The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of testing, research and experimentation with various guns and gear. In the coming weeks, you can expect to see:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atEmmJB_flE[/youtube]
This is a brief video recap of some of the activities from the 2010 BLACKHAWK! Bloggers Seminar.
I’m back from Norfolk, VA where I spent the past few days with Todd Jarrett, Navy SEALs and the folks from BLACKHAWK! I’ve got a ton of products to review in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered the Pentagon to implement rules about personally-owned firearms held by military personnel. An interim policy will be in effect this summer, with a final policy due in 2011. Currently, many bases have different rules, and the new policy will set a single set of rules regarding personally-owned firearms.
While having a uniform set of rules will make it much easier for servicemen and women to know what is allowed on all bases, the actual rules may not be what anyone wants. Currently, gun registration appears to be a likely base rule. Other restrictive rules are likely.
Much of this was prompted by the shootings at Ft. Hood. If I recall correctly, the shooter was not allowed to carry his personally-owned weapons onto the based and begin killing people. So, more rules are clearly needed.
Here’s an idea: let all service members carry firearms. I know it is a silly concept, letting a soldier have a gun. But, if those soldiers who were attacked had been armed, maybe the number of victims would have been fewer?
Although not strictly a gun topic, worth mention is the new Red Dawn movie being released in November. A lot of people relate to the original Red Dawn, and are curious about the direction the remake will take. The question is “Will the remake be any good?”
WOLVERINES!
Team Smith & Wesson is accepting applications for new shooters on their competitive shooting team. More information and applications are at the Team Smith & Wesson site.
A new firearms auction site, GunHarbor.com, popped up last week, and they are offering a $25 credit for signing up.
GunHarbor.com is an Ebay-like auction site with categories for all types of shooting, hunting, tactical and outdoors equipment. There are even categories for vehicles and safaris.
Sign-up was easy, and no credit cards were needed. The $25 credit was instantly accessible in my GunHarbor account. I have not used the site to make a purchase yet, but the GunHarbor.com code appears to be well written.
GunHarbor is integrated with GunPal and PayPal for auction payments.
Kim Rhode took an important first step towards her quest to set an all time record for individual American Olympic athletes by winning the initial International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup competition in Acapulco, Mexico.
The four-time Olympic medalist Rhode, 30, started the final round in the lead with 72 hits after the qualifications, tied with Italy’s Diana Bacosi. In the final round, Rhode did not miss a single target while Bacosi missed three allowing Yu Xiumin to claim the silver medal with another perfect final round.
Rhode’s final perfect score gave her a combined total of 97 targets, one better than the Chinese silver medalist who finished with a 96. Amber English also shot a combined score of 96.
“It hasn’t been easy. My shotgun got stolen a couple of months ago. I got a new one, but of course it took me time to get used to it,” said Rhode, after the award ceremony. “It’s great to be on the highest step of the podium today, these international competitions are really important now, on the path leading to the 2012 Olympic Games.”
Xiumin tied the second American finalist Amber English who was the early leader in the World Cup and edged her in the shoot off for the silver medal. Yu, a 2006 Asian Champion, had won her last ISSF World Cup medal in 2007 in Maribor.
Amber English secured the Bronze medal, joining her teammate Rhode on the podium. The 20-year-old shooter had never won an ISSF World Cup medal before.
Smith & Wesson is offering substantial rebates for all active duty and retired military servicemen and women. Buy a M&P-15 rifle chambered in 5.56/.223 and receive either $100 back or five (5) free Magpul PMAGs. Purchase a M&P pistol, and S&W will reimburse you $50 or give you two free magazines. Lastly, if you pick up one of several M&P revolvers, they’ll cut you a check for $25.
The deal is good through June 30, 2010. All sorts of restrictions apply. Check out Smith & Wesson’s info page for the details.
Botach Tactical is having a 20% off sale on all of the Magpul items they carry. Use the coupon code of “magpul” when checking out. Example: the Magpul CTR stock is only $73.72 after discount. They also carry other Magpul stocks, slings, PMAGs, grips and more.
I don’t know how long the coupon will be good for, so use it while it works.
Botach is not a sponsor.