SHOT Show Update

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Here it is, Day Two of the SHOT Show and I realize I’ve been quite remiss in providing updates. I’m afraid I’m still working pretty hard on getting more information regarding non-lead bullets and ammo, so that’s kind of kept me from seeing a lot of other stuff.

Speaking of unleaded ammo, I’ve got some good news as pertains to availability. Options are coming! I’ve got a ton of detail for later, but to summarize you’ll see non-lead ammunition in a small range of calibers from all of the major manufacturers this year. Winchester, Remington, and Federal all have options… and they’re all different. Winchester has the ETip, Remington will be loading the Lapua Naturalis, and Federal has been offering various flavors of the Barnes bullets for a couple of years now.

I’ve also been talking to the NRA-ILA (legal resources group) about possible responses to the lead ban. I’ve got another conversation on tap with the Hunting Policy folks, but a brief chat this afternoon revealed that they are researching legal challenges. In the meantime, the recommendation is if you’re not registered to vote, do it… then get to the polls and put it work.

I’m also planning to meet with some of the other large organizations. But what I’m seeing so far is the exhortation to CA Sportsmen to get together and stand up. I’m also being reminded to remind you folks in other states to follow suit, because it’s highly likely that this lead ban will be coming to your state soon.

OK, on other topics… how about a few pictures?

The first day of the show is always a little mind-numbing. It’s hard to describe just how much hunting and shooting stuff there is… and it’s almost all represented at SHOT.

It’s a dizzying sight to behold, with acres and acres of “toys”. After six years of attending this event, I still get a little shaky in the knees and it’s pretty tough to keep a focus on what I’m supposed to be doing. I just wanna walk around and pick up everything.

It’s really funny to watch the faces of first-timers, though. Like my brother, Scott who managed to come out to see the spectacle. Here he is playing with new toys, in this case, the bull-barrel slug gun from Marlin.

At the end of the day on Saturday, the SHOT Show organizers, the NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation) threw a big bash for the industry folks. Not one to miss a party, I attended with a few members of our ProStaff from Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors. In the photo below you can see (from left to right), Brad Swadley, Holly Heyser (AKA NorCal Cazadora), and Bryce Mann.

The entertainment for the evening was country music star, Randy Travis.

It’s always a great concert, especially because you’re able to just walk right up to the stage and really enjoy the show… like these folks.

Not so much partying tonight, but lots more to tell. Stay tuned!

Hunting video and pictures

Posted February 4, 2008 at 1:33 AM

nice pictures. I will be on the next SHOT Show

Arthur

Posted February 4, 2008 at 8:25 AM

Still looks like a great time. Randy Travis would be very cool to see in person.

Looking forward to the continued updates.

Joshua Stark

Posted February 4, 2008 at 11:04 AM

That looks like a great time.
I’m curious, why fight the lead ban? I thought you’d mentioned that it was coming, and with a ban in place, companies are now providing options, and we’ll soon see economies of scale and simple supply&demand bringing down prices. If we stay in this limbo of partial ban, no ban, limited ban, depends on where you hunt, we’ll just have foot dragging from the companies.
Wouldn’t our time be better spent telling the Ca. State Legislature that hunters have paid more than their fair share for conservation, and now we deserve some support (non-lead price waivers, etc.)?
That said, I’m fairly new to your blog, but I have been nothing but impressed by the quality of your posts. You are a great resource and well respected here.

Phillip Loughlin

Posted February 4, 2008 at 5:36 PM

HI Joshua,

Thanks for the kind words, and for the reply.

I definitely do feel like a lead ban is a long term eventuality. In the big picture, it’s probably a good idea and the right thing to do. If it were just that, I probably wouldn’t be as vocal as I’ve become.

But the lead ban law that was passed totally ignored the needs and concerns of sportsmen as well as the science that the ban was supposedly based on. Including rimfire ammo in the ban, AFTER THE BILL WAS ALREADY SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR was a political slap in the face, and what it told me was that our Fish and Game Commission is totally disconnected from a big part of the population it’s supposed to be serving.

I also feel like there was no need to enact this ban in such a total way. A phased approach would have given the ammunition industry the same impetus to change without putting the screws to a large segment of the hunting community. As it now stands, there is no way for small game and varmint hunters who use rimfires to adapt to the law. Even when the CCI ammo is available, it only addresses the .22 magnum, so .22lr, .17hmr, and .17Mach2 are still out of the picture.

There are no funds available to do the waivers, that much I do believe, so it pretty much rules that out as an alternative.

For those reasons, I think CA Hunters need to step up now and demonstrate that they’re not going to be ignored and pushed aside. If we fail to step up now, then you can be almost assured that our interests will continue to be relegated to the bottom of the priority list, and in the political environment of this state, that’s a guaranteed foot in the door for those who would like to see hunting and shooting brought to an end.

I don’t envision a total doomsday here, but I do think we need to do something before we’re no longer able to do anything. It has to start somewhere.

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