heat, and close the lid. Cook for 20 minutes, then brush with barbeque sauce. Cover, and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.

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BIG AL'S KANSAS CITY BAR-B-Q SAUCE Makes 6 cups of sauce

Ingredients 2 cups ketchup 2 cups tomato sauce 11⁄4 cups brown sugar 11⁄4 cups red wine vinegar 1 ⁄2 cup unsulfured molasses 4 teaspoons hickory-flavored

liquid smoke 2 tablespoons butter 1 ⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 ⁄2 teaspoon onion powder 1 ⁄4 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon paprika

⁄2 teaspoon celery seed ⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 ⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 1

Directions In a large saucepan over medium heat, mix together the ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, wine vinegar, molasses, liquid smoke and butter. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, celery seed, cinnamon, cayenne, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for up to 20 minutes. For thicker sauce, simmer longer, and for thinner sauce, less time is needed. Sauce can also be thinned using a bit of water, if necessary. Brush sauce onto any kind of meat during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

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You can be prepared without building your own bunker. (CANSTOCKPHOTO)

THE GODFATHER OF

PREPPERS Q&A With James Talmage Stevens On Preparedness ARTICLE BY RACHEL ALEXANDER

ames Talmage Stevens knows more about the preparedness movement than probably anyone alive. He’s been a leader in it since 1974, when he wrote the book, Making The Best of Basics. The handbook has sold over 800,000 copies since hitting the shelves at Kmart during the gas crisis. Over 500 pages long, it’s considered an encyclopedia on preparedness, everything you need to know. It is even made out of rice paper, in case you need to eat it. Talmage tells me we’re undergoing a “doom boom” currently, due to the lingering poor economy. There are all kinds of things popping up related to preparedness – even prepper dating

sites. Talmage has been putting food away since he wrote the book – and it’s still good. I asked him what are the most important things people need to know about preppers. RACHEL ALEXANDER What is the pre-

pared movement? JAMES TALMAGE STEVENS It’s being ready

for inevitable catastrophic situations. You can’t go back to kindergarten, you know too much now, you’ve got the knowledge that things are going to happen. You’ve been there, you’ve done it. Your life has changed forever as you knew it, and it will change again. Most TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) is

positive. If you possess additional knowledge, you’re now more responsible, if you care to use this knowledge. TEOTWAWKI doesn’t really mean the end of the world. It means things change for you positively or negatively, mostly positive, such as getting married, having kids, etc. It’s not about just being prepared for a catastrophic world event, but life catastrophes, e.g. your car gets hit in the parking lot. It allows you to continue as if nothing happened. Of course, no one is truly self-sufficient except God. Look at it as triages that need to westernshootingjournal.com 151

be sustained. For example, a garden is composed of the three Ps: produce, prepare and produce food. Unfortunately, people aren’t focusing on the right words. Not everyone can plant a garden on the third floor of an apartment building. But you can have indoor plants on your countertop. It also provides healthier, raw food with more nutrition; and as long as you can flush your toilet, you don’t have to leave your home other than to get water.

in charge of this earth, and nobody’s rising from the grave. Now here’s what zombie means: If you were addicted to something, you’d do anything for a fix. You would lose control of your ability to be rational. Similarly, in the case of a massive disaster, if you needed water or food, you’d do anything to get it. If you know anything about the psychology of predators, they almost always go for the weakest and easiest target. RA While researching preppers, I

RA How should gun owners keep their

guns prepared? JTS I was raised shooting squirrels and rabbits, and I served in the military. People should have guns if they want to. I hate people like Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) who drive around with their armed guards – but I can’t. There is no legislation that will ever stop people from using guns. We have a right and should take advantage of it. I have a .22 long rifle, an AR-15, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .45 pistol and a .32 Franz Stock pistol. RA What do you think about the re-

came across comparisons of the chaos and crime in the aftermath of a hurricane to what could happen on a worldwide scale should there be a huge disaster. What do you think of all the prepper shows out now? There’s Doomsday Preppers, Doomsday Bunkers, Armageddon Arsenals, and Meet the Preppers. JTS They’re taking everything to extreme. Someone learns something and thinks they’re as knowledgeable as someone else, yet they have no experience. They are living the Walter Mitty life [someone living in a fantasy world].

