Let’s take a vote, who makes the best shotgun? My vote is Remington. I think that Remington is a great company that has introduced two models of shotguns that have stood the test of time, the 870 and 1100.
What is your preference, fill out the quick survey below and forward it to everyone you know. I’ll tally the results and post them soon.
In a story from NPR, the people in Mexico get hosed when it comes to gun ownership.
According to the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, there are roughly 54,000 licensed gun dealers in the U.S. In Mexico there is only one.
Mexico’s lone gun shop is on a sprawling military compound in the capital that serves as the headquarters of the Mexican army. It’s sort of as if the only place in the United States to buy a gun was in a back office at the Pentagon.
Soldiers stand guard at the metal detectors at the shop’s entrance.
Inside, handguns and rifles are displayed behind glass in long wooden cabinets.
Mexican Army Lt. Col. Raul Manzano Velez runs the shop. He explains that ordinary citizens can buy only one handgun. It must stay inside the home where it’s registered and it can’t be larger than a .38 special.
“They can buy a .22-caliber pistol or revolver up to a .38 special,” he says. “It’s very limited in Mexico the models available in these calibers.”
Hunting and sport rifles can be transported, but they are also heavily regulated.
Javier Manuel Irineo, who is looking through the cabinet glass at some .22-caliber rifles, is a fairly typical customer. He is a farmer and wants a gun to protect his fields.
“I want something to shoot the animals that have been eating my corn,” he says.
He says he thinks the regulations in Mexico are reasonable.
To buy a gun in Mexico you first have to fill out some forms. Then your employer has to fill out some forms. And all these forms have to get sent to the army, which decides whether you are eligible to have a gun.
Manzano says if there are no problems, an application can be processed in about a week. But to pick up the firearm, the buyer has to come to this shop in the capital.
“At the moment they come into the shop we take their fingerprints and enter all their information into an electronic database,” he says.
Even someone near the U.S. border would have to travel here in person to legally buy a weapon. From Tijuana that would be a two-day bus trip — in each direction.
Manzano says only 7,000 to 8,000 weapons are sold legally in Mexico each year and that includes sales to private security firms.
Yet last year, Mexican authorities seized almost 30,000 weapons that were in the hands primarily of the drug cartels.
Adrian Franco Zevada with the Mexican attorney general’s office says gun smuggling from the U.S. is undermining Mexico’s efforts to fight organized crime.
“It’s quite a hassle to legally own and legally purchase guns in Mexico,” he says. So the cartels are getting their weapons, according to Franco, in the U.S.
Close to two-thirds of the firearms seized in Mexico are sophisticated rifles and assault weapons — AK-47s, R-15s, .50-caliber Barretts, Mexican authorities say.
“These are guns that are not made for recreational purposes,” Franco says. “These are guns of war.” He says guns from the U.S. are arming criminal organizations in Mexico. And he says this is a huge problem that needs to be addressed.
Inside Mexico’s only gun store, they actually have some of these weapons Franco refers to — in cabinets that are clearly marked “for government forces only.”
For some good comments check out Field & Stream.
Time to RELOAD!
Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns
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Related Posts Related Websites AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SRC (Service Regulation Committee) has approved the 2009-2010 Texas dove season, including a 70-day season and 15-bird daily bag statewide, and a 16-day early teal season.
Additionally, the SRC approved moving the Texas South Zone dove season opening the Friday nearest Sept. 20, but no earlier than the 17th. This year the season will open Sept. 18.
Texas dove season in the North and Central Dove Zones will run from Tuesday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 25 and reopen Saturday, Dec. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 9, with a 15-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.
The South Zone dove season will run Sept. 18-Nov. 3, reopening Dec. 26-Jan. 17 with a 15-bird bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.
Possession limit is twice the daily bag for all migratory game birds except light geese, which currently does not have a possession limit.
