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WAR STORIES

Vietnam North Atlantic Iraq France

GUN REVIEW

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

A MERIC A N

SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 4 // ISSUE 3 // November 2015 PUBLISHER

James R. Baker ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Dick Openshaw GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andy Walgamott EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Danielle Breteau LEAD CONTRIBUTOR

Frank Jardim CONTRIBUTORS

Corky Baker, Brittany Boddington, Jason Brooks, Larry Case, Tom Claycomb III, Scott Haugen, Lonnie Don McGinty, John Oliver, John Keith Roberts, Troy Rodakowski, Bob Shell, Robin Taylor, Troy Taysom SALES MANAGER

Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Donna Caskey, Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER

Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS

Ciara Pickering, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum Jackson Conard, Kaitlyn Chapman PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker 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@americanshootingjournal.com

ON THE COVER Jose Martinez is a veteran who lost three limbs while fighting overseas in Iraq, but what he has in excess is heart. Check out his story on what he did to overcome life’s obstacles and how he remains the most patriotic American we could hope for in a hero. (VETERANS SPORTMAN ALLIANCE)

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

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 3 • NOVEMBER 2015

features

PURPLE HEART OF A LION

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COMPETITION: West Point’s ‘Iceman’ Cadet Anthony Veith is on a path all of his own. Already breaking records, his potential to take his team to the upcoming Collegiate Nationals is just what this top gun is shooting for.

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BEHIND THE BADGE: A Life Of Service A street cop with an extensive background and diversity can only be an asset for any department or neighborhood. Meet veteran Geeno Gular, a Purple Heart recipient who immigrated to the US, fought in our wars and now protects our towns.

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ASJ’s TOP 10 Blades Of 2015 After extensive trials and lots of Band-aids, we are excited to present the best blades of the year!

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‘AR’ You Ready For A Change?

The company that came up with the AR rifle, Armalite, has a new vision and a new president. Meet Tommy Thacker, a competition shooter among many talents, who is taking charge and reinspiring the industry.

107 The First Special Forces US Spec Ops originated a very long time ago, and luckily for us some of the original members of the Devil’s Brigade are still kicking butt. Take your hats off and shake the hands of some very special war heroes.

Some who return from military service might have lost a few items along the way. Jose Martinez lost three – three limbs, that is – but what he didn’t lose was his zeal for life, a keen hunting instinct and nation of family and friends.

(VETERANS SPORTMAN ALLIANCE)

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Incan Whitetail Challenge Hunting Peruvian mountain whitetail is no easy feat and a daunting challenge for any man.

That is why Brittany Boddington braved this hunt, and came away on top of the mountain.

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ROADHUNTER: ‘Rut’ Did You Say? Whitetail deer can be found from coast to coast, but did you know there are different techniques for each stage of the rut? Scott Haugen shares his tips and tricks.

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SCATTERGUN: This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Double Barrel!

Introducing The Metro Gun. Uh, wait, what on earth is a Metro Gun, you ask? So did we, and found that this long-barrelled shotgun may quietly change the way you hunt and shoot.

AMERICAN 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 © 2015 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.

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CONTENTS Also inside 27 29 47 58 73 85 91 101 137 143 151 156

History Of Veterans Day WAR STORY – Cold War: Atlantic Lights WAR STORY – Vietnam: Welcome To LZ Baldy A Salute To America’s Armed Forces WAR STORY – WWI France: Sergeant York’s Bravery Under Fire Hollywood Knife Maker Steve Auvenshine WAR STORY – Iraq: When You Hear The News WAR STORY – Vietnam: To The Rescue Q&A With Holster Maker Jeremiah Savoy GUN REVIEW: Browning Model 73 in .357 Hunting With Hungarian Vizslas Product Review: Flambeau Gun Case

DEPARTMENTS 17 19 21 22 25 98

Editor’s Note Competition Calendar Gun Show Calendar Top Shooters: Reader Pics ASJ’s Big SHOT Show Prize Raffle Holiday Gift Guide

©2015 Olin Corporation

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(CHRIS SAJNOG)

Exclusive: Chris Sajnog Tactics, skills and neural pathways are the keys to shooting and operating under stress, says veteran Navy SEAL and international firearms trainer Chris Sajnog in our exclusive interview.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

EDITOR’S NOTE

T

he American Shooting Journal sends out a very special salute to the veterans we have lost.

I understand why people mourn every November 11th on Veterans Day, but I feel it is more of a celebration. Confused? Don’t be. I am sorry we have lost our heroes, yet I feel a sense of pride that they lived. It takes people like those we’ve lost, as well as those still in the fight to inspire the next generation, to teach new strategies and makes those who follow only better.

Looking back on all wars, our veterans left home knowing they may not return and for most, they still felt compelled to take on the challenge. What is amazing is they felt that their singular presence could make a difference enough to pack that bag, kiss their families goodbye and get on that bus bound for bootcamp. That, my friend, requires the pride of a lion and yet Americans do this every day. This is a commendable form of honor and that is what makes the difference in our military – pride and patriotism.

This issue of the American Shooting Journal is a tribute to the voices of war and all veterans. Among some of the

treasures you will find buried in these pages are snapshot stories from veterans, tactics and tips from 20-year SEAL veteran Chris Sajnog and the history of Veterans Day – what older readers remember as Armistice Day. We would also like to introduce you to some very special people: members of what many consider the first Special Forces team – the Devil’s Brigade – and Jose Martinez, a war veteran who came home missing three of his limbs.

His patriotism, enthusiasm and can-do attitude is infectious, as Executive editor Danielle are the efforts of the Veterans Breteau (ICHIRO NAGATA) Sportsman Alliance, who Martinez calls his second family.

To all who support our warriors, you too are not forgotten. It takes a team, and we are all players on the field.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

PRIMER

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Old dogs can shoot and teach new dogs new tricks! Longtime gun writer Robert Campbell handles a CORE-15 rifle.

2.

Fourth-grade teacher Cecelia Hampton took this beautiful buck in Virginia with a Ruger 77 in 7x57, shooting handloads. We need more teachers like Cecelia!

3.

Sarah Cross makes cross shooting a .45-70 Sharps look easy. You get ’em, girl!

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Parched in the desert, Kolby Claycomb wards away the snakes with her Ruger SP 101.

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With old-style military discipline, Matthew Campbell lines up his his iron sights on the enemy. In this case, an evil paper target.

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Handling her M9 Beretta with ease, Army veteran Emily Campbell hones her military skills.

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Cameron Gray takes the hunting world by storm with his first successful dove hunt. Great shooting on tough targets, Cameron!

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Ryan Brooks should be named Dead Eye Sam. Look at that posture and determination!

9.

Dinner is almost served for Gina Blancaflor’s family. One squeeze of the trigger and all that’s left to do is stoke the fire.

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Our very own Behind The Badge columnist Troy Taysom is a big man. Big writers carry big guns and bigger pens.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

The History Of Veterans Day

V

STORY BY FRANK JARDIM

eterans Day, as we know it today, is celebrated each year on November 11 in honor of all American veterans for their service to the nation. It is one of only four federal holidays that always fall on a specific numerical date and, as such, it’s in the very good company of Independence Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Veterans Day has got some serious juice, and it should.

The men and women past and present who have worn the uniform of our armed services honorably deserve recognition for it. Consider that unlike a civilian job, a person who joins the military can’t quit if the going gets rough. Our servicemen and -women may be called upon to give their lives doing their job. Regardless of their military occupational specialties, they are all part of a human organization whose mission it is to protect the American people.

The significance of the date goes back 97 years. When I was young, I recall Veterans Day being widely referred to as Armistice Day. In fact, the name of the holiday was actually changed in 1954 when Dwight Eisenhower was president.

Now that I am old too, I understand how after a certain

American soldiers of the 64th Regiment, part of the 7th Division, celebrate the news of World War I’s Armistice. (OPEN SOURCE)

In four years and four months of hostilities, a staggering and unprecedented nine million combatants and six and a half million civilians died, virtually eliminating a generation of European men. America came to the fight late but with vigor and tipped the scales against Germany and her allies.

In 19 months of war, approximately 4.7 million Americans put on a uniform and around 120,000 were killed. The census for the period lists the total American population

ARMISTICE DAY WAS ORIGINALLY ABOUT HONORING WORLD WAR I VETERANS, AND EVOLVED INTO A CELEBRATION OF ALL VETERANS age you just lose interest in renaming things and stick with what you are familiar with.

The one and only armistice that every American born before 1960 knew was declared on November 11, 1918, ending what we now call World War I. Back then, they just called it the Great War.

The front page of New York Times announcing Armistice Day in 1918 (NEW YORK TIMES)

as slightly over 103 million.

The Great War produced more American veterans faster than any other period with the exception of World War II. On the first anniversary of the armistice, President Woodrow Wilson called for November 11th to become a day of national remembrance for “the heroism of those who died in the country’s service” during the Great War. By 1926, after 27 of the 48 states had made November 11th a legal holiday, Congress called for the president to commemorate it nationally every year with a proclamation. In 1938 it was made a federal holiday and officially named Armistice Day. Though Armistice Day was originally about honoring World War I veterans, it evolved into a celebration of all veterans, including those from the Civil War, American-Indian Wars, Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. A major shift took place after 1945 when about 16 million more veterans emerged from World War II and outnumbered the Great War vets three to one. The Korean War added another 5.7 million in 1954. In that year Armistice Day was officially changed to Veterans Day to formally acknowledge its de facto transition over the span of quarter century.

So there you have it. ASJ americanshootingjournal.com 27

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

MAN (NOT) OVERBOARD!

WAR STORY North Atlantic

STORY BY CORKY BAKER

t was 1977. The night sky was overcast and pitch black. So dark, in fact, that it was impossible to see my hand in front of my face. We sailed silently in darkened-ship conditions with no outside lights. It was practice for moving this giant floating nuclear arsenal undetected through enemyinfested territory.

The North Atlantic Ocean, where the USS Canopus AS-34 sliced the water at 12 knots, was not usually this calm. The glassy sea offered an odd contrast to the terrible thrashing we normally took on this inhospitable stretch of sea. Many times I had wondered how that 644-foot submarine tender held together as the huge swells that floated us suddenly fell away, literally dropping the ship to the ocean below. Booming crashes were followed by enormous vibrations that rattled the Canopus and the 1,200 sailors and marines on board. Few slept during these storms. Many held the topside railings and chummed the waves, giving up their last meal and more. But this night was different; men held the rails for a different reason. We all stared at the only thing we could see: beautiful light illuminating from the neon foam below in a widening wake as we split the sea to make our way. The eerie light came from a bioluminescent phenomenon that occurs when plankton surrenders to the churn. Millions of living organisms go out in a spectacular light show.

I myself was a pup then. At 19, I was only beginning to formulate my adult perspective, and there were many hard lessons to come. I was a quartermaster and my life at sea was on the bridge, finding and plotting our position or steering the ship. My watch started just as we silently slid into a thick bank of fog – otherworldly! Radar was down, so tensions were high. The lookouts had no eyes in the soupy blackness of the dark fog. We were all ears.

Imagine the shock when we heard the fog horn in the distance ahead. The officer in charge immediately sprang into action, barking orders concerning speed and direction. He then yelled out another order, and for a brief moment I was thrust into the twilight zone in an effort to comprehend his command. “Quartermaster!” he screamed, “Sound the alarm for fog!” Oh my gosh, he’s screaming for me to sound the fog alarm! I freaked at first, but gathered my senses and acted. “Yes, sir!” I replied, “Sound the alarm for fog.”

At that moment I was about to be tested. Within five seconds the results were in. I reached up and grabbed the horn control and initiated three long blasts, consistent with my training.

The only issue was, three long blasts happened to be the international signal for man overboard!

Within seconds the ship’s commanding officer was awake and on the bridge, hair in a twist, panties in a wad, shirtless and huffing as he tried to buckle his belt. My life flashed before my 19-year-old quartermaster eyeballs. I thought, I know what to do! I’ll jump overboard myself, making my use of the signal the most efficient man-overboard response in history. They will hail me as a prophet. They’ll circle back to get me, which will actually help to avoid a collision with that other ship out there. I’ll light up a few million of those plankton in a flurry of underwater kung fu so they can see me for miles. This is gonna be awesome! Heck, I’ll probably get an award!

Well, it didn’t really work out that way. Before I could get my floaties blown up and slid up to my armpits, the officer of the deck relieved me of duty.

I sulked off the bridge, fearing a total collapse of my short career in the Navy. I thought about jumping again, but realized that they probably wouldn’t even look for me. I imagined my floating, weakened and water-puckered body making futile attempts to defend myself against a million ticked-off plankton, kung-fuing me into bioluminescence. Geesh!

As it turned out, my department head had compassion, and thankfully we never had a man overboard. But if we had, I’m pretty sure I was to go-to guy for sounding that particular alarm.

Life is full of mistakes and struggles. We can abandon ship, or realize that humility and pain are a trusty and faithful schoolmaster. ASJ

Background Photo (STUART RANKIN)

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THREE STRIKES

Veteran And Triple-amputee Jose Martinez Isn’t Giving Up STORY BY TROY RODAKOWSKI • PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRETT JOHNSON

G

rowing up in Compton, Calif., wouldn’t be easy for anyone.

This is a part of our country where gang violence and drugs are prevalent and tough to steer clear from. However, for Jose Martinez, living near these negative distractions was a way of life where he did his best to survive and make smart decisions.