cent hype over a zombie apocalypse? JTS Do you know what zombie

RA What do you think are the biggest

means? Hollywood has created this image that a zombie is an undead person. It ain’t gonna happen, God’s

threats that could result in doomsday? A biological attack? Financial collapse? A natural disaster like a

Growing food is essential for preparedness, but if you live in an apartment, even a few plants on your countertop will suffice. (CANSTOCKPHOTO)

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DR. PREPPER’S 12 CONSIDERATIONS OF PREPAREDNESS • Spirituality: If you don’t have it, nothing else matters - its basis is a motivator that drives you to complete things • Shelter and clothing • Security and protection: guns, karate, know how to protect yourself • Water: know how to collect it, treat it and store it • Food production: produce, prepare and preserve • Medical: medication, wellness, and dental • Fire, fuels and energy for warmth • Sanitation, waste, and hygiene; E. coli can kill you • Communication with community and your party • Transportation and mobility • Financial and economic considerations • Community: your family to help you prepare, someone who has your back THREE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: • Homesteading • Preparedness library; his book constitutes a library • Oddments: things that don’t have a category, e.g. stuff not everyone may need like perimeter security

massive earthquake or volcano? Nuclear weapons? JTS The biggest threat is you; it’s other humans. Because they believe the system is going to take care of us. I believe this is the greatest country on earth, set up with religious overtones to provide for all this freedom. The greatest threat is the devil. Everyone gets a blue ribbon just because they played? I don’t think so. There is

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competition for limited resources. Obama can write all the executive orders he wants taking my stuff, but he cannot take my food, savings and life earnings within the system. I pay property taxes, taxes on my employment, and I choose to be frugal and thoughtful and considerate, and you want to come and take it just because you wasted your resources on playing golf? I’m coming to get your golf bag. RA How do you respond when people

accuse preppers of being fringe?

jerky. There are many ways to preserve. You can even freeze dry at home. Pickle it, salt it. Refrigeration and freezing are the most expensive and risky ways to store food. Our house doesn’t need air conditioning. RA How has the prepper movement

changed over the years? JTS It’s shifted from tactical to practi-

cal. There are more people “living ready” now. Although there are now more guns and camo, you don’t need to include that aspect.

JTS Mormons and Baptists are fringe.

Republicans are fringe. It depends on what the conditions are. Everyone has some fringe in them. What about the people who buy a Prius? It’s like former vice-president Al Gore flying around in his private jet urging people to save gas – get a life! He sold a major asset to Al Jazeera. RA What are your thoughts on pre-

serving game meat? JTS I made a lot of deer and turkey

RA What are the “WAGs” you refer to? JTS WAG stands for “Wrong Agenda

Group.” These people have all the answers, but they just don’t under the question. They take (borrow) information and get into ruts. You’ll see things like “101 things you need to have when SHTF” – yet that particiular article doesn’t even apply. It came from Argentina, which has vastly different needs than we do here. The WAGs simply repeat what

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others do. The top prepper blogs are merely aggregators of feeds. RA Tell us about your radio show, which I enjoyed being a guest on. JTS Preparednessradio.com on Blogtalkradio is all preparedness; there’s no politics or religion, except spirituality. There are no conspiracy theories, or things that may offend ladies, who are 85 percent of our listeners. It is teaching and instructional. I used to do 40 hours a week. I am also a regular guest on the radio show Freedomizer [patriot topics]. RA Where did the term “prepper” come from? JTS Shawn Dutton, who runs the Phoenix Militia, came up with it. Note that the Phoenix Militia is not the same as the types of militias that were prevalent in the 1990s, that were more anti-government. The Phoenix Militia is all about preparedness. RA What is the difference between a

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prepper and a survivalist? JTS Survivalists are a bit more radical than preppers. Preparedness is practical, it’s a way of living. You can live anywhere. It’s an attitude for dealing with the unknown. Additionally, there are bushmen and homesteaders, which include urban, suburban and exurban homesteaders. RA Any final thoughts? JTS Final thoughts: It’s our responsibility as parents and

citizens to take care of our families, to teach and feed them. It’s not a governmental responsibility. The government was doing it for awhile, and back then they did a good job. Fairly good lifestyle 50 years ago, easy society to live in. My childhood was idyllic. Now it’s very difficult, they keep whittling away with what made it great. We’ve let other people run our lives for so long that we don’t recognize the fact that we’ve given up rights. Today there’s much legislation you can’t buy a chainsaw without a permit. It’s Satanic, it’s evil, it’s not just opportunism, or free enterprise gone mad. Do not rely upon first responders. You are your first responder, your first line of defense. You can’t always depend on your neighbor, or your partner, professor, school. We now live in a changed world. WSJ Editor’s note: Visit Stevens’ websites at doctorprepper.com, preparednessradio.com and makingthebestofbasics.com.

