Lone Star Outdoor News Shooting Sports Annual 2023

Shooting Sports

Red hot dot

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Shooting Sports

Hunters Extravaganzas back for 47th year

It’s almost the unofficial start of the hunting season, when thousands of hunters head to the Texas Trophy Hunters Association Hunters Extravaganza shows across the state.

Some go to examine and purchase blinds, feeders and accessories. Others look to book a hunt with an outfitter, or to check out the new shotguns, optics, archery equipment and UTVs. Groups gather at the Annual Deer Competition, the rattlesnake exhibit or even in front of numerous seminars.

Nearly all, though, go to celebrate and prepare for the upcoming season, surrounded by fellow hunters, including men, women and children. Old friends and acquaintances reunite in every aisle, as conversations ensue beneath the buzz of sales pitches. Crowds marvel at new, attractive products and TTHA prize winners hear their names announced over the loudspeakers.

This year, the Extravaganza returns to Fort Worth after a year in Dallas due to facility construction. San Antonio and Houston locations remain the same for the show’s 47th year.

Hunters of all shapes and sizes will return once again in anticipation of another great season in the outdoors.

Show dates and locations:

Houston August 4-6 NRG Center

Fort Worth August 11-13 Fort Worth Convention Center

San Antonio August 18-20 Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall

Hours:

Friday 3 p.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission: $20 for adults, $10 for children

PHOTO BY JAY SCHWISOW

Back-to-back titles

By David Schlake

Lone Star outdoor newS

Rachel Barringer has solidified herself as a force within the Texas shooting sports world. The Victoria native and San Antonio resident claimed her second-straight Ladies Highest Overall (HOA) title in the Texas State Skeet Championship, this time hitting 395 out of 400 clays.

Team Blaser’s 26-year-old gunner also walked away as Overall 12 Gauge Champion, Ladies 12 Gauge Champion and Ladies .410 Bore Champion.

Barringer’s love for shooting began when she was only 8 years old when her father and grandfather — both fishing guides out of Port O’Connor, as well as trap shooters — first introduced her to the outdoors. However, her abilities on the gun range have undoubtedly surpassed anything they could have ever expected.

She has claimed a bevy of other titles, including 2018 Junior Worlds Ladies 12, 20, 28, .410, and HOA Champion; 2020 Texas State Skeet 12 Gauge Open & Ladies Champion; 2020 Mini Worlds Skeet Ladies 20, 28, .410, and HOA Champion; 2020 World Skeet Ladies 12 & 28 Gauge Champion; 2021 Texas State Skeet Doubles Open & Ladies Champion; and 2023 U.S. Open Ladies HOA.

However, her most recent success tastes a little sweeter after consecutive victories.

“This was a huge goal of mine, and I am honored to win the Ladies HOA State Skeet Champion title two years in a row,” Barringer said. “It is great to have a gun that is reliable and comfortable to shoot hundreds of targets with during a weekend. My F3 has never let me down.”

Blaser

From family interest to family business

Participating in shooting sports — especially with a son or daughter on a trap, skeet or sporting clays team — involves shooting and purchasing a lot of shotshells.

Patrick Welborne discovered a void in the industry over the past 20 years — finding a steady supply of affordable, competition-grade shotgun shells. In addition to shooting competitively with his wife, his son made the switch from an Xbox to a shotgun, immersing himself in shooting sports at age 13, and now shoots at Texas A&M University.

The husband-wife team started their business, Competitive Ammo, to help fill the void by import ing a product for the sport they love.

“People want to consistently get their favorite ammo,” Welborne said. “We were getting shells out of Houston, but it would be there one day, and then it would be gone. We decided to bring in products we have used ourselves for more than 20 years.”

Competitive Ammo started more than 5 years ago, importing ammo geared toward sporting clays, skeet and trap, including bunker trap.

The company carries two well-known brands in the competitive shooting industry: Armusa, from Spain; and Clever Mirage, from Italy. Most cases of ammo are priced at $99 or less.

“It’s quality ammo which has been shot by a lot of Olympic shooters for years,” Welborne said. “The European loads are known for their cleaner gunpowder.”