In an effort to better himself, Martinez enlisted in the US Army to serve our country in Afghanistan. He was in the infantry division and stationed near Kandahar where his unit saw regular action. “There was rarely a mission that we didn’t have a few casualties, or at least get shot at,” says Specialist Martinez a three-year Army infantryman. His plans were to make a career of the military because, among many aspects, he enjoyed the camaraderie, stability and brotherhood it provided.

As a kid, Martinez struggled with his weight and self-esteem, finding it hard to think highly of himself. When he got older and lost weight, he learned to appreciate who he was as a person

and stood a little bit taller. Prior to departing for Afghanistan he met a met a very nice lady through friends and they hit it off. After he deployed, he would make a point to contact her after missions, send her flowers on Valentine’s Day and keep in touch regularly. Little did he know that one day she would be his rock, eventually becoming his wife and life partner.

On a routine mission Martinez encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) that rendered him unconscious and disfigured his body. The injuries he sustained would change his life forever in so many ways. “When I woke up I was disgusted with myself and my body, just as I had been during my childhood.” The explosion cost him both of his legs and an arm. The doctors had informed him that he would be permanently attached to a wheelchair and would be lucky if he would ever be able to stand for five minutes, let alone walk.

Martinez was determined to prove the doctors wrong and now spends the majority of his time on his prosthetics,

“I HAVE NO LEGS AND ONE ARM, BUT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE – JUST LET ME SHOW YOU.”

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

Jose Martinez has a family, but unlike many, he has a second family and that is the Veterans Sportman Alliance, a group dedicated to veterans and getting them out hunting, fishing and just about any other type of activity that leads to healthy, positive lives.

AND YOU’RE IN regardless of the pain they cause him by constantly breaking skin around his waistline. “This is just a small price I pay to feel somewhat normal,” says Martinez. Learning to love his body has once again become a constant struggle. He is missing limbs and is badly scarred.

During the first stages of recovery Martinez was consumed by prescription pills. Often times, he felt using pills would help him sleep and forget that he had lost his arm and both legs. In fact, there were several instances when he tried consuming so many pills in hopes of not waking up. The pills were helping him run away from the reality that was ugly and disgusting. That being said, we are reminded that 22 veterans a day commit suicide, and that most narcotics just numb the pain until the cliff of depression consumes them. Martinez is proud to say he has not taken a pill in well over two years and regularly reminds others that pills are not always the best answer. “If I were still on pills, I’d be in the corner scared to leave my house, and that’s not me,” explains Jose.

Martinez is thankful to several people who he has encountered during recovery, and helped him defy all odds by learning to walk – he can now truly stand proud. “I have learned to love every part of me all over again,” says Martinez.

Venturing out into public for the first few times was difficult, both physically and mentally. When people stared, it was tough for him to ignore the looks. His wife always reminded him that it really didn’t matter what people thought since he wouldn’t be seeing them again anyway. “Having her by my side throughout this entire process has given me a realistic hope in humanity. She has shown me how proud she is and I love standing tall next to her,” explains ins Martinez.

Never forgetting his roots and how tough life was and can be, Martinez now regularly egularly engages in motivational speaking ng for school kids, veterans and other groups.

“I get nervous, my heart races and palms sweat, but before I know it I’m done talking and time has flown by,” says Martinez. He enjoys telling folks lks that nothing is impossible and that at if you put your mind to it, you willl be successful! Motivating people Zoey the pit bull is a supporting member of the Martinez family. americanshootingjournal.com icanshootingjournal com 37

The Veterans Sportsman Alliance presented Martinez with this S&W 460XVR complete with a 14-inch barrel, muzzle brake, Leupold FX-II Handgun 4x28mm optic and bipod, all built by the Smith & Wesson Performance Center. This hand cannon came with a Sandstorm custom rifle sling and Hornady 460 S&W 200-grain FTX ammunition, and the entire package was customized specifically to fit Martinez and his needs. According to S&W, this gun offers the highest muzzle velocity of any production revolver on earth.

The VSA warrior shield is presented to every hero who becomes a VSA member.

brings a huge smile to his face, as he is able to show others that success with anything comes from the inside.

Growing up, Martinez idolized Michael Jordan and owned several pairs of his sneakers, some of which he still wears today.

Just as Jordan never gave up, nor has Martinez, and he uses that same outlook to persevere under any circumstances. He understands that there will be setbacks and failures on the journey of life, but remains very determined to defy the odds. “I want kids to grow up and truly believe that they can be what they desire, spark their imagination and inspire them to dream,” says Martinez. Through all of this he remains humble, and says that he is just doing his job by helping others.

Prior to joining the military he had never hunted or fished, let alone fired a rifle. Growing up he always wanted to learn, and appreciated that people could independantly feed themselves in these ways. “Hunting and being able to provide for my family seems very American to me,” he says. “I never imagined I’d be capable of, or even have the opportunity to hunt, especially after my injuries.”

In August 2013 Martinez was on a diving trip off the Caribbean island of Bonaire when he met a guy named Hugh.

Hugh had promised him that he would get him shooting again, so the two exchanged numbers. A couple months later Hugh called and invited Martinez on a pheasant hunt in Sioux Falls, S.D. “Hugh helped me learn how to shoot all over again, and I haven’t stopped hunting ever since. I cannot thank that man enough,” says Jose. Since then he has embarked on several adventures hunting hogs, elk and other critters with assistance from Lonestar Warriors Outdoors and the Veterans Sportsman Alliance, an organization dedicated to wounded veterans and whose motto is, “Benefiting the most worthy among us.”

Actually, the VSA has become Martinez’s second family.

Hunting has provided Jose with the motivation to become better at walking so that he will eventually be able to hunt different types of terrain. Being outdoors makes him feel human again. He feels as if he has no wounds, and is part of the natural world without judgement. Martinez is able to push his body to the limit, and challenge himself to walk on his prosthetics, which in turn makes him feel invigorated and free.

“I’M DOING WHAT EVERYONE TOLD ME I COULDN’T”

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

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Jose Martinez took this amazing bull elk in Arizona at the Dunton Ranch North Fort Rock sponsored by the Veterans Sportsman Alliance. His rifle of choice?

A Remington 700, 7mm mag, bedded with a floated barrel, Timney trigger, Nightforce Optic and some other secret tweaks built by his friend Robert Wise.

Jose wants today’s children to understand that hard work does pay off. “If kids just had the opportunities to explore sports like football, basketball, archery, skiing or shooting without worrying about money, that would be amazing,” says Jose. He would love to help organizations that reward kids for making good grades with these sorts of activities. In addition, through motivational speaking he hopes to encourage veterans to be outdoors, enjoy nature and heal emotionally. I asked him if he could say one thing

“NO MATTER WHAT, YOU AREN’T ALONE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO TRULY CARE FOR AND HELP YOU”

Martinez has found people who care about him and all veterans wherever he travels.

to veterans returning from combat. He replied, “No matter what, you aren’t alone, there are people who truly care for you and will help.”

Jose Martinez is a Purple Heart recipient and modernday hero. That is truly an inspiration for anyone. He is living proof that the American dream is possible, regardless of one’s disabilities or humble beginnings. ASJ Editor’s note: For more information on the Veterans Sportsman Alliance and what they do for our veterans, or how you can help, visit them at veteransportmanalliance.org.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

Martinez is a motivational speaker who loves to hunt and share his experiences.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

WEST POINT’S ‘ICEMAN’ Army Academy Marksman Anthony Veith

COMPETITIONS STORY BY ROBIN TAYLOR • PHOTOGRAPHS BY DALE VEITH

A

n international history major and would-be Apache helicopter pilot, Anthony Veith doesn’t seem that competitive. Talking to him, he’s remarkably relaxed and even-keeled, but according to his coach, “Even the smallest thing becomes a contest with him.” That’s an understatement! “Every time he steps into the shooting box, he’s out for blood,” emphasized Staff Sergeant Nathan Hevner, coach for the US Military Academy pistol team.

Quietly intense, McMinnville, Oregon’s pride wins by outthinking and outworking the other guy. If you remember the movie Top Gun, Veith is the Iceman, waiting for you to make a mistake. His strength comes from a work ethic honed in the martial arts, tae kwon do, and yoked to his passion for firearms.

WEST POINT’S TEAM consists of 20 shooters. Cadets are required to participate in a club or sport, and some take up pistol to avoid options like intramural soccer. According to Hevner, “They’re not surfing YouTube gun videos in their spare time.” He paused for a moment, then said, “But Anthony is. That’s the sort of guy we bring in for the Scholastic Pistol Program.”

Although Veith is a 1911 man at heart, the SPP’s rules require him to shoot a striker-fired 9mm. USMA West Point has S&W M&P Pros and Glock 34s in the armory, but Veith and his compatriots go for the Glock every time.

“We have Dawson sights and Zevtech triggers on the 34s, which I think is part of the decision. The Pro comes with a lot of that out of the box, but it’s not as good as a Zevtech,” said Veith.

Being an extension of the Army, the West Point team draws from the Army supply chain for ammo. Their practice ammo is rack-grade military stuff, but they can draw Atlanta Arms & Ammo match 9mm for big matches, thanks to the Army Marksmanship Unit.

This year, Anthony Veith set the all-ages speed record for the Scholastic Pistol Program, becoming the first person to ever break the 40-second barrier with a 9mm.

HE TOOK ALL FIVE TARGETS DOWN IN UNDER 1.5 SECONDS VEITH HAS BEEN WINNING in his steady, progressive way since his freshman year when he helped his team win the Hodne Cup, the old speed-steel title. This year, he set the all-ages speed record for SPP – becoming the second person ever to break the 40-second barrier, and the first to do it with a 9mm. Driving a custom Glock, Veith shot the 100-target

According to Coach Hevner, Veith has very fast eyes, amazing trigger control and his transitions between targets are incredible.

americanshootingjournal.com 43

COMPETITIONS match in 38.14 seconds. That’s one-third of a second per target, with some of the targets staged 20 yards away. On the SPP speed course, titled Go Fast, he took all five targets down in under 1.5 seconds from a low-ready start. His best run averaged .262 seconds each.

“Most people have trouble making those splits while shooting one stationary target, and he did it on five separate targets!” gushed Coach Hevner.

Shooting steel targets at high speed demands balance. You have to shoot as fast as your skills will let you, but can’t miss. As a controlled, thinking competitor, SPP matches Veith’s Iceman style.

“He’s really good at finding his ability level,” says Hevner. “He’s really got fast eyes and excellent trigger control. His transitions between targets are incredible.”

“No exercise we do involves more than three shots,” says Coach Hevner. “The only time we shoot steel is on match days.”

Hevner marvels at Veith’s competitive spirit, taking challenges like not being able to practice on steel targets in stride. No matter what ammo

West Point’s SPP shooting team the Black Knights are among the top five shooting colleges in the nation, alongside names like Texas A&M, University of Kentucky and University of Florida.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

or gun he’s shooting, “He is never satisďŹ ed with second or even a small margin of victory,â€? says Hevner.

More important is the level of responsibility that Veith takes for making his victories happen. “If he has the bottom end of the equipment, he doesn’t blame the gear. He will say, ‘Let’s do it again, I’ll get it this time.’�

Now a senior at West Point, Veith has another year to push his record even lower, and potentially bring the Black Knights speed record to West Point in the process. Their team has stayed in the top ďŹ ve colleges nationwide since Veith joined, vying with Texas A&M, University of Kentucky and University of Florida.

They get outshot by talented high school teams from time to time (Team Gotta of Custer, Wash., holds the record in rimďŹ re), but among the colleges, West Point stands among the best.

INTERNATIONAL PISTOL FOCUS Despite his SPP fame, Veith’s main game is actually International (a.k.a.

Olympic) Air Pistol. Most days from 4:30 to 6:00 a.m., he shoots at a target the size of a tack from 33 feet away. His scores place him in the top 10 nationally, and make him a threat to win the collegiate air title in 2015/2016. Veith shoots free pistol and standard pistol as well, but only occasionally do Veith and a few teammates get pulled aside to work speed drills with the 9mm.

If you get a chance to follow the upcoming SPP Collegiate nationals on Shooting USA, held at Fort Benning in March, keep an eye out for a calculating Black Knight with a Glock. If the commentators start talking about setting the national record, they’re probably talking about Anthony Veith. ASJ Editor’s note: Robin Taylor is a competitive shooter, an SPP coach for Team Gotta and owner of Taylorfreelance. You can visit them online at TaylorFreelance.com.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

WELCOME TO LZ BALDY

WAR STORY Vietnam

STORY BY JOHN KEITH ROBERTS

W

hen the trucks were loaded, the camp guards threw open the gates, and it was like the flag had been dropped at the Indianapolis 500 to start the race. The truck drivers gunned the engines, and we were off to parts unknown, hanging on for our dear lives.

We were out of town quickly and turned onto a sometimes paved and sometimes dirt road called Highway number-1 (formerly known as the Mandarin Road) heading south. It was little more than a single-lane road and we swerved from edge to edge to miss bomb craters and occasionally a bicycle, but the driver didn’t go out of his way to miss anything or anyone. It was the bicyclist or pedestrian’s obligation to get out of the way of the trucks.

Several times I wondered how that bicycle or pedestrian, whether it was an old man or a woman and child, remained standing after the truck had passed by so closely. I would have dived for the ditch. It was like riding with a New York City cab driver, except we were riding on the roof instead of inside.

Once the trucks started moving, you wouldn’t have had to tell us to hang on, because we had already decided that the driver must get extra points for throwing one of us out of the back of the truck.

Sometimes the trucks came to a stop for one reason or another, and the driver would yell up to us to keep our eyes open and to shoot anyone suspicious or getting too close to the truck. By then we were wondering if anyone ever survived these trips from Da Nang.