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KNIVES

YAY OR NAY? AUTOMATIC KNIFE FOR EVERYDAY CARRY Tacti-cool May Not Be Practical ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY KEITH SIPMANN

Sleek and handy, yes, but impractical for an everyday knife, says the author about spring-assisted knives.

very once and awhile, I get asked by friends of mine whether or not automatic knives are good for EDC use. Honestly, at first I wasn’t sure, as I had never owned one. I was never a big fan of the designs, and heard way too many stories about the blades deploying in someone’s pockets, stabbing their legs. Whether or not the stories were true, the possibility of getting poked in your manhood by your own blade is totally possible with many of the knife designs that are available. There are many knife makers that have automatic knife designs; many of them are the more popular (and expensive)

knife makers. Before you read on to see whether or not autos are good for EDC, I would recommend reading about the history of the design and their relationship to what’s commonly called a switchblade. While functionally similar, the two designs share slight but important differences. A switchblade opens its blade from the handle automatically with the press of a button, lever, or switch that is remotely mounted in the knife handle or bolster. In contrast, a spring-assist design uses a lever or switch mounted on the blade or connected via a direct mechanical linkage. Manual pressure on this lever overcomes

spring pressure designed to keep the blade closed, which in turn causes the blade to partially emerge from the handle. At this point an internal torsion spring takes over, rapidly forcing the blade into an open and locked position. - Source Wikipedia ARE THEY LEGAL TO POSSESS AND CARRY? Before buying, and before carrying any weapon, you should always properly check with your state and local laws to see what’s allowed and what isn’t. The last thing you want to do is buy a knife, carry it, have to use it in a defensive situation ... only to find out now you’re in hot water for carrying and using an illegal westernshootingjournal.com 159

Knives blade, etc. Autos are heavily regulated and every state seems to have its own rules on them. One site that I’ve visited recently that seems to have a good grasp on knife laws is KnifeUp.com. If you plan on carrying a blade, you might want to check it out beforehand. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CARRYING AN AUTOMATIC KNIFE? It is debatable, but generally speaking, automatics (being spring loaded) have a slightly faster deployment than an assisted opening knife. Other than that, I cannot think of anything else that would be considered a real benefit. To me there is not much of a difference between pressing a button and thumbing a stud on the blade. WHAT ARE THE DRAWBACKS OF CARRYING AN AUTOMATIC KNIFE? My first, and probably biggest, complaint about these types of blades is their lack of safety features. Normally a

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physical safety mechanism wouldn’t be a big concern to me, as I feel guns with a safety create bad habits. But with a spring-loaded blade dangling just inches from important parts of a man’s anatomy, I’d prefer it to be totally safe to carry without accidentally activating it in my pants pocket. Many button-opening automatic designs have no safety and should not be carried in a pocket. Button knives without a mechanical safety will undoubtedly get you hurt. Lever lock types are inherently safer for pocket carry simply by design, as they are highly unlikely to deploy unintentionally. Another drawback with autos is the limited blade sizes that are available due to heavy regulations, which means that the number of cutting chores and uses for the blade has been significantly reduced as well. Most autos have skinny or thin blades anyhow, which also means they can’t be used for a lot of things that I would normally

use an EDC blade for. Safety and legal drawbacks aside, most autos that are worth using are fairly pricey. CONCLUSION: ARE THEY GOOD FOR EDC? Automatic knives may be tacti-cool and all, and they may have legitimate, legal uses, but those uses are few and far between and hard to justify for the amount of money spent on one. I just don’t see any major reason to carry an auto over a folder unless you’re an EMT, fighter pilot, combat medic, fireman, police officer or something along those lines, and the main reason for that is only speed of deployment and they take up very little room. In my opinion, because of the varying regulations of blade length and available blade designs, usability is actually down when compared to other assisted opening knives on the market. Therefore, I do not recommend carrying them for EDC versus another type of knife. Stay alert, stay alive. WSJ