The company buys overseas containers of ammunition. Customers include parents of competitive shooters, multiple shooting teams, and gun clubs in Texas.

For customers within reach, Competitive Ammo, based in Dallas, is offering free route delivery on half-pallets that are ordered in the Houston, Dallas and San Antonio areas, a big deal for shooters and teams ordering larger quantities of shells.

stand

LIGHTWEIGHT FEATURES AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE

APACHE RIFLE WORKS COMFORT, TX

BUCKS & DOES SAN ANTONIO, TX

CARTERS COUNTRY SPRING, TX HOUSTON, TX PASADENA, TX

FIELD AND STREAM SAN ANGELO, TX

GLICK TWINS PHARR, TX

RIDGE CARBON WILDERNESS

NEW FOR 2023

The Wilderness Series® Ridge is designed for the serious hunter. Those who brave the elements and need an accurate rifle that can keep up, without the extravagant price tag. Now, we’ve added a carbon fiber barrel. We can tell you the weight savings will gain you a few extra miles on foot. Or that the increased accuracy will add to your confidence. But, there’s also nothing wrong with simply one-upping your buddies.

HOFFPAUIR FARM & RANCH LAMPASAS, TX

LOS CAZADORES STONEWALL, TX PEARSALL, TX

MCBRIDES AUSTIN, TX

NAGELS GUN SHOP SAN ANTONIO, TX

NATIVE OUTDOORS HEATH, TX

PORTERS FLINT, TX

PRACO PAWN WACO, TX

SHARP SHOOTERS LUBBOCK, TX

SUPERIOR PAWN LONGVIEW, TX

TEXAS GUN EXPERIENCE GRAPEVINE, TX

THE OUTDOORSMAN SAN ANGELO, TX

VICTIORIA ALL SPORTS VICTORIA, TX

WILKERSONS GUNS BOERNE, TX

Red hot dot

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

Shooting competitors often lead the way to innovation. Handgun shooters have been mounting red dot sights on handguns for years, but there was a downside. Most red dot optics are mounted on the slide, presenting issues due to the slide’s rapid acceleration and deceleration with each shot, resulting in failures in all but the best and the most professionally installed optics.

Red dot sights became more popular in shooting sports competitions, as sight pictures are simplified, allowing the shooter to stay “target focused” while moving across each target for faster target acquisition.

Serious shooters say red dot optics are no substitute for good marksmanship skills, though, but rather an added feature that allows a shooter to improve.

As the popularity of the sights on handguns grew, HK took the trend to another level, offering its VP9 full-size and VP9SK compact pistol with a direct-mounted Holosun SCS (Solar Charging Sight) from the factory as complete packages. The cost includes a savings over buying and installing the optics separately.

The Holosun SCS is made specifically to fit on the VP9 without any plates, making the dot sit low on the slide. This co-witnesses with standard-height factory and aftermarket sights.

Other HK models can be found through Langdon Tactical Technologies, whereby LTT buys pistols directly from HK and modifies them to accept a red dot mounting system.

HK VP9 features

• Patented HK charging supports make pulling the VP slide rearward effortless

• Enlarged, heavy-duty extractor for reliability also functions as a loaded chamber indicator

• Ergonomic grip profiles with user replaceable grip panels

Holosun SCS Package

• Maximum accuracy for no additional training, no swapping batteries, and no hassle

• Co-witnesses with standard-height factory and aftermarket sights

• Self-adjusting brightness control with maximum brightness override

• Multiple reticle system including ring, dot, and ring with dot

• Super Green LED

• Direct mounts to any VP9 Optics Ready –specifically matches VP9 slide contours

VP9/VP9SK Holosun

Packages

• VP9 OR, 9mm, two 10-round or 17-round magazines with Super Green Holosun Package - MSRP $1,269

• VP9SK OR, 9mm, one 12-round and one 15-round magazine with Super Green Holosun Package (also available in 10-round) - MSRP $1,269

PERFECTING THE VISION OF HEAT

Fusion Thermal’s new optics make the complex seem simple. The new Avenger 55XR and Avenger 40 utilize the company’s T3 Three Button Control System, along with the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) menu.