It was obvious that the guy who had been given the rifle, which had originally made him feel so important, now wanted to hand it to someone else. We weren’t quite ready to shoot some pedestrian who might or might not have a hand grenade ready to throw into the back of the truck. Don’t worry, we’d get to that point soon enough.

After about 35 or 40 miles, we arrived at our assigned company “rear area.” This was a maybe-100-foot-high hill in an otherwise flat area of South Vietnam. With rice paddies all around and an occasional hut a half mile or more from it, the hill itself was a sharp contrast to the surrounding terrain.

From a distance, most of the higher ground was confusing to look at, what with being speckled with tents and plywood structures. The hill was actually an Army artillery base called LZ Baldy. It had a helicopter landing pad on a flat part of the hill that was covered with metal grating to keep it from

becoming a mud hole in the rainy season.

There was an assortment of all kinds of buildings (none likely to meet any kind of building code), including a church, hospital, PX (purchase exchange) and a large variety of other enclosures made from a combination of tents and plywood.

Unfortunately for us, most of it belonged to the Army and was fenced off and off limits to us lowly Marines.

Down a dirt road and at the base of the hill, outside the fence, next to the base dump was the Marine compound, which included three tents and a part-time shower; the shower was for the officers.

For the time being we would consider this home. We would find out later, though, the last thing a Marine would want to do was spend any time here for any reason. The commander made being “in the rear” so distasteful you would stay out in the bush wounded if you could rather than come back here voluntarily. You would never fake an injury or illness to go to the rear, at least not while you had some sanity left.

This was their answer to “gold bricking,” a term used in World War II to get out of work or combat. Don’t get me wrong; it was a very effective way of handling a problem that has plagued military units in the field since the first private said, “Sergeant, may I please be excused from the war today.”

We were unloaded near the tents and given some instructions by the Marine commander, a person you immediately knew would never become one of your dearest friends. He was the man in charge of making sure you hated and feared this place more than you hated and feared combat, and he was good at it.

You have to respect a guy who loves his job.

The base commander went on to clear up a few of our most immediate questions, and explained that we would be divided up among the different squads in the battalion as soon as they returned to the rear area later in the week.

To keep us from getting lazy, and at the same time to bolster the defenses of the compound and become more acclimated to the surroundings over the next few days, we would spend our time filling sandbags for bunkers. We didn’t know the whole routine yet anyway, so we didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing.

We quickly learned that the mirage that looked something like civilization on the Army side of the fence might just as well have been in Cleveland. We were not allowed to cross the fence.

The Army guard with the M-16 was not there for decoration.

Thinking about going to the PX or a movie was like thinking americanshootingjournal.com 47

about the girl next door who wouldn’t go out with you ever – forget about it. Our lives for the next week would revolve around the three Marine tents, a little piece of dirt and a dump.

First we were shown the “mess” tent, and since we had not really eaten much since getting in country, we were allowed to try it out. There’s a good reason they call it a mess, and another reason you try not to go to the rear area.

After the meal – and I use the term loosely – we were directed to the supply tent. We arrived in country with a large bag of our personal gear, but other needed items would have to be requisitioned. The items we now picked out were necessary pieces of equipment we had carried and cared for during training.

Every piece of gear a soldier or Marine carries in combat has a specific purpose, and anything else is just extra weight that you would soon throw away the first hot day anyway. The one thing we did not get but that we considered the most important piece of equipment was a rifle. We were told that we would get one eventually, but it wasn’t expected that we would need one until we were ready to go to the bush.

If I haven’t mentioned it before, we had not come to Southeast Asia to occupy a base. We were replacements, and as soon as possible each new guy would be placed in an undermanned squad and sent to patrol the hills and rice paddies of South Vietnam.

Blending in with the jungle was the first order of the day.

Clothing such as white socks, T-shirts and underwear was immediately replaced with military green. We were issued new camouflage pants and longsleeve shirts, since what we were issued in training was a solid green, and not worn by Marines, at least in this part of Vietnam. Several other items were also issued – canteens, ponchos, flak jackets and a dozen other items you would need while walking in the mountains or rice paddies. The most important item we acquired that day would be our jungle boots, which had woven sides and holes to let the water out when walking in water.

It was a busy day, but when sundown approached we were told we could use the cots in the large main tent. We were extremely tired from the last few days’ activities, but the excitement of our new lives kept us awake for a while. This would be our new temporary home near the base of the hill just overlooking the rice paddies to the east of LZ Baldy.

We would have several days of manual labor, but at least we would not be getting shot at. That was something we had yet to experience, and I’d heard that people sometimes go through a whole war without that experience. Hey, we have twelve months to get that little ribbon they give you for getting shot at. ASJ Editor’s note: This is an adapted excerpt from the book At The President’s Request by John Keith Roberts. You can find this book online at Amazon.com.

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Retired Navy SEAL Chris Sajnog is an international professional ďŹ rearms and tactics trainer and has written two books: How to shoot like a Navy SEAL and Navy SEAL Shooting.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

NEURAL ZEN TRAINING

A Chat With Chris Sajnog, j g, US Navyy SEAL ((Ret.) INTERVIEW BY JOHN OLIVER • PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS SAJNOG

Chris Sajnog provides training to law enforcement such as the Escondido, Calif., Police Department’s SWAT team.

W

hen the opportunity presented itself to interview one of the lead Navy SEAL firearms instructors who is also an internationally known law enforcement and military trainer, we jumped at the chance. Meet Chris Sajnog, former Navy SEAL sniper instructor, author and founder of Center Mass Group. Sajnog not only has over 20 years of expertise with one of the most elite military teams in the world, he is willing to share his skills and insight with everyone willing and open to learning them. Our own John Oliver spent some time with Sajnog and here is what he had to say: American Shooting Journal Hello, Chris. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us about your background, where are you from and how you became a Navy SEAL? Chris Sajnog I was born and raised in Wisconsin and grew up there with one brother. I didn’t get along with my parents and ended up leaving home early, by request. I worked full time because I had to pay for a place to live, and then I joined the Navy when I was 19. At that time, I didn’t even know what a SEAL was, and learned about them later. Initially, I was a Navy diver and did diving medicine, or undersea and hyperbaric medicine (UHB), and often supported the SEALs in that role. After working with them for a few years I decided that what they did was pretty cool, so I went to SEAL training. I had already been with the Navy for four years before I joined.

ASJ You’ve written a few books, and your first one was titled How To Shoot Like A Navy SEAL. What compelled you to write a book?

CS I truly love teaching other people. I used to run the sniper course and our marksmanship training for our SEAL qualification course, so I’d been teaching quite a lot and I wanted to continue. When I got out of the Navy, I started writing articles and in 2011 founded a training company called Center Mass Group. I received really good responses and a friend suggested that I transition one of my blogs that focused on marksmanship, and turn it into a book.

With a little editing, expanding and adding extra chapters I was able to create the first book. This one covers the fundamentals of combat marksmanship, and boils down to being able to shoot under stress. That book did really well and was the number one shooting book on Amazon.com for a really long time.

ASJ It sounds like you haven’t stopped since your Navy days. Tell us a little about the courses you teach at Center Mass Group.

CS I’m actually getting away from running physical courses, although I still teach the military and law enforcement, and have started teaching online. The way I run training is very different than anyone else I’ve ever seen because I really focus on what I call “the new rules of marksmanship.” It’s a way of training where, to me, it’s more important how you train than what you’re training or how many rounds you shoot. Often, I’ll have a student shoot one round and if it’s not perfect, then I correct them immediately. I think every time you make a mistake you’re building neural pathways in your brain to recreate that movement again. It kills me to see people simply shooting to get better when it just doesn’t work that way. That’s one of the reasons I’m getting away from americanshootingjournal.com 51

I REALLY TRY AND FOCUS ON DOING SMALL THINGS PERFECTLY EVERY TIME AND THEN EXPAND. Chris Sajnog is a strong proponent of properly building neural pathways. Every time you do something, whether it’s right or wrong, you are building pathways so your body can do those movements faster and better the next time.

hands-on training, and moving to an online format where I present the information and teach people how to train on their own. It’s hard to run a course and have people shoot one round at a time. Nobody wants to pay to do that. I can offer a much less expensive way to learn by giving them the information online and the students conduct the repetitions on their own.

ASJ Do you have a family? Are you married?

CS I have been married to my lovely wife Laura for 12 years, and we have two boys, Caden and Owen, who are nine and 11 years old. They’re smarter and more talented than I am already. Their mom’s a teacher, so they get their smarts from her, and their dad’s a SEAL. They’re both at the top of their sports teams, so that’s awesome.

ASJ From what I have read you are a strong believer of dry-fire practice. Why do you feel this is such an important component?

CS Definitely! Going back to building neural pathways, every time you do something, whether it’s right or wrong, you are building these pathways so that your body can do that movement faster and better the next time. Any time a gun goes bang, that’s a stressor. It may be a small stressor, but it’s the one thing that increases how ingrained those neural connections become. If you can first train perfectly without stress, you build up these neural pathways and insulate them with myelination (process of forming a myelin sheath around a nerve to allow nerve impulses to move more quickly), and that protects you from the chemical stimulus you’re going 52

American Shooting Journal // November 2015

to get from stress. So when those hormones come rushing into your brain, that neural pathway is protected and you’ll be able to do it perfectly.

ASJ Your level of detail and scientific breakdown is impressive.

Many instructors simply do not operate or consider these concepts. Aside from this, what would you say sets you apart from all of the other shooting instructors out there.

CS I think a big thing is I don’t teach people what they want to be taught. I teach them what I know is correct, and I don’t try to entertain them when I teach. Obviously I try to make it fun, but I don’t look for people who want to learn how to do a front flip and shoot like they did in The Matrix – I just won’t do it. When I teach a course, I don’t actually shoot at all. I can teach faster by standing and watching every move that somebody makes and correcting them instantly. I can’t do that when I have people behind me while I’m shooting.

For me it does no good to show people I can shoot; hopefully, people will understand that I’m probably a decent shot from being a SEAL sniper for quite a few years. As I mentioned earlier, concentrating on how you train is very important.

I focus on mental training, and teach meditation and visualization. As a SEAL, we were literally alotted unlimited ammo and were paid to shoot at the range.

When I retired I started teaching civilians and law enforcement the way I used to teach SEALs, and it just wasn’t working. Students would say, “I don’t have the time to go to the range every day,” or “I don’t have the money to buy all

americanshootingjournal.com 53

Filming at Triple Horse Productions in Georgia, Sajnog demonstrates shooting multiple targets with a Glock 35.

the ammo I need to shoot.” Even law enforcement units didn’t have the money to do that. I needed to come up with a way to teach people at the same level, but faster and cheaper.

I was also experiencing the same thing myself because now I had a wife, children, soccer games, trips to the grocery store, just like everyone else. I started looking outside of the shooting community to see how to best train people.

I knew that if I could teach people in general, I could make it specific to firearms training. So that’s what I did. I looked at how did the greats get to where they are, how they practiced, how they learned and stayed on the top, and how they did it so quickly. I used those concepts while researching neuro sciences, how the brain actually works and how we learn physical skills and implemented them. I put these all together in a training method I call the new rules of marksmanship.

Things like mental training and, most importantly, knowing why you are training are exemplified. If you just want to be good at shooting, you may not wake up in the morning and work on dry firing, but if you’re training to protect your family, you’re probably more likely to put in the time.

Rather than telling students to look at their front sights, I teach things such as how to focus, how to look at the front sight and how the eyes function. I give students specific techniques to work on for each separate aspect. Also, teaching students how to dry fire and to plan their training using a GPS analogy is part of my curriculum. “G” is for gathering information, understanding where your skill levels are, and where you want them to be. For example, if you don’t know where you are or where you want to go, you can drive all day long and never get anywhere. “P” is for planning. Just as a GPS will show your route, you need to plan out those steps. The last one is “S,” and the one most people fail: Start!

Students will often have the information they need but starting is the hardest part. This is why part of my training is simply motivating people to actually do the training.

ASJ Once your new book is out, what’s next for you? Do you have anything on the horizon?

CS Well, my wife will quickly tell you that I have too many projects going on. I’m building a membership site where people can sign up and they get video training using my new 54

American Shooting Journal // November 2015

rules of marksmanship. This is where I teach people how to shoot and train, and how to do it at home while learning faster and easier. Of course a big part of it is safety. I will also offer full webinars throughout the course.

ASJ That’s interesting. So you won’t just be running video training, but people will be able to interact with you via the live course?

CS Yes, the course is going to be run for a month, so once a week people will get a module of information, which includes videos, outlines and quick-start guides. They will have some time to digest the information, practice it and then ask questions during the once-a-week webinar. I have other courses that I am still working on; one of them is an audio course called Mental Marksmanship, and it focuses on mindset, meditation and visualization. How to use your mind most effectively when shooting. A TV show is also on the way, but that is a still a few months out.

ASJ Will the TV show be based around you and your teaching method?

CS Yes, it is, but it is also quite unique. I don’t want to divulge too much, but I would describe it as action instruction. I can promise you that it is not me standing on screen explaining “This is how you hold a gun.”

ASJ What are your favorite guns for different uses?

CS My favorite handgun is the Sig Sauer P226. To me, this handgun set the gold standard by which all other combat handguns are measured. I’ve fired so many rounds from this gun it would be impossible to count, yet I can hardly remember a single malfunction. In and out of water, sand and mud – pull it out of its holster and it’s going to fire. You can find plenty of higher end pistols on the market today, but you’ll never find one with the combat-proven track record of the P226.