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RELOADING

THE KEY TO SAFE RELOADING Reloading Can Be Extremely Dangerous If Certain Protocols Are Not Followed ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY DANIEL SCOTT

Even with the extra care reloaders naturally take with black powder, this safety equipment is a good call.

resumably, if you’re reading this column, you have at least a passing interest in handloading your own ammunition. This is, of course, a great thing and I would encourage all hunters and shooters to at the very least become knowledgeable about the practice. Like nearly all things involving firearms, safety needs to be paramount, and that’s what I’d like to talk with you about today. First, let’s talk safety equipment. When reloading ammunition, we work with components that are flammable and explosive. Loose powders can catch fire quite easily, and primers can occasionally detonate inadvertently. Accidents happen despite all the pre-

cautions we take. Presses and dies place brass under immense pressure. Power trimmers especially can launch shards of brass at high speed right at your face. It is exceedingly difficult to be an accomplished shooter without your eyeballs. Take care of them. Eye protection in the form of safety goggles or glasses is absolutely necessary. Nitrile gloves are also essential in helping to prevent the spread of lead residue. Traces of lead contaminate not the bullets, but the brass. Residue from the primer, along with a tiny amount that is occasionally vaporized from the bullet itself, is left covering the brass when a round is fired. For this reason, even if you are wearing gloves, you should always wash your hands after

handling firearms, brass, and other components that may be exposed. Along those same lines, don’t eat while reloading. Regardless of your dietary needs, a peanut butter-and-lead sandwich probably isn’t something your doctor would recommend. Again, don’t forget to wash your hands before eating if you’ve recently spent time at the range or have been handling any reloading components. Do I really need to mention that smoking while reloading is a bad idea? Don’t do it. Better yet, quit the habit completely if you’re able. Your work area should be neat and organized. This not only helps you keep track of what you are doing, but it also helps to eliminate potentially danwesternshootingjournal.com 163

RELOADING gerous accidents and errors. Additionally, your work area should be distraction-free. This may mean that it’s set up in a designated work area, such as a garage or basement. It may also mean that you only set up your press after the kids are in bed. If you have a television or other media distraction in your work area, turn it off. Your focus should be 100 percent on the task at hand. WHEN LOADING AMMUNITION, you should only have the components necessary for that one load out and on your workbench. This helps to avoid inadvertently using the wrong powder or primers. All components should be stored only in the original factory packaging, and care should be taken to verify the label before use. When not in use, powders and primers should be stored separately in a cool dry place. The use of a fire-resistant metal cabinet is highly encouraged. Never mix components. Every part

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of a cartridge interacts with the others. If you’re switching out one component for another, you need to work the load up again. Changing something as simple as the bullet manufacturer, even if the bullet weight and construction are the same, can have great effect on your load. The same applies to brass. Case volume can vary from headstamp to headstamp, and the result very well could be a boom instead of a bang when you pull the trigger. Any time that one component of your cartridge is changed back off the load by 10 percent, work it up again. Keep up to date on your loading manuals. Don’t simply rely on that one reloading manual you bought 20-plus years ago with your first press. Powder formulas change over time, and loads are constantly tested and refined by manufacturers. Furthermore, use extreme caution when following recipes found on the Internet or relayed by someone at the range. What works for

their firearms may not necessarily work in yours. Do your research, and always start at 90 percent of the recommended load. Along those same lines, make sure your reloading log is up to date. You do keep a handload journal, don’t you? Such a resource is invaluable when tracking and evaluating round performance, as well as spotting possible component degradation in older rounds. Log details of not only components and weights, but also lot and batch numbers, along with date of manufacture, if known, and date loaded. At the end of the day, reloading is about all the little details. Develop a ritual, a series of steps that you follow, and don’t deviate from them. Get in the habit of working safely. Creating effective loads requires not just careful logging of load performance, attention to weights and measurements to create accurate and safe cartridges, but also attention to various safety protocols. WSJ

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