“The ease of use is a big deal,” said shooter Cameron Savaggio. “You don’t want to have to look up in the dark to see what button you’re hitting, especially when you’re hog hunting.”

What hunters will find in the new thermal series is high-end features with a “simplicity first” design.

Thermal sensors require a lot of power, and the Avenger Series has ample power with the 18650 battery design, run in parallel, providing an industry-leading, eight-hour run time.

The Avenger series utilizes aircraftgrade aluminum housing, while most other brands use plastic.

“Thermals create a lot of heat, and the aluminum housing allows it to escape,” Salvaggio said. “Plastic holds in the heat and can degrade the sensor and core over time, which negatively affects image quality and overall clarity.”

Recently at a precision rifle expo, shooters shot with all the top brands in the thermal industry. Two steel targets were set up, one at 200 yards and one at 500 yards. Both had a heating pad on the back of the target.

“Right before the night shoot started, the 500-yard target went out, so it was unheated,” Salvaggio said. “There was very little differential in heat between the air, the berm and the target.”

Angel Padilla, of Johnny’s Sport Shop in Eagle Lake, works full-time at the shop and also guides hog hunters at night with Sandy Creek Outfitters, and both sells and uses the Fusion Thermal products.

“The units perform really well in humidity and fog, which a lot of other brands struggle with,” Padilla said. “You can still see the animals in high humidity. And I like the three-button system because you never have to look up to see where your fingers are.”

Each brand had their own bay to shoot, and consumers took turns going to each bay and testing out each thermal. Out of all of the brands, the Fusion Thermal was the only brand that consumers could see and shoot the 500-yard target, Salvaggio said. All of the other brands stuck to the 200-yard target because they couldn’t see the longer, cooler target.

“One consumer, who shot an $18,000 scope, said you would think for 18K, you would be able to see the 500-yard target like you can with the Fusion Thermal,” Salvaggio said.

Hunters like to record their nighttime hog hunts, and the Avenger series includes a full media package, including photo, video and audio capabilities, along with Fusion Thermal’s HeatSync App to make connectivity a snap.

The Avenger series features both quality and affordability in elite fashion within the thermal scope world. The 55XR costs less than $6,000 and the Avenger 40 is around $4,000.

A Place to Shoot

San Antonio, 210-628-1888

Abilene Indoor Gun Range

Abilene, 325-698-4224

Able Ammo

Huntsville, 936-295-5786

AJC Sports

Clute, 979-265-4867

Ally Outdoors

Midland, 972-332-3700

Richardson, 972-332-3700

Alpha Armory

Houston, 888-932-7660

Alpine Shooting Range

Ft Worth, 817-478-6613

Americana Arms, LLC

Beeville, 361-362-3673

Athena Gun Club

Houston, 713-461-5900

BPS Outfitters

Sherman, 903-832-2227

BTO Range

Conroe, 936-588-3333

Buck & Doe’s Mercantile, LLC

San Antonio, 830-980-3637

C.A.C Tactical

Southlake, 888-211-8191

Caroline Colt Company LLC

Abilene, 325-232-7501

Carroll’s Gun Shop

Whaton, 979-532-3175

Carter’s Country

Houston, 713-461-1844

Houston, 281-879-1466

Pasadena, 713-475-2222

Spring, 281-443-8393

DFW Shooting Sports

Bedford, 817-285-0664

Champion Firearms

College Station, 979-693-9948

Collectors Firearms

Houston, 713-781-5812

Danny's, Inc.