For close-quarter combat, the HK MP5n. This 9mm submachine gun was what I learned CQC (close quarter combat) and maritime boarding operations called VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure) with. The “n” stands for Navy since it was developed for our use, and is an extremely effective weapon for short, quick engagements. It has virtually

americanshootingjournal.com 55

zero recoil due to its unique delayed-blowback bolt system, firing from the closed-bolt position. Fun to shoot and fun to transition to your pistol by whipping it over your shoulder like a guitar in an old-school music video.

For sniper operations, the .300 Winchester Magnum (M91A2). I’ve used and taught every type of long-range weapon out there. Yes, there are some that can shoot farther, but this is the most versatile of the bunch, and can reach out and touch someone over 1,000 yards with a flat trajectory past 100. If I could only have one sniper rifle, this would be the one I would choose.

ASJ Everyone has a favorite fallback carry weapon – what’s yours?

CS Glock 26.

ASJ Do you prefer a specific brand or type of ammunition, and why?

CS Black Hills – I’ve shot it more than any other brand and it goes bang when I need it to.

ASJ Favorite holsters and slings?

CS zZz Custom Works Holsters. If you want to get the same results as everyone else, get a holster like they have; otherwise, get custom holsters and mag pouches from zZz Custom Works. You can have a holster built to your exact specification for the same cost as one off the shelf.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

I also like the Magpul MS3 Sling. It’s comfortable and switches between single and two-point sling.

ASJ What would you say is your must-have furniture?

CS Talon Grips, no question.

ASJ What do you do to relax? What are your hobbies?

CS I like to work out and stay active six days a week. I do crossfit-type workouts or high-intensity training. Family is very important to me. I enjoy hanging out with the boys playing baseball or soccer, and I just bought an awesome ping-pong table that they don’t know about yet, especially my wife. She definitely does not know about it! I like learning new things and am interested in acupuncture so that helps me relax, but I also meditate each day, and have a little area set aside for that.

ASJ Thank you so much for your time, Chris, it’s been a pleasure.

CS You too, John, anytime! ASJ Editor’s note: If you want to know more about Chris Sajnog, you can visit him at chrissajnog.com. If you are interested in his latest book, check out Navy SEAL Shooting at Amazon.com.

americanshootingjournal.com 57

The American Shooting Journal and American Tactical salute all members of the Armed Forces who have served, fought and currently fight to protect our nation’s freedoms.

WE THANK YOU!

FABIO NAPOLEONI Many events influenced Fabio’s artwork, but none more than the trauma of his daughter who was born with heart problems and had to face several surgeries. Each of Fabio’s pieces depict the deepest human emotion in the simplest of images.

You can find more of Fabio’s work at fabionapoleoni.com or email him at napoleonicontact@gmail.com

Brought To You By:

www.AmericanTactical.us

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

BEHIND THE BADGE

Geeno Gular (left), now a San Jose, Calif., Police Department sergeant, and James (last name withheld) are in good spirits after a firefight in Afghanistan in which both were wounded.

A LIFE OF SERVICE

Meet California Police Sgt. Geeno Gular – Immigrant, Soldier, Officer, Life-saver STORY BY TROY TAYSOM • PHOTOGRAPHS BY GEENO GULAR

A

merican poet Emma Lazarus penned a nowfamous sonnet titled The New Colossus.

Engraved in bronze at the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, it reads in part:

“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

The word immigrant seems to have taken on a negative connotation in recent years, but immigrants are what this great nation was built on. Sgt. Geeno Gular of the San Jose Police Department in central California is an immigrant. America has prospered because of people like Gular and his family.

They came to America searching for a better life, much like

my ancestors did in the 1800s. The Gulars didn’t come with dreams of entitlement, but they did come with a simple wish: that their children would have a better life and brighter future.

However, the true benefactors of this humble Filipino family’s immigration aren’t the Gular children. It’s the rest of us.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Gular knows what true poverty and suffering looks like. He was born and raised in Olangapo City, Philippines. This city sits next to Subic Bay, an old American Naval base on Luzon island, an area strategically protected from the South China Sea. The Philippines, a Third World country, is home to poverty the likes of which most Americans cannot fathom. Education is the only way to a better life. Escape from poverty is paramount and Gular’s parents knew this, so when he was 13 years old he immigrated to the US with the help of his paternal step-grandfather Earl Kent Hampton Sr. (his biological grandfather was killed in World War II) and grandmother Dorie Hampton. He landed in San Francisco’s East Bay. There, the family wasn’t looking for a handout – americanshootingjournal.com 61

BEHIND THE BADGE Sgt. David, another soldier and Gular serving as psychological operations (PSYOP) support in Mindanao, Philippines.

just the opposite: they were striving to live John F. Kennedy’s mantra, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Gular’s parents, like many parents, just wanted their son to be successful.

When he announced his intention to become a police officer, his father was less than thrilled. “My dad wanted me to become a doctor. I insisted I wanted to be a cop,” he recalls. His parents felt it was too dangerous, and they viewed the police through the eyes of people from most Third World nations: the police were corrupt and not to be trusted. With time, they reluctantly accepted Gular’s decision.

YOU’RE IN THE ARMY NOW Gular also felt the call to join the military, and so at 17 he enlisted in the Army Reserves. While Gular would ultimately retire from the military he wouldn’t get out unscathed. As part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Gular was sent on multiple deployments to 62

American Shooting Journal // November 2015

the Middle East. His final tour as a psychological operations (PSYOPs) team leader would end up with him severely wounded during a firefight with the Taliban.

The mission called for the capture or kill of high-value targets and Gular was deployed with a team of Special Forces soldiers. The targets were found and an AC-130 gunship was called in to take care of business. After the attack a small team consisting of Gular, a couple of Green Berets, a translator and an Air Force joint-terminal attack controller were tasked with finding the bodies and identifying exactly who had been killed.

The team found the bodies about a kilometer away from the start point. As they approached, Gular could hear one of the Taliban members in the throes of death. As the team approached the dying man, they came under intense and effective fire. Gular and his team returned fire, but in the midst of the fight, he was shot in the left arm.

During my interview, Gular related

During his time in Afghanistan, Gular (left) worked hand in hand with many local military troops such as 1st Sgt. Reza (right), an Afghani Hazara.

what it was like to be shot. “It felt like I had been kicked really hard and my arm dropped to my side. It just felt dead.

I was eventually able to raise it but couldn’t use it. I discovered that it was

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BEHIND THE BADGE finish the mission. Multiple surgeries later and lots of titanium hardware, Gular was active again, this time in the police department.

NOT AGAIN! Eleven months after returning home from Afghanistan Gular was working in the gang unit and the robbery division was investigating a string of strong-armed robberies against pizza delivery guys. Gular volunteered to help with the sting.

Posing as a delivery guy, one of Gular’s partners was the bait. Sure enough, the thugs returned and attempted to rob the pizza dude. Gular and crew had a surprise for them and rushed out of a concealed location to confront Sgt. Gular (left), a member of a team affectionately referred to by their peers as the thieves – the fight was on! The biggest surprise “The Four Horsemen,” poses with two of those teammates, Officer Ryan Chan of the night, however, was reserved for Gular. In the (center) and Sgt. Jesus “Chuy” Mendoza (right). excitement of the action another officer accidentally shot him in the left arm — the same previously shot arm! mangled because I could see bones and torn flesh.” Gular’s Team member Officer Brian Meeker said, “I never stand on M-4 was rendered useless, and the Americans had also thrown Gular’s left side. It’s just not a good idea.” a grenade that didn’t explode. It was time to move back 150 meters to a more defendable position because air support and UNDAUNTABLE HERO A-10s were on their way to handle enemy fighters.

While many run from danger, Gular runs towards it, never Gular’s wound was serious enough that he was evacuated, shying away from what needs be done to protect the public never to return to fight. He retired from the Army as an E-7, and his partners. In 2011 he responded to an armed robbery still upset that he was never allowed to return to his team to

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BEHIND THE BADGE During PSYOPS missions in Afghanistan, Gular’s

in the foothills of San Jose and was faced with the team maintained relations with villagers like those in the town of Moruc. toughest decision a police officer has to make – shoot or don’t shoot?

The location was quite remote and difficult to find. Upon arrival, Gular’s sergeant at the time, a sheriff’s deputy and Gular found a man armed with knives. The officers pleaded with him to drop the weapons – to no avail. Gular’s sergeant decided to try and get close enough to use less-than-lethal force to subdue the crazed man; the Taser had no effect. In fact, the suspect ripped the barbs out of his chest. With both knives raised above his head, the man charged the sergeant.

Gular had already taken a more tactical position on higher ground to cover the scene.

“I had drawn an imaginary line in my mind that I wouldn’t let the suspect cross. If I had let him get past Gular’s team later learned the suspect had previously a certain point, he would have killed my sergeant. The suspect thrown a chemical agent into the eyes of an officer in didn’t say anything; he just charged. He was 20 feet away from southern California. “No doubt his intent that day was to kill my sergeant when I yelled Stop!, but he didn’t react. All the one of us,” Gular said. sergeant could do was try to run. That’s when I fired multiple times. The suspect fell within a foot of my sergeant.”

Gular went on to explain that initially he didn’t know if the WHY SGT. GULAR IS ON THE JOB sergeant had been stabbed. “Luckily, he was OK, and made a Every police officer has at least one experience that point to thank me when we met back up,” he said. solidifies, defines and clarifies their reason for becoming

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BEHIND THE BADGE a cop. Gular worked two cases in three months that gave him the why. The first was a case where a woman had been kidnapped from a local parking lot. Gular and his partners worked the details for three days straight – little to no sleep was had. The unit finally received a call from the suspect’s family with a tip leading to the recovery of the victim’s body.

Gular took this loss personally; he felt guilty for not being able to save the victim.

Three months later, a new kidnapping case landed on his desk. This time a 12-year-old girl was missing and it was believed that the mother’s boyfriend was responsible. Gular and his team looked in earnest for the mother, hoping that she could lead them to the boyfriend. An interview with the mother’s brother led them to a motel where the mother was located. She relented and gave up the boyfriend.

The robbery unit called in the SWAT team to recover the little girl from her captor. When they found the suspect, he held a knife to the girl’s throat, threatening to kill her. SWAT had seen enough and killed the suspect, saving the little girl from unspeakable horrors and potential death.

WORKING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT gives officers a front-row seat to the highest of highs and lowest of lows, which most of us will never experience or comprehend. It is in these moments that the officer goes through the refiner’s fire – hardening

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their resolve and solidifying their position as a community servant and protector from the dregs of society.

Speaking with Gular left me with the distinct impression that he simply sees himself as part of a team, merely another guy – nobody special. His fellow officers see it differently.

It is hard to quantify how many people Gular has saved between his time in the military and as a cop, and his actions in Afghanistan certainly saved other soldiers from death.

His quick thinking and reaction saved his sergeant from a crazed knife-wielding man and his tenacity in investigating the 12-year-old’s kidnapping saved her life. For certain, many more people have been saved, but just getting Gular to tell me these stories was difficult – not because he is embarrassed, but because he simply didn’t want me to think he had done it all on his own.

Sgt. Geeno Gular is a hero by anyone’s estimation, except maybe his own. Despite growing up poor in one of the most destitute nations in the world, emigrating as a young teenager to a new country and foreign culture, and despite being wounded in combat and in the line of duty, Gular has never become disillusioned, disaffected or cynical. On the contrary, he is kind, amiable, dedicated and compassionate.

Gular embodies the characteristics that we want in our children’s role models: brave, humble, honest and steadfast.

He is what is right about America. ASJ

americanshootingjournal.com 69

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France WWI

THE DEADLIEST PACIFIST Member Of A Church That Eschewed Violence, Sgt. Alvin C. York’s World War I Bravery Won Him The Medal Of Honor

STORY BY FRANK JARDIM

Sergeant Alvin C. York is remembered for being one of America’s greatest World War I heroes.

(MILITARY MUSEUM BRANCH, TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM)

S

ergeant Alvin C. York was the greatest American hero to emerge from World War I and his name recognition, though somewhat diminished today, was once comparable to that of transatlantic aviator Charles Lindbergh.

He was born in 1887 in a one-room log cabin in tiny Pall Mall, Tenn., where the Wolf River flows off the Cumberland Plateau, isolated in the Appalachian Mountains. He and his fellow mountaineers lived in a rural manner that had barely changed since the mid-19th century. As a boy, he became an expert marksman with a muzzleloader hunting for food for his 10 siblings. In a region full of sharpshooters he was respected as one of the best. He was big man for his time, standing 6 feet tall and weighing in at 175 pounds. He had red hair, freckles and, at best, a third-grade education.

He was 29 years old when he went to war and in love, but not yet married.

On October 8, 1918, Corporal York was in France serving as an infantry squad leader in Company G of the 328th Infantry Regiment of the newly formed 82nd “all-American” division during the bloody Meuse-Argonne Offensive. His

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actions that day earned him the Medal of Honor.

The weather was cold, rainy and foggy that morning, and Corporal York’s squad was in reserve while his regiment was attacking into the open end of a horseshoe surrounded by high ground commanded by German artillery and machine guns. The 328th was taking horrific casualties. The attack stalled with the leading platoons pinned down under savage fire, including machine guns from the wooded hills to their left flank. The reserve was called up; York’s and two other squads were ordered to infiltrate the forest on the left flank and attempt to take out the machine guns to reduce the pressure on the forward platoons. Because of all the casualties,

THE SITUATION WAS SO GRAVE THAT THE SERGEANT FELT HE WAS SENDING HIS MEN TO THEIR DEATHS. the three squads, led by Sergeant Bernard Early, had only 16 men between them instead of 24. The situation was so grave that the sergeant who ordered them out later admitted that he felt they had only a small chance of success, and that he was sending his men to their deaths.