The Special South Texas White-winged Dove Area will open to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting the first two full weekends in September running from Sept. 5-6 and 12-13 and reopen when the regular South Zone season begins on Friday, Sept. 18 through Tuesday, Nov. 3 and again from Saturday, Dec. 26 through Wednesday, Jan. 13. The Special White-winged Dove Area season takes four of the allowable 70 days, so when the regular season opens, this area most close four days earlier than the rest of the South Zone. The daily bag limit is 15 birds, not more than four mourning doves during the first two weekend splits and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15.
The Service also approved a proposal to give TPWD the option to adjust a portion of the boundary of the Special White-winged Dove Area. This change would remove portions of Jim Hogg and Starr counties.
Texas’ 16-day September teal season will run Sept. 12-27.
The season for rail and gallinule is Sept. 12-27 and Oct. 31-Dec. 23; for snipe, Oct. 31-Feb. 14; and for woodcock, Dec. 18-Jan. 31.
Related Posts Related Websites Whether you are wingshooting or clay shooting, establishing which type of lead shooter you are will improve your consistency and accuracy.
There are three methods of obtaining lead on a moving target. The “swing through” method, the “pull ahead” method, and the “sustained lead” method. All of which have there advantages and disadvantages. Let’s examine the three.
A “swing through” shooter allows the target to pass the barrel of the shotgun and follows the target until just before pulling the trigger accelerates the barrel past the target, generating the lead. When you hear people coaching “follow through” when shooting, this is the method they are teaching. Much like a golfer or a bowler, even after pulling the trigger, the shooter continues his swing until the target breaks(or not).
I am a “swing through” shooter. I do not see lead, as most “swing through” shooters don’t. Of course this is only perceived, as there is a lead on any moving target, especially crossing shots. By following behind the target and then firing as the barrel moves past the target it gives the shooter the perception of shooting directly at the target. I like this fact because trying to maintain a lead for me seems unnatural.
Critics of “swing through” state that this method puts the shooter behind from the beginning and forces the shooter to wait until the last minute to obtain the proper lead. I find it can cause for “riding” a target too long which makes the shot more difficult and puts me out of position for the next shot.
Next, we have the “pull ahead” method. In my opinion, this is very similar to the “swing through” method. The main difference being that with the “pull ahead” method the shooter points the barrel directly at the target and moves with the target until time to shoot, the shooter then “pulls ahead” of the target to obtain lead and fires. Where in the “swing through” method the shooter trails the target.
Many experts believe this helps to solve the most difficult aspects of shotgunning, target speed and direction. By pointing at the target your brain automatically calculates these variables, enabling you to accurately decide the proper lead.
The third method is the “sustained lead” method. Preferred by many target shooters, “sustained lead” matches gun speed with target speed but instead of pointing at the target, the shooter stays in front of the target at all times.
The idea here is the shooter always stays ahead of the target and is in the right positiion longer, giving the shooter a better chance of hitting the target earlier and more consistently. I’ve also heard this type of shotgunnng referred to as “window shooting”. Basically the shooter leads the target to a particular “window” or predetermined spot and fires.
If I had a recommendation for a beginner it would be the “sustained lead” method. This method teaches to obtain the proper lead early and gives the shooter the most control over each shot. Also, when shooting doubles, it allows for early breaks on the first target , leaving ample time to locate and break the second target.
As for me, I’ve been “swinging through” for years and trying to change that would be like trying to make myself right handed, just not going to happen.
Which ever method you prefer, stick to it and be consistent
I’d love to hear from you which method you prefer, leave a comment and I’ll post the results in a later post.
Time to RELOAD!
Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns
Related Posts Related Websites As I mentioned in an earlier post, the kids are a great help with Layla.
WARNING: The video you are about to watch has nothing to with dog training, but it does illustrate another really good reason to get a puppy. Layla and Colton are growing up together, and it is priceless to watch.
Check it out here.
Related Posts Related Websites Since Layla came in my life, I’ve been told one hundred different ways to train her.