McAllen, 956-687-4692

Defender Outdoors

Fort Worth, 817-935-8377

DFW Gun Club

Dallas, 214-630-4866

Dury's Gun Shop

San Antonio, 210-533-5431

Field & Streams Sporting Goods

San Angelo, 325-944-7094

Fun Guns Waco, 254-755-0080

Gibson’s

Weatherford, 817-594-8711

Glick Twins

Pharr, 956-787-429

GRITR Sports

N. Richland Hills, 817-200-7470

Grabagun.com

Coppell, 972-552-7246

Guard & Defend Firearms

Silsbee, 409-201-9468

Guns Warehouse LLC

Cedar Park, 512-986-7330

Hoss Arms, LLC

New Braunfels, 830-609-8891

John Doe Investigations, LLC

Lewisville, 214-773-0129

Kirkpatrick Gun & Ammo

Laredo, 956-723-6338

Marksmen Firearms

Mansfield, 817-453-8680

McBride's Guns

Austin, 512-472-3532

Misson Ridge Range & Academy

San Antonio, 210-504-9000

Mister Guns LLC

Plano, 214-901-7429

Modern Pawn & Guns

Corpus Christi, 361-993-9390

Nagel's Gun Shop, Inc.

San Antonio, 210-342-5420

Nardis Gun Club

San Antonio, 210-369-9199

Omaha Outdoors

Rosenberg, 713-703-4648

Past & Blast Antiques & Firearms

Whitesboro, 903-564-5444

Point Blank Sporting Goods

Pharr, 956-992-8799

Primary Arms

Houston, 713-344-9600

Ranger Firearms of Texas Inc.

San Antonio, 210-822-4867

THERMAL HUNTING

AVENGER 40

WAVE12 384 Sensor

9+ Hour Runtime

MSRP: $4099

AVENGER 55XR

WAVE12 640 Sensor

7+ Hour Runtime

MSRP: $5989

Fusion Thermal Exclusive Features

Micro Click Focus

Leave the Collars to the Dogs

Getting your target into focus quickly and easily is a must, and you won’t find a better system than our Micro Click Focus. Our tactile focus knob is conveniently located on top of the front lens, and unlike the dog collar design used by our competitors you won’t need to perform a circus act just to focus your scope. Plus, you’ll always get your best shot as the micro click adjustments put you on the perfect focus point every time.

ARCLIGHT Ultra HD Germanium Lens

High Purity for Maximum Energy

The single most expensive component of a well-crafted thermal is its germanium lens. If you skimp here, you’re not even in the game. Our high purity ArcLight Ultra HD Germanium Lens is the crowning jewel of our technology package. It perfects the task of collecting and funneling infrared energy into the thermal sensor unhindered by distortion. This clean transition results in an infrared energy dump that unleashes the full potential of our WAVE thermal sensor delivering a user experience well beyond expectations.

KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) Menu Industry’s Easiest Menu System

We think you’re really going to like our menu; it uses words, English words. Written for Americans by Americans. That’s why we called it KISS. You’ve heard the phrase, and at Fusion Thermal it’s the reason we can make the industry’s boldest statement: Our operating system is so easy to use you’ll likely never read the instructions.

T3 Control System

Don’t Let Your Fingers Get Lost in the Dark

Our highly intuitive three button control system with center tower makes using your scope simple and easy. Every command is at your fingertips, and the Center Tower evenly splits the control panel, so you’ll never be confused about what button you’re going to press. We thought this a particularly good idea since you’ll be using it in the dark most of the time.

WAVE Thermal Sensor Same Money, Better Performance

Is it possible for one thermal scope to dramatically outperform everything else in its class? Yes, so don’t make the mistake of shopping by specifications alone or you just might get burned. Our WAVE thermal sensors push the limit of what is technically possible and set the standard for image quality, ruggedness, and long life. So, before you plop down your hard-earned cash make sure you do a side-by-side to any similarly priced competitive alternative. We think you’ll find the difference to be clearly obvious.

XGEN Alloy Housing

Plastic is for toys. Metal is for tools.

It’s a fact, thermals produce heat, and heat is the enemy of all thermal devices. If you don’t get the heat out operational performance will degrade, and long-term internal damage is a certainty. Our XGEN (Next Generation Alloy Body) shields your expensive investment in a metal clad of armor, and our high-end AL6082 Conductive Structural Alloy displaces heat at an astounding 71,900% better than plastic. You don’t think of your thermal as some cheap plastic toy. Why should it be built like one?

Game-changing simplicity. Industry leading runtime. Onboard video, photo and HD audio recording. Meet the new AVENGER from Fusion Thermal.

Available at fine retailers all across the Great State of Texas