Miraculously undetected, the 17 doughboys worked their

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Nearly a century old, these genuine articles – uniform coat, field equipment, trench helmet, gas mask, M1911 Colt pistol and M1917 Enfield rifle – are the exact type used by York when he earned his Medal of Honor in Argonne, France. (FRANK JARDIM)

way about a mile and half into the thick woods beneath and behind the high ground held by the Germans. This was possible partly because of the noise of the battle, rain masking the sounds of their movements, and trees hiding them from view. Finally they encountered two surprised German medics. One surrendered immediately and the other ran. The Americans gave chase wanting to prevent him from sounding the alarm.

Unbeknownst to the Americans, the German defensive positions were not well tied together on this flank. The German battalion commander, 1st Lieutenant Paul Jürgen Vollmer, could

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not find his assigned positions the night before and didn’t have time to solidify his lines prior to the American assault. Though seasoned veterans, the German troops were battle weary and their morale was falling under the relentless American attacks of the previous days. Vollmer was in the process of trying to rally dozens of newly arrived reserve troops who had simply dropped their equipment on the ground in a clearing

including Sgt. Early, York’s two fellow squad leaders and his best friend, whose body was shredded by bullets. Everyone, American and German, dropped to the ground to avoid the withering fire.

York instantly realized the machine gunners above him had to aim carefully to avoid killing their captured comrades next to him in the clearing. He was acutely aware of being vastly outnumbered. Should the prisoners have chosen to fight,

The Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation is located in Pall Mall, Tenn., and was once the York home. This historic state park is open to the public and boasts a country store, as well as tours given by Andrew York, the son of Alvin C. York and his wife Gracie.

Each year they host an annual black powder shoot in Sgt. York’s honor. For more information, visit sgtyork.org/park.html or make a special trip.

For more information on Sgt. York and the history of the battle of the Meuse-Argonne Campaign, visit the Military Branch of the Tennessee State Museum at tnmuseum.org.

to make breakfast when the Americans burst from the forest behind them.

Completely surprised, all but one surrendered immediately to the doughboys. The single German who chose to fight shot at York and missed. York fired back once and killed him, but then machine gun fire erupted from the high ground no more than 30 yards in front of him. Nine Americans fell dead or wounded,

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they could have easily overwhelmed the seven remaining Americans. York acted without hesitation, shifting into a seated position and shooting each German that exposed his head above the ridge. Every time he fired, a German fell dead back into the trench. After a few minutes, a German officer led five men in a bayonet charge down the slope hoping to rush York. But York had anticipated this. During the engagement, he’d drawn his 1911 pistol and held it dangling from his finger

americanshootingjournal.com 77

ready for instant use as he fired his rifle.

When the enemy soldiers charged toward him, York rose to his feet and shot them one-handed. Using an old hunter’s trick, he killed the rearmost man first and worked his way forward until, at last, the confused and gut-shot enemy officer lay dying in front of him. York surmised if he’d shot the lead man first, the others would have gone to ground, returned fire and surely killed him. Once the closerange threat of the bayonet charge was neutralized, York took up his rifle again and called out to the Germans to surrender.

While this was going on, Vollmer, the ostensibly captive German battalion commander, had drawn his Luger pistol and emptied its magazine at York from across the clearing.

He missed every shot. Completely engaged in the firefight in front of him, York failed to notice. However, Volmer had seen enough. For minutes, as a maelstrom of close-range machinegun fire tore up the terrain around him, periodically drowning out the screams of the wounded and dying, York alone calmly returned fire and never missed. The big red-haired Tennessean had killed at least 20 of Vollmer’s men and now boldly demanded their capitulation. The exasperated German officer

stood up and offered it. When the Germans filed out of their trench with their hands up, one foolish soldier threw a grenade at York who subsequently shot him dead. Pretending his force was much larger, York ordered the approximately 80 prisoners to pick up their wounded and fall into a double column with his six men on the perimeter as guards and himself at the head shielded by Vollmer and two other officers. With his pistol drawn, York ordered the senior German officer to command the surrender of each unit they encountered on their march out of the forest, and killed one more German who refused to give up. Convinced by the bravado of York’s huge bluff, one after another the Germans abandoned their defensive positions and weapons and fell in with the column. By the time York and his six comrades reached American lines, he had put 35 enemy machine guns out of action and captured 132 prisoners. The west flank was virtually cleared of Germans and the enemy guns were silent.

York’s courage, boldness, calm ferocity in battle and his seemingly perfect tactical analysis of a fast, furious and confused close-combat engagement is all the more impressive because he was initially a conscientious objector and had briefly

CONVINCED BY THE BRAVADO OF YORK’S HUGE BLUFF, ONE AFTER ANOTHER THE GERMAN’S ABANDONED THEIR DEFENSIVE POSITIONS

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considered hiding out in the mountains to evade the draft. The small fundamentalist church that York belonged to eschewed violence and he struggled with his sense of patriotic duty and his deep religious faith. Finally, after several theological

to war resigned to whatever destiny God had in store for him.

For the remainder of his life, York rarely spoke of the events from October 8, 1918, and took no pride in having killed men in battle. He agreed to cooperate in the film biography of his

HE WAS ACUTELY AWARE OF BEING VASTLY OUTNUMBERED. discussions with his commanding officers, York became convinced that in God’s eyes “blessed is the peacemaker.” His coolness under fire was a manifestation of his faith. He went This painting, created by Frank Schoonover, represents the very battle Sergeant York so boldly fought during the Meuse-Argonne Campaign in France during WWI. (FRANK SCHOONOVER)

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life only because he was convinced that, on the eve of WWII, the American people needed to wake up to the threat of Nazi Germany and Japan. A secondary reason was that he was trying to raise money to build a bible school in his community. York used his celebrity to improve the lives of fellow mountaineers and never sought personal gain. He was continually on the cusp of financial ruin because of his philanthropic efforts and even mortgaged his farm to pay for bussing students to the agricultural school he established in his rural county.

Though York had never sought fame or accolades, he remained one of the most popular men in America until the day he died in 1964. An estimated 8,000 people attended his memorial services in Pall Mall, about eight times the local population. He declined offers to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, preferring to stay near home in a little family cemetery in the mountains he loved. ASJ

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HUNTING / SURVIVAL COLD STEEL Warcraft Tanto Cool factor: Wield this thing once and you may never let it go. The weight and balance alone immediately lets the user know they are handling a profound tool. A true blade of blades.

Overall length: 12.75 inches Blade length: 7.5 inches Overall weight: 13 ounces MSRP: $329.99

TOP 10 T

he American Shooting Journal team is made up of hunters, competitors, tactical instructors, law enforcement, military, black powder shooters and plinkers. We joined forces with our readers who helped evaluate hundreds of blades. We are excited to present 10 diverse categories of cutting edges, and the 2015 best pick in each.

HISTORIC / RECREATION TION ON HATCHET / AXE SPYDERCO H01 SzaboHawk Tactical Tomahawk Cool factor: It’s not just a tool, it’s a close-combat weapon, and offers a curved handle that places the center of balance midway along its length, making it dynamically faster. Pretty suh-weet, even if you only use it to chop kindling.

Overall length: 11.88 inches Blade length: 4.89 inches Overall weight: 24.7 ounces MSRP: $349.95

INNOVATIVE SOG Switch Plier 2.0 Quick-release Multi-tool Cool factor: It has a spring-assist opening, allowing the user to access and open it with just one hand.

That’s ridiculously brilliant!

Style: Multiple Includes: 12 different tools MSRP: $64

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Steve Auvenshine Custom Knives Cool factor: Anytime you mix tthe he he authenticity of a mastercraftsman’s crafts tssma man’s an an’ss design from a long-gone go one ne eraa wi w with th the th hee ingenuity of an artist a tis ar ist armorer ist armo rm rmore more rer e of today, you end nd d up up wit with h something beauty. ing ngg of be b a ty. aut yy.

Overall eral ral all al ll llength: eng ngth ng th: 77.25 .25 25 in iinches ncche chess Blade Blade d len le length: gth th th: h: 4 iinches nches nch ess Overall weight: Variable Overal Ove ralll weig ra ral w e ht: eig t: Var Variab iab able ab le le MSRP: Variable MSR SRP P:: Va Varia r able ri ria able lee

FOLDING / POCKET ONTARIO KNIVES Joe Pardue Cool factor: With only five moving parts, this spring-assisted knife is clean and streamlined. Its simplicity and silky-smooth action makes it stand out. Our editor now carries this blade as part of her arsenal.

Be afraid!

Overall length: 8 inches Blade length: 3.2 inches Overall weight: 4.5 ounces MSRP: $76.25

EDITOR’S PICK TOPS KNIVES Baja 4.5 Cool factor: A rugged blade with a handle meant for gripping in the wettest and messiest of outdoor survival situations, and it comes with a fire-starter flint! This knife makes us want to go outside bearing it in our teeth and growl a lot.

Overall length: 9.25 inches Blade length: 4.88 inches Overall weight: 6.2 ounces MSRP: $160

2015

BL DES TACTICAL

ATTLEBORO The Attleboro Knife Cool factor: Built by Special Forces and ultimate outdoor Grizzly Adams types. This knife is totally for the tough guys and comes equipped with a glass breaker, because you just need that!

Overall length: 9.75 inches Blade length: 4.5 inches Overall weight: 6.1 ounces MSRP: $295 M

BEST VALUE

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CRKT KISS Pocket knife (Keep It Super Simple) Cool factor: With its simplistic design, this little knife is the perfect companion for a great price, and looks super techy.

Overall length: 5.75 inches Blade length: 2.25 inches Overall weight: 2.3 ounces MSRP: $39.99

Benchmade Adamas backup dagger 175BKSN Cool factor: Sweet hidden little dagger for all those special moments.

Overall length: 5.47 inches Blade length: 2.50 inches Overall weight: 2.32 ounces MSRP: $105

FIXED HOGUE EX-F02 point blade 4.5 Cool factor: It’s all about the grip. The overmolded rubber provides the perfect spongy effect, while still maintaining a hard solid frame. You can’t use what you can’t hold, and you can’t let this one go.

Overall length: 9 inches Blade length: 4.50 inches Overall weight: 4.77 ounces MSRP: $149.95 americanshootingjournal.com americ ame ricans anshoo an hootin otin ng gjo j urn urnal. al.com al com 83

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

Steve Auvenshine creates all of his knives by hand. He cold forges, hammers and files each one to shape. This folding swing-guard bowie is made with bone and silver. (H. DAVID WRIGHT)

Hollywood’s

CUSTOM-KNIFE MAKER STEVE AUVENSHINE

BLADE MAKER STORY BY TOM CLAYCOMB III

A

couple of centuries ago, all knives were made one at a time.

In this day and age, most are churned out in a manufacturing plant, often overseas. Knives have lost the individuality that, in the past, came from being individually handcrafted. We’ve lost all touch with knives of the past.

Enter stage left, Steve Auvenshine.

Auvenshine started making knives while he was still a Kentucky state trooper, and learned under the tutelage of Frank House, reknowned for creating much of the weaponry in movies such as Master And Commander, The Patriot and Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, among others. House

taught him the basics. These two gentlemen are classified as mastercraftsmen and artists, not simply armorers.

After working together for about a year, House said to

Mesquite-handled single-edge boot knife. (H. DAVID WRIGHT) americanshootingjournal.com 85

A set of three Barlow folders. (STEVE AUVENSHINE)

Auvenshine, “OK, you’ve proven that you can make a knife, now prove you’re a knife maker. There’s a difference.”

Now, Auvenshine often attends and displays his knives at gun and knife shows. He says his favorite thing to watch is people who walk by his booth and cannot help but stop, walk over and pick up his handiwork for a closer look. Probably his

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greatest compliment came from a stranger who, he says, said, “You’re an artist who chose knife making as your medium.”

Auvenshine cold forges, hammers and files all of his knives by hand. The materials he uses for his handles are all natural, made of either hardwoods or horns. Clearly there is a lot of attention to detail in each knife, so much so that as of right now, if he didn’t accept another order, it would take him a year to get caught up.

When Aunvenshine retired from law enforcement on December 31, 2010, by January 2nd he was in New Orleans working on a feature film. For the following six months, Auvenshine continued to work on set, eventually becoming the production company’s lead armorer. Auvenshine has developed such a following that he is now one of Hollywood’s most sought-after knife and arms makers.

Among the films Auvenshine has worked on: • Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter – Historical arms maker and armorer; • Master And Commander – Assistant armorer; • Beautiful Creatures – Lead armorer; • Sleepy Hollow TV show – Blackpowder armorer; • Point of Honor – Lead armorer; • Jurassic World – created the “hero” knife that actor Chris Pratt carried in the film; • Cross Bones TV series (Puerto Rico) – Lead armorer.

Auvenshine specializes in Civil War and pre-Civil War (1780 to 1860s) pieces, both fixed and folders, but quite

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readily creates modern knives as well. Many of Auvenshine’s customers are period reenactors, as well as cowboy-action shooters. For most of these people, their attire and gear has to be as authentic as possible – hence Auvenshine’s popularity – and if you have ever been to an event where they congregate, you will know what I’m talking about. According to Auvenshine, roughly 50 percent of the people who buy his knives are actually going to use them.