I’ve read articles on positive reinforcement training, clicker training (which is positive reinforcement training with a clicker), negative reinforcement training and everything in between. Hell, last night I read an article that recommended putting your dog in time out for mis-behaving. How does a person know what to do?
I’ve came to a realization, it’s not how you train, it is that you actually train. Whether you want to give your dog treats for good behavior or punish for bad, just do something.
Time is the key. I have four kids, a 50+ hour a week job, a blog, three other dogs, and now Layla. So I have my own time restrictions. It is just like anything though, if it is a priority to you , you will make the time. Here are some tips to finding more time with your puppy.
First of all, we are not talking about hours a day, in my opinion, thirty minutes of concentrated time with your dog will go a long way in the long run.
Get up a little earlier than the rest of your household on the weekends. My family sleeps in to around eight in the morning, so I’ve found getting up around seven is a great time to train. Layla is raring to go in the mornings and having a good hour before everyone is up to spend with her is priceless. I might mention that having a good plan on what you want to work on is vital to making the most of the time you have.
On days that I work, getting up earlier is not an option seeing how I’m off to work at 5:00 A.M., so I make the time as soon as I get home. I greet the family and Layla and we go outside for twenty to thirty minutes to train. My kids and wife usually come out with us so the training isn’t as focused but better than nothing.
Making the training a family affair really helps. If everyone gets to see Layla’s progress then it is easier for them to understand what it is I am doing. The kids are great with her, but it is as important to train them on how to interact with her as her with them. By teaching them to use the same commands and not letting them gorge her with treats, I have four extra trainers.
Layla is already making huge progress in becoming a well minded hunting dog. By following these simple steps, I’ve been able to find time in a very busy schedule and if I (the worst at budgeting time) can do it, so can you.
Dogs are like anything, the more time you put in to them, the more reward you get out of them. When you step out into the field, having put the training time in, and your dog is head and shoulders above the others around, you will have a sense of pride so big your hat won’t fit on your head.
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Related Posts Related Websites KERRVILLE, Texas — The Second Annual Ag Clays 381 State Trap Shoot took place June 8 at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Range in Kerrville, where 121 shooters representing 23 schools formed 28 teams, including 10 mixed teams, 15 all male teams and 3 all female teams.
The Ag Clays 381 Trap activity began three years ago by Charlie Wilson, Mobile Shooting Range coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The shoot is for those students enrolled in the Agriculture Science elective course, Ag. 381, Wildlife and Recreation Management. The event is open to any student currently or previously enrolled in Ag 381 who has completed hunter education certification as part of the curriculum. This means that a student can enroll as a sophomore and compete in the event for three years until they graduate.
“The requirements follow the usual UIL rules of no pass, no play, but have much more stringent requirements through the Future Farmer’s of America (FFA) Career Development Education (CDE) rules,” said TPWD Hunter Education Coordinator Terry Erwin, who added it is possible to gain scholarships to college if one’s scores are consistently good enough. ”We look at it as a recruitment tool for young people to learn a sport that may be carried on throughout their entire lives,” said Erwin.
There was more than a 100 percent increase in shooters from last year with more than half of them beginning as new shooters in the program. River Star Farms, a company who produces items as fundraiser products for FFA chapters, donated and catered the noon meal with Sloppy Joes, chips and drinks. There were 82 male and 39 female shooters from high schools as far north as Littlefield in the Pan-handle, as far south as Corpus Christi and east at Wills Point.
The winners were as follows:
All Female State Champion:
All Male State Champion:
Mixed Team State Champion:
The High Overall Male State Champion was Tyler Martin of New Braunfels, who shot a score of 96 out of 100. The High Overall Female State Champion was Raylea Underwood or Borden County ISD (Gail, Texas), who shot a score of 93 out of 100.
Information about the Ag Clays 381 program is on the TPWD Web site. For details or questions, contact Charlie Wilson at agclays381@yahoo.com or (512) 414-0194.
Time to RELOAD!
Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns
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