There are people who work, and then there are people who turn their passion into their job. You may not understand the field they are in, but you will immediately recognize a mastercraftsman’s or -woman’s work when you see it.

If you’ve been contemplating running away to Alaska and living off the land, you might want to get hold of Auvenshine – just plan a year in advance so he can get you outfitted in knives. ASJ

Maple-handled, iron-mounted rifleman’s knife. (STEVE AUVENSHINE)

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Pouch knife with inlaid silver, mother of pearl and 18-carat gold detail. (H. DAVID WRIGHT)

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Iraq

WHEN YOU HEAR THE NEWS STORY BY LONNIE DON MCGINTY

A

nyone who has been over to “The Suck” know people who have gone on to the life eternal. It’s part of doing a dangerous job, but it doesn’t make it any easier to bear. Seeing it happen is something that most of us will never be able to shake from our memories, and we each deal with it in our own way. Some people work harder, some take medication and some just quit caring. However it hits, a little bit of your heart breaks away each time and you fill it with concrete. Many of us have been present for that when-you-hear-the-news moment that stops time and tears out your heart. Here’s my story: I WAS AT JUMP SCHOOL a few years back and we, the US military, were just beginning to really feel the heat in Iraq. Many of us had already lost someone to the war. I was catching a ration of crap for talking in formation, and no doubt had a target on my back for the enlisted instructors. I played the game, they did their job by doing things like running excruciatingly slow during training and making sure I didn’t kill myself falling out of a C-130.

Naturally we were telling funny stories when I recalled a kid from an Army unit who had been attached to our group. He was a normal guy, except his voice sounded like Mike Myers when he imitated the “coffee talk” lady (Linda Richmond) from the Saturday Night Live television show. Hilarious! We actually gave him the call sign Linda. Whenever we heard him on the radio, it would take me five minutes to shut the team up from laughing and imitating him – focus on the mission! It was always a mess out there, everyday all day, and this guy added a little levity to a very stressful situation.

One day he got separated from our patrol, and while I was walking him back to the group I chewed him out a little and told him he was my responsibility, yadda, yadda, we were in bad-guy country, etc. He knew he screwed up. Nice guy, he just messed up.

ANYWAY, while at jump school a young lieutenant heard me imitating him. He turned around laughing and said, “Yeah, man, I remember that guy. He was a good dude.” Was? It took the air out of me, and the lieutenant could see it on my face. I had no idea and he thought I knew. The young sergeant had been killed providing covering fire while trying to medevac a wounded soldier. He gave his life trying to save another, and here I was joking around, living the good life. I still think about him and can see his face. I hope he is up in heaven making St. Peter laugh, and looking down on us. I never told him what a good man he was. He will always be in my memory. ASJ Background photo (ELLIOT PLACK)

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‘AR’ YOU READY? New President Aims To Reload Armalite

Armalite’s president and 3-Gun competitor Tommy Thacker’s personal Armalite M153GN18 in 5.56 with a LUTH AR MBA-1 buttstock and custom gold cerakote finish.

INTERVIEW BY DANIELLE BRETEAU • PHOTOGRAPHS BY ARMALITE

I

f I were to ask what you thought the A and R stood for in the term AR-15, what is the first thing that would come to mind? For many, it is not the actual acronym breakdown. I’ve heard everything from assault rifle to allrange as adamant answers. Please allow me to help: AR stands for Armalite Rifle. With that bit of education for some, we can now move onto Tommy Thacker, the new president of Armalite, and what the company is doing lately to move and shake the industry once again.

AMERICAN Shooting Journal Hello, Tommy, and thank you for taking the time to talk to us. You have recently taken on the role of president for Armalite. Can you give us a bit of background on where you came from and how you started in the gun industry?

TOMMY THACKER I have been shooting since I was five years old when my dad propped me up on a wood pile with a shotgun to shoot an egg off a fence post. The 12-gauge, single-shot knocked me off the pile and onto the ground, but my first thought was, “Did I hit the egg?” Well, I hit the egg and that started my love for hunting and shooting sports. Through my early teens, I took a break from hunting while I was being a little more adventurous skateboarding and playing in a rock band. At the end of high school a few

of my buddies took me out to shoot their bows, and I found a new hobby. I was completely engulfed in archery and the accuracy that could be obtained. I practiced nonstop and became a pro-sponsored 3D competitor traveling the country before I was 21.

Archery is what really started me in the business. I was hired away from my first career choice (industrial electrical maintenance) to help start an archery line at a new gun store. After only six months I knew I would take on a new role with the firearms side of things.

After visiting my first SHOT (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade) Show, I was hooked. Watching pro shooters demonstrating speed draws fascinated me and I jumped in with both feet.

ASJ Where in the industry did you work?

TT I spent 13 years managing a gun shop in northern Virginia where I learned gunsmithing and design. It was there that I worked with H&K (Heckler and Koch) on some product ideas and started my own training company to help others develop their skills. By 2004 I was a nationally ranked top-20 handgun competitor. I eventually left gunstore management for a position with FNH USA as a product manager. Shortly after, I became the director of product management overseeing the entire commercial and law enforcement product suite, created the FNH americanshootingjournal.com 93

THERE IS A RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE AR MARKET AND IT IS AFFECTING EVERYONE USA shoo shooting oti team, won the 3-Gun Nation champion nsh and helped get 3-Gun Nation TV championship and the p pro series off the ground. I spent five years with h FNH USA growing the brand and solidifyingg m my place in the industry.

ASJ Thatt iis pretty impressive and you must have bee n quite passionate about the industry been and your you ur work to have achieved so much in a relativ relatively vel short amount of time. You have now w moved on to Armalite and in quite a d de demanding role as president. Tell us more m ore about them as a company.

TT TA Armalite, which is a word play on the term te erm light armament, was founded by a group gr of engineers who were the first to o bring b lightweight materials into the firearms industry. Eugene Stoner and fi Leroy James Sullivan are credited L with developing the AR-10 platform, w which would revolutionize the rifle in w the military and commercial market. th The AR-10, or Armalite Rifle design Th number 10 – yes, that’s right, AR is an nu n aabbreviation of Armalite rifle – was

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The AR30A1 bolt-action rifle in .338 Lapua with an Armalite chassis.

American Shooting Journal // November 2015

the answer to the military’s request for a lighter and more advanced battle rifle than the current designs in the M1 Garand and M14.

The military liked the design; however, they wanted something even smaller and lighter, and Armalite answered the bill five designs later with the AR-15 design, which ultimately became the M-16, the birth of the modern sporting rifle we all enjoy today. Armalite was an engineering firm, not a manufacturing firm, so they sold the rights to manufacture and develop their design to Colt, which fulfilled the military contract for the M-16 and commercialized the AR-15.

ASJ So Armalite is the godfather, if you will, of the ARstyle rifle we see everywhere, but why did you join them and what are your goals going forward?

TT I left FNH USA after realizing that there was no room at the top of the organization for me. While this was a setback I was determined not to let this be a road block. I took on a business development and ownership role with a group and had long-term plans of developing another nationwide distributor in the firearms industry. We were only seven or eight months in when the market turned and we had to put the brakes on future development. At that time I knew that I had to get back in the industry – that is simply where I belong.

During SHOT 2014 I met with an old friend who introduced me to the new leadership of SAC (Strategic

Whether in the factory, the office or on the range, Thacker is hands-on with every facet of Armalite.

Armory Corps), the company that owns Armalite, Surgeon Rifles, McMillan Firearms, WC Silencers and Nexus Ammunition. It was in this initial meeting that I knew Armalite was the fit for me. After a second meeting and a few conversations later I had an offer and I was headed to Geneseo, Ill., where they are based.

ASJ With all of the different AR manufacturers out there, why would someone take a look at Armalite? It is not uncommon for people to simply seek out the latest and newest products for that sake alone. Is Armalite offering new products, or did they simply do it right the first time?

TT There are many players in the market now. Many are assemblers, and only a few are manufacturers. Armalite is the originator of this style of rifle and we have a history and heritage that no one else can offer in this segment.

Our new approach to the product is more advanced and focused than ever before. We have expert users, combat veterans, world champions and world-class engineers, along with retail veterans and end-user consumers involved in the development process. There is no stone unturned when we look at what our products mean to the consumer, law enforcement or military professional. We are dedicated to making Armalite the go-to brand in the industry once again.

ASJ What do you feel are the negatives Armalite is battling, if any? What are your obstacles?

TT Armalite is currently battling the current market conditions. There is a race to the bottom of the AR market and it is affecting everyone, not only the industry but the consumer as well. With so many AR-style rifle companies

popping up, the product has become diluted. Consumers have a difficult time distinguishing between a high-quality product and something that a few guys in a garage slapped together without testing and pushed out the door. When the consumer chases the cheapest price, then quality has to suffer. Our industry is known to make products that are heritage products. Our customers want products that will last a lifetime and can be handed down for generations to come. We don’t make cheap electronics with an expected lifetime of 12 to 24 months and expect you to replace them with another $700 unit. Our customers won’t accept that, but that is what they will get if they keep allowing popups to earn their business.

Most people would not run out and by a new $8,000 car that they had never heard of, and certainly wouldn’t trust it with their family’s life, so why does it happen in our industry? That’s a battle that many of us are trying to grasp.

ASJ Where are Armalite products made?

TT All of Armalite’s parts are 100 percent American made. We do not outsource off shore and never will.

Thacker is an avid 3-Gunner and recently enjoyed a night shoot during the Timney Trigger Starlight 3-Gun Championship held this year at the peacemaker National Training Center in West Virginia. (THEA WHITE) americanshootingjournal.com 95

We manufacture most of our major components, but we do not make barrels at this time. These have never been made in house. We recently added a new patentpending compensator to our in-house capacity, along with a complete line of original handguards.

ASJ Does Armalite sponsor any competitions or competitors?

TT Armalite is the title sponsor of the 3-Gun Nation Pro Series and TV show and currently sponsors a variety of shooters at various levels. Our pro shooters are Greg Jordan, Rick Birdsall and me. Our list of ambassadors include the University of Florida 3-Gun team, who are Evan Doss (captain), James Nguyen, Jeff Simons, Justin Stephens and Steven Bottcher (coach), Karla Herdzik, as well as Armalite employee staff shooters Walt Hasser, Nathan Brinkmeyer, Joe Hajny and Nick Baele.

ASJ What are your visions and goals for Armalite?

TT Our goal is to put Armalite back on top in the market area it was created for. We are a driving force in the industry and with the new lifeblood behind the brand we have all of the strategic pieces to make it happen.

ASJ Thank you for your time, Tommy, and we will be seeing you and Armalite at SHOT 2016!

TT Thank you, Danielle. My pleasure. ASJ

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Vietnam

TO THE RESCUE STORY BY JOHN KEITH ROBERTS

A

few days after the incident where I was trapped in a Vietnamese pit and my squad left me there to engage the enemy, we were working out of the same base camp, but this time on the south side of our patrol area.

While leading and searching for explosives as we walked through a mostly dry valley, my backup man veered a little o of the trail and sunk quickly 3 or 4 feet deep into quicksand.

Photo credit: Marco Klapper americanshootingjournal.com 101

I took up a defensive position and glanced over my shoulder as two other members of my squad tried to free him and became stuck themselves up to their waists.

The rest of us thought it was hilarious and couldn’t help but break out laughing over their plight. Of course they were near panic, but they got little sympathy from me since the memory of the pit was still fresh in my mind.

They were wedged together and did not sink much more than their waists, but could not pry themselves loose. After a few minutes and while I stood guard, the other members of the squad removed their gear and worked together to drag the three of them from the suction of the quicksand.

There are some ways you just do not want to die, and I guess I’d rather be shot than be suffocated in quicksand. As the memory of the rats back in the “dump” (base camp) affected me, I guess those Marines

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will probably have the same fear of quicksand for the rest of their lives.

Shortly after we resumed our normal patrol routine it was again interrupted. We had only traveled a short distance further down the valley when automatic weapons fire erupted in the next valley to the south.

The only problem was, there was a small mountain ridge between our valley and the one where the fire fight was taking place. (After a short time in a war you can tell the difference between the sounds of the weapons you use and those of the enemy.)

We could hear the firing, but could get there only by helicopter or by climbing over the mountain ridge.

Evidently there were no transport helicopters or back-ups available, and because a Marine squad was pinned down by enemy fire, we were told by radio to get there as quickly as possible.

That sounded good in theory, but it was a very hot day, and even though we only had our fighting gear and had

not had an overly strenuous patrol to that point, it would still be a very difficult climb.

We were determined to go help another Marine squad, and even though firefights usually lasted from mere seconds to a few minutes, this could be the rare exception, where any help at all would make a difference.

We started out at almost a run, and gradually slowed, dragging ourselves from one clump of brush to another.

Sometimes we were barely making any headway and then an occasional burst of gunfire from the other side urged us on. Soon aircraft joined the fight, and we could hear rocket or cannon fire hitting in the jungle to the south of the ridge.

The climb and heat proved to be even worse than we expected, and after half an hour we were still far from the ridge. One of our squad members passed out from the heat, and when revived, was incoherent, so we had to call for a Medivac to take him off the mountain.

This cost us time and water to revive the Marine in our squad while we waited for the helicopter. The orders from the lieutenant were to resume the climb as soon as the man was aboard the helicopter, because Viet Cong fire from the valley was keeping the Medivacs from reaching the other squad.

Fortunately, the Medivac was nearby because of the ongoing fight, so we did not have to wait too long before the heat-stricken Marine was on board and we were again climbing through the rocks and brush.

It was now during the heat of the day, and we were just clawing our way without a break to get to the ridge. This proved to be too much for two other members of our squad, including my backup man, and we had to use the remainder of our water to revive and cool them while waiting for another Medivac. The second Marine would not return to our squad because of the severity of his heat stroke.

Before calling the lieutenant for instructions, the squad leader and I

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surveyed the climb remaining to the top of the ridge. It was still a long climb, and when the squad leader radioed the base camp, he suggested that with only six of our squad left and no water remaining, we should not continue.

The lieutenant did not sound too happy with our suggestion, but agreed that we would be of little use, if we made it at all. The situation had quieted down in the other valley anyway, and it seemed that the Viet Cong had left the area.

We tried to rest awhile after we put the two Marines on the helicopter, but the sun was baking us and there was no shade, so we prepared to head back down the mountain to the valley below. Sometimes you win and sometimes the mountain wins. This time the mountain won.

The thought of not having any water in our canteens made us all thirstier, but we tried not to think about it. This was a dry valley, with just a few mosquito-infested puddles along the way, and it would be a long walk back to the base camp.

We were constantly reminded not to drink water out of the leechinfested streams, should we see one, or out of stagnant pools, but the people telling us that were not on the verge of dying of thirst.

I can honestly say I do not know what the other members of my squad did on that long walk back, but when I saw that first water buffalo footprint with a little scummy water in it, I laid flat on my stomach and lapped it up like a dog. All of us made it back to the base camp, so I can only guess that they too found puddles to drink out of. I might add at this point that we were all sick 50 percent of the time in Vietnam anyway, so we weren’t overly concerned about a little bad water. ASJ Editor’s note: This is an adapted excerpt from the book At The President’s Request by John Keith Roberts. You can find this book online at Amazon.com.

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

TIME CAPSULE

SPECIAL FORCES: THE BEGINNING WWII’s Devil’s Brigade

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY TOM CLAYCOMB III

F

red Feightner of Case Knives told me to drop by and check out the unveiling of the recreation of their famous V-42 World War II fighting stiletto knife during last January’s Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show. The V-42 knife was the knife of our first special force, known as the Devil’s Brigade, a name given to the group by the Nazis who dubbed them Schwarzer Teufel, or Black Devils, because they fought with profound stealth and power.

While talking to Feightner, Mr. Eugene Gutierrez walked up in full decoration.

While an honor to be able to meet an actual living member of the original Devil’s Brigade, I still had yet to fully recognize the value of the moment. That evening, during I was lucky enough to the SHOT Show presentation dinner, I take a picture of Eugene spoke with Gutierrez and Del Stonehouse, Gutierrez in front of the display case of the V-42 also a former Devil’s Brigade member. on the SHOT Show floor.

Gutierrez kept referring to Stonehouse as a youngster since he was only 89 years old and Gutierrez was 93. Gutierrez was kind enough to accept of Alaska. The Japanese had heard they were coming and my invitation for an interview, and we spoke by phone for pulled out two days before the brigade arrived. The team nearly an hour. I’m not sure I can adequately convey all that was then shipped to England, only to be redirected to Africa he shared, but I will try. in box cars and ultimately to Italy. Much of this happened towards the end of 1943.

GUTIERREZ AND OTHER MEMBERS of the brigade were originally sent to Helena, Mont., to learn how to mountain NEAR CASSINO, ITALY, there was an important mountain known climb, conduct demolition, ski and parachute. They as Monte la Difensa that the Germans controlled. The were the first special forces unit and reported to the War Americans had already been slaughtered twice trying to Department, which cut out the red tape. They were the overtake it. Earlier patrols had determined that the only way original “runner gunners.” to attack was to go around to the rear and scale the cliffs.

Unbeknownst to them at the time, they were training The Devil’s Brigade left at dark to conceal their for a suicide mission to sneak into Norway and destroy a movement from the Germans, who were continually glassing dirty water plant. Norway used dirty water, or H202 to make the valley below. During daylight hours the troops laid down fertilizer, which is necessary to develop a hydrogen bomb. in the grass and weren’t allowed to move. It was miserable This is why the Germans wanted the water. Before their and cold due to the sleet and rain, so much so that when training was completed, however, a team of Norwegian they tried to stand up after dark their clothes were frozen to commandos destroyed the plant. the grass. Once they broke free of the elements, they hiked The team was then sent to take back a few islands that another eight hours and arrived at the base of the mountain the Japanese had overrun 700 to 800 miles off the coast on the second night. The group held tight for another day. americanshootingjournal.com 107

Time Capsule

Outdoor writer Ron Spomer poses with Eugene Gutierrez and Del Stonehouse, original Devil’s Brigade members.

Gutierrez holds the V-42 knife in front of the Case Knives poster.

That night the climb began and by 5 a.m., and after reaching the top, the foot of one soldier hit the head of a soldier below him and dislodged his helmet. It bounced down the mountain and alerted the Germans of the impending attack – the fight was on! They lost 200 to 300 men, but still took the peak. The area below was known to American troops as the Purple Heart Valley.

AFTER THE LIBERATION OF ROME the group was shipped off to the coast

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Time Capsule of France. Their mission was to clear the area of guns to prevent the slaughter of the soon-toarrive ships and troops. They liberated French towns all the way to the Italian border.

During this era, most divisions consisted of 16,000 men. The Devil’s Brigade started with only 1,800, and by this time they had lost 40 to 60 percent of their group. It would have been impossible to recruit and train replacements at that level, so they were disbanded and scattered between the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions. Gutierrez went to the 82nd and was sent off to Norway to continue the fight against the Germans.

The Devil’s Brigade is known to be directly responsible for capturing over 30,000 prisoners; 12,000 German casualties; and playing a key role in the 1944 liberation of Rome from the Nazis. Their group has won five US campaign stars.

Gutierrez and the remaining Devil’s Brigade members were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on July 2013 and the ceremony took place on February 3, 2014, in Washington, D.C. ASJ

Eugene Gutierrez, Betsy Spomer and Del Stonehouse posed for a shot in front of the Case V-42 poster.

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I have hunted all over the world and in many random places, but usually with people I know or friends who traveled with me. Arriving in Peru alone and having only met my guide Cesar Garcia Verdeguer once at a convention the year before, I was very nervous and a little scared. But Peru proved to be wonderful, friendly and a fantastic adventure.

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STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRITTANY BODDINGTON

DEER THE WORLD Peruvian Whitetail

O

ne of the world’s most elusive species of whitetail lives in the high mountains of Peru. The Peruvian whitetail is new to the hunting world since commercial sport hunting opened in that country just four years ago. Technically, there are two different subspecies of whitetail living in Peru: the coastal whitetail and the mountain whitetail. The Safari Club International record book has not yet recognized the distinction, but once you hunt both, you will see how very different they are!

It took two trips for me to finally accomplish my goal of successfully hunting a Peruvian mountain whitetail. The first year I went was in late August, and I had no idea what to expect. I had been warned to be careful when traveling, so I planned the trip with a friend, but at the last minute she was unable to go, so I ended up alone on what would prove to be one of my biggest adventures.

CESAR GARCIA VERDEGUER was waiting for me when I arrived at the airport. Verdeguer runs an operation called Wildlife Peru and he is the only licensed professional Peruvian hunter. He got his license while working as a guide in South Africa. We had spoken via email about logistics and what gear I needed to bring, but nothing could have prepared me for this journey.

Verdeguer said that we would be spending the night in Lima before setting out on the 10-hour drive to the hunting destination. The next morning we left around sunrise. When we reached the base of the Andes Mountains, Verdeguer asked, “Are you ready?” I could see the white line of a road zigzagging straight up the side of the mountain. This would be the most dangerous road I had ever been on, by far; in fact, this particular road only exists at certain times of the year because the rain washes it away annually. Imagine driving on a road sized for motorbikes, with hairpin turns and sheer drops – but riding in a hunting truck. Motion sickness is not a common ailment of mine, but this road got the better of me. The combination of impossible turns and rapidly climbing altitude forced me to beg for breaks when I would pathetically crawl out of the vehicle and sit on the ground just to breathe. The altitude here is breathtaking – literally!

We didn’t get into the village of Sangayaico, about 200 miles southeast of Lima, until late that night. The entire village runs on a generator and that went off shortly after we got settled.

I could tell that I had been set up in someone’s family room and yet the only furniture was a table and two small wooden chairs. I had a cot and a zero-degree sleeping bag of my own, which that was plenty since all I wanted to do was sleep after the long drive.

In the morning I woke up to the smell of cooking, and realized that there was a small window – more like a hole in the wall – in my room that lead into a kitchen where women were noisily cooking and children playing. I left my room to find that the entire village was built from mud bricks. The locals stared at me as if I was from outer space. americanshootingjournal.com 115

The road to Sangayaico, in southern Peru, forms a Nazca-esque outline against part of the Andes Mountains. The road is subject to flooding that annually wash parts of it away, to be built again after the rains subside.

The kids enjoyed touching my pink fingernails and examined my red hair. Verdeguer informed me that I was the first European woman they had seen up close. The village had only purchased a television a couple years earlier, at the same time as the generator, so they were still very sheltered from the outside world.

The village was at an altitude of 14,000 feet and the air was thin and incredibly dry. The people in this area live much like the Incans did a thousand years ago; they grow their own food, trade amongst themselves and have very little interaction with the outside world. I had never felt this far removed from civilization. The people were friendly and very curious. They spoke a native language called Quechua that I had no hope of understanding, but they could also speak a bit of Spanish, so we communicated that way.

Their religion is a blend of pagan beliefs and Catholicism that the Spaniards brought over during the conquests. One of the beliefs that remained from before the conquests is that each mountain is a god and has a name. The locals pray to the mountains for what they need and to grant them good fortune or good weather for crops. Unfortunately for me, August is a sacred month for the mountains, and many of the men in village refused to help us hunt. Normally we would have a group of scouts from the village who would gather info on deer numbers and habits, but since this was a special 116

American Shooting Journal // November 2015

month, they did not want to participate.

In retrospect, this was a bad sign for the hunt, but at the time we just made due with the two guys who would hunt with us.

Some of the places we camped were sheltered food storage areas, like this one where I shared my bed with potatoes and the little worms that lived there.

THE MOUNTAIN WAS STEEP and the rocks slid easily; I must have fallen on my bottom at least once a day over the course of a week. I used my hands to crawl and would grab rocks or handfuls of long grass to help along the way. It was beautiful to look out over the expanse of mountains. There were lush green areas with waterfalls, while others offered sand and cactus. On almost every hill were remnants of Incan agricultural terraces, some still in use and some so old you could barely see the lines that had been cut in the mountain.

We walked all day long, every day. There was no doubt that there were deer on the mountain – we periodically heard them – but getting close was an entirely different matter. This particular type of whitetail will actually crawl on its belly in order to stay out of sight. I remember one specific area where we knew there was a deer on the other side of the peak, so

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we attempted to make our way around a very steep valley.

We were walking game trails and came to what I can only describe as a moss-covered balance beam with a waterfall running down one side and, underneath, a sheer drop on the other. The water pooled against the beam on the side closest to the mountain and it ran over in some spots. One by one the village scouts crossed the beam with one foot in front of the other, just like they were walking down a sidewalk. I have to admit I hesitated and even laughed. I asked Verdeguer if he was serious about this. He said, “It is the only way, and please be careful.” I considered crawling but ended up going across with both arms straight out for balance. I faltered a little and dipped my foot in the water, but I actually made it across only to find that the deer had disappeared.

Unfortunately, we could not close the deal that year. The hunt was incredible and pushed me to my physical limits, but as luck would have it, we just never quite got things to line up. The village guys said it was because the mountain didn’t want us hunting in August; I almost believed them. It took two years to get reorganized and get back to Peru.

SEPTEMBER 2013 I was back in Peru. This time we were hunting outside of Cuzco, an area famously known for Machu Picchu, one of the modern seven wonders of the ancient world. The hunting area was different than my first time, not quite as high, and the town was more developed. There was running water, electricity and our base camp would be a

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When Boddington received her Peruvian hunting license, she was the 19th person to get licensed in the country, and the only female.

single-story, hacienda-style hotel named Ausangate Lodge.

The drive to the hunting area near Ccatca, a small village similar to the one on my first trip, took only 45 minutes. We parked, got organized and then walked into the uninhabited

americanshootingjournal.com 119

sides of the mountain.

On the first day one of the scouts spotted a deer. The sun had just dropped behind the mountain and although we could see each other, we could barely see the deer that was feeding on the hill below us. This was a tough judgment call for Verdeguer. He knew the deer was a buck, but he could not judge the rack or the age in this light. In Peru the deer must have two points on each side to be considered legal. While Verdeguer was pretty sure this deer was legal, it would have been impossible to know for sure. My inside voice kept saying, “This could be your only chance!”

Eventually, I decided not to shoot. After all, it was the first day and we had five more to go.

THE FIRST TIME I hunted in Peru I borrowed a gun from Verdeguer, but this year CZ-USA set me up with a model 550 in a .270 caliber, which is a great little gun and plenty of thump for the size of deer found in Peru. They are substantially smaller than the North American whitetail.

Leupold was kind enough to loan me one of their 12-power VX-6 scopes, as well. It was a perfect combination! I felt much more prepared this trip, and since I had been hunting all year long with quite a bit of physical activity, I was optimistic. But even with all that preparation I was still shocked at how hard this hunt was. We were filming the hunt for a TV show with a cameraman who had filmed hunts all over the world and even he was struggling. We did a lot of walking uphill and

downhill, then uphill again. It was nice to go downhill, but I was always thinking of the truck parked back up on top, so with every step down I knew I’d have to go just as far back up. It was tough and we didn’t see many deer. By day three my spirits were pretty low. We had nothing for the camera, no glimpses of deer since that first day, and I was starting to think that the hunt was going to end the way the last one had.

VERDEGUER DECIDED TO CHANGE our approach. He wanted to camp in the village so that we wouldn’t have to drive in the morning. Our camp would be in the old community building – basically one big room for four guys and me to share. Verdeguer had planned ahead: he brought an apartment just for me. It was a one-man tent, just big enough to fit my sleeping bag. I set up at the end of the room where the village kept their store of potatoes, and besides the little worms that kept finding their way from the potatoes to my tent, I was very comfortable. I started to think there might be hope after all, but over the next two days of hunting out of that camp we never got another chance at a deer.

By the end, I was feeling very discouraged and, frankly, a bit irritated as we packed up and headed back to the hotel.

Verdeguer said he knew of a spot just on the outskirts of town where deer came in to feed at sunset, so we planned to stop there on the way back and at least film some of Peru’s elusive mountain whitetail. Otherwise, I would return home completely empty-handed. As my luck would have it, the

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decided not to show up that evening. I only had one day left, and to make matters worse I had twisted my knee and was struggling to put weight on it.

The next morning we drove to the very top of a mountain and Verdeguer said that the plan for the day was to make it to the bottom of the mountain, but this time we would move slowly. The truck would be driven down to the bottom to pick us up later. Verdeguer could see that I was struggling, but I knew this was my last shot, so I had to suck it up.

About a third of the way down the hill we stopped to glass and our local guide Ruben got very excited. One of the scouts who was across the valley was waving to signal that he had seen a deer. We made a frantic scurry towards the scout when all of a sudden a deer appeared on our side of the mountain. It was a buck! A nice legal buck, and it was 200 meters up the mountain. We moved to an outcrop, set up and Verdeguer told me to wait until the deer stopped walking. I was sitting cross-legged with my elbows braced on my knees and I followed the deer with my crosshairs as it slowly walked across an empty corn field. Just as the deer hit the edge of the field it stopped – two more steps and the shoulder would have disappeared into the high grass. I took my shot. The deer rolled down the hill and landed only about 100 meters from us! I looked at Verdeguer and he looked at me. Both of us had tears in our eyes. The stress of the last day and the pressure of coming up empty-handed the year before had both of us wound pretty tight. We were so happy,

relieved and excited that we could barely speak.

When we got to the deer we saw for the first time that he was a nontypical eight-pointer. This is very special for the area and a very nice buck.

The scout on the hill who had waved to us had been looking at a totally different deer. Our buck must have been bedded down or hiding nearby. It was a wonderful way to end a difficult and challenging hunt.

I would like to go back and hunt the coastal whitetail deer of Peru someday. It is supposed to be a much easier and a more leisurely hunt, but I am so glad I took the hard road first.

I consider this hunt to be one of the greatest accomplishments in my career. It’s one hunt that only a select few have ever attempted, and even fewer have succeeded at.

Peru is definitely not for the faint at heart, but the people are warm and friendly, and I never felt unsafe on either of my trips, except maybe on that mountain balance beam. As Verdeguer likes to say, “When you are ready for a challenge and serious adventures, come see me.” It may seem like a lot of work for a little deer, but the culture and the adventure will make it well worth the trip, I can honestly tell you that this little deer holds a huge spot in my heart! ASJ Editor’s notes: Guide Cesar Garcia Verdeguer can be emailed at cgarciaverdeguer@gmail.com. The author is a Los Angelesbased journalist, hunter and adventurer. For more, go to brittanyboddington.com.

Me and my award-winning guide Cesar Garcia Verdeguer, who worked with me for two separate hunting seasons to finally achieve the elusive Peruvian mountain whitetail, pose with my semirare, eight-point buck, a deer that despite its size will have a large lasting place in my heart.

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‘RUT’ DID YOU SAY?

Timing The Hunt For Lovesick Whitetail

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

N

ovember is here and so is the whitetail rut.

Nationwide, it’s a highly anticipated time of the deer season, a time when hunters head afield in hopes of finding big, lovesick bucks. This is when mature bucks are most visible, giving hunters a good crack at filling their tag.

Across the country, the rut is fairly predictable, peaking around November 7th through the 10th. However, the timing does vary, especially the further West you hunt. In some of the Rocky Mountain states and in the Pacific Northwest, the whitetail rut appears to peak in the second and third weeks of November – the 20th is said to be the peak in Washington.

In the Southwest states, the Coues rut is yet another month or two away. No matter where you hunt, whitetail behavior is the same, but the timing may change geographically.

BEFORE THE RUT Once its velvet has shed in late August and early September, a buck’s body begins to enter prerut mode. By the end of October and early November increased levels of testosterone

puts the animal on the move. This is when bucks seek does and size up other males. Calling and rattling can be very effective during this timeframe, as the does are not yet in heat and bucks are aggressively searching. They can also cover a lot of ground during this part of the season, which is why many hunters prefer it.

DURING THE RUT When the prerut wanes and the primary rut kicks in, concentrate your hunting efforts around the does. Where you find them, you’ll find the bucks, and if there isn’t a buck around, just be patient. A whitetail doe comes into heat about once every 28 days this time of year, and she’s fertile for about 24 hours. The peak rut is all about timing, and finding does in heat with big bucks sticking to them for the opportunity to breed makes for an ideal opportunity.

POSTRUT After the peak, the biggest of the big bucks usually withdraw into thick cover, or what I call their core area. This is where americanshootingjournal.com 125

ROAD HUNTER

WHITETAIL DESTINATIONS Scott Haugen has hunted whitetails from the Midwest to the West Coast, and is always amazed at the secretive lifestyle big bucks lead, and in such a wide range of habitats.

Whitetail deer are the country’s most widespread deer species.

They can be hunted from coast to coast, from northern Alberta south into Mexico. If looking for a trophy-class buck on a do-ityourself hunt, here are some states that traditionally produce.

1. KANSAS Kansas has a lot of public-land access, loads of deer and not many hunters for the area. It’s also producing record bucks every year. The archery season is popular, as is an early muzzleloader season. General rie hunters also do well in the Jayhawk State.

2. OHIO Ohio has always been synonymous with big bucks, as have Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. Ohio offers a big population of deer, lots of public land and affordable license fees for nonresidents.

Many deer thrive on private and public land.

they lick their wounds suffered while ďŹ ghting and conserve energy. Food loses nutritional value during this time of year, and bucks won’t waste energy traveling for it because they don’t want to burn more calories than they’re taking in with winter so near.

For does that may have missed being bred in early November, they’ll enter another estrus cycle later in the month or in early December, depending on their ďŹ rst cycle. During this time bucks will go back on the move and look to breed in what is called the second rut. Rattling is tougher during this phase because bucks aren’t generally looking for a ďŹ ght and don’t want to risk injury.

Monster bucks may not even risk trying to breed in the second rut; their goal now is to simply survive the winter.

Depending on where you’re hunting, you may only get to hunt one phase of the rut. Some states only offer short seasons during the prerut in October, while others offer the entire season. Wherever you hunt, pay attention to your timing and what the deer are doing. By watching does, insubordinate and mature bucks, you’ll be able to see what’s happening in the woods and hopefully ďŹ ll a tag with a big great-eating buck. ASJ Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s book, Trophy Blacktails: The Science Of The Hunt visit scotthaugen.com.

3. THE DAKOTAS Boasting some of the lowest hunter densities in the country, both North and South Dakota have plenty of public lands to hunt, along with easy-to-ďŹ nd private-land access programs.

Because hunter densities are so low, gaining permission to hunt private land is very possible. In South Dakota, more bucks have made the archery record books per hunter in recent years than in more popular Midwestern states.

4. OREGON Oregon is the only state offering hunts for Columbian whitetails and Western whitetails. The former are only open for hunting in Douglas County, and tags are available through a lottery draw.

There’s plenty of public land, but many of these deer thrive on private property. In the northeast corner of the state, Western whitetails thrive, and big bucks are taken every year in the early archery, general and late-season rie and muzzleloader hunts.

5. ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO Coues deer hunting continues to grow in popularity and you don’t have to go to Mexico to experience this action. Southwestern New Mexico and southern Arizona offer the best shot at ďŹ nding a big Coues buck. There’s plenty of public land in both areas, and the cost of this hunt unt is affordable. -SH

WHITETAIL DEER CALIBERS “What’s your favorite deer caliber?� I hear this question all the time because it’s a good one. The answer depends on many factors, such as shot distance, terrain, a shooter’s comfort level and the buck sizes in the area being hunted.

If you can’t accurately shoot a caliber bigger than a .270 without worrying about recoil, you know what to shoot. If hunting out West, where 300 yards is an average shot distance in rugged country where you want deer to drop on the spot, then a .300 is not too much gun.

But like all hunting, accurate shot placement is key, so be familiar with a deer’s vitals. Where you hit is more important than boom power when it comes to deer hunting. -SH

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

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THIS AIN’T YOUR FATHER’S DOUBLE The Metro Gun’s Extension Makes For Quieter,

The Metro Gun – essentially, an extra barrel attached to a shotgun – is a clever combination of silencer, suppressor, choke and recoil-management system.

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BARREL! Deadlier Shotgunning

scattergun trail STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS

BY LARRY CASE

F

ew would argue that John Moses Browning was not an inventor of firearms par excellence. Just trying to list Mr. Browning’s accomplishments in the gun world can leave the garden-variety gun writer, like me, feeling a bit queasy. You just know that you are going to forget something. From .50-caliber machine guns to the legendary 1911 pistol, Browning’s list is long and varied. You may suspect that I favor some of his shotgun wizardry, and you would be right. The 1897 Winchester pump shotgun is one of my favorites, and it paved the way for the iconic Winchester Model 12.

I believe that Browning had the traits of all great inventors. First, they are brilliant in that they can conceive an idea, then picture it and finally have the tenacity to stay with the concept until the job is done.

Whether it’s Eli Whitney working on the cotton gin – was also involved in mass producing firearms for the government, by the way – or Thomas Edison, who fooled around with that lightbulb thing until he got it right, great ideas often come from the most unexpected places.

LET’S TALK ABOUT L.P. BREZNY. Brezny is one of those guys who is hard to put a handle on. He hails from the windswept plains of South Dakota and is a former policeman – think old cowboy and sheriff with some trapper and mountain man thrown in. But what Brezny is first and foremost is a shooter. Everything from shotgun to long-range-rifle shooting is in his bailiwick, so much so that his books Modern Shotgunning and Long Range Shooting are widely read. He has helped more than one shotgun ammunition manufacturer develop shot loads over the years, and has created his own shotgun-choke system aptly named the Dead Ringer. Most recently, Brezny has invented the Metro Gun system. “Metro Gun?” you say! “What is that?” I am so glad you asked.

Several years ago, like all great inventors ahead of their time, Brezny saw the need for a shotgun that would go easy on the ears. Urban sprawl causes tighter constrictions on where shotgunners can shoot. Often, there might be a location where one can shoot, but it would really help to keep the noise down – keeping peace with the neighbors, and all of that. Also, reducing the decibel level can increase one’s success rate when Porting along the entire length (main image) of the barrel allows gases to escape gradually from the Metro Gun. Less gas equals less noise. Among the benefits of this system, the decibel level is so low that crows (center inset) are not startled by shots. While the Metro Gun seems long with its 32-inch barrel extension, the shooter doesn’t realize the difference when the bead is lined up with the barrel. The extension weighs only 1.1 pounds, and even lighter on a shorter model.

americanshootingjournal.com 133

SCATTERGUN TRAIL The system is very easy to install. Just remove your screw-in choke and replace it with the screw-in Metro barrel.

hunting certain animals and birds, particularly crows. Remember the old adage that necessity is the mother of all invention? Well, Brezny needed to shoot more crows. In order to do that he needed to have a shotgun that made very little noise, so he created the Metro Gun. Brezny does a lot of shooting and hunting, which includes animalcontrol jobs. The common crow can be a real pest in agricultural areas; ditto for feral pigeons. Shotgunning for these birds is often done in close proximity to barns, buildings, humans and livestock. One can easily see how a low-decibel shotgun would come in handy for these situations.

AFTER A LOT OF TESTING, blood, sweat, tears and a bunch of ammunition sent down range, Brezny delivered. Essentially, the Metro Gun is a 32inch barrel extension that simply screws onto the end of your existing shotgun barrel. Just remove your screw-in choke and insert the Metro barrel. Voilà! You are ready to shoot quietly. The Metro barrel is ported along its entire length, which allows gas to bleed off a little at a time. The Metro is so long that most of the gases are gone by the time they get to the muzzle. Very little gas equals very little noise!

How little noise? Most tests show that with subsonic shotgun ammo, the report will create only 72 decibels of sound and just 82 decibels with supersonic. Some compare it to closing a car door. Winchester, Remington and Federal all make shotgun ammunition in the subsonic line.

Mr. Brezny noticed other benefits too. Not only was there much less noise, there was much less recoil – it will make your shotgun a soft shooter – and delivered a better pattern. Essentially, the Metro acts as one long choke tube. Brezny routinely gets reports from Metro customers on how effective his barrel is for game. Ducks don’t flare after the first shot, and with no blast to drive them away, crows continue to come to the calling, Would some consider the 32-inch Metro Gun a bit long and wieldy?

Probably, but Brezny insists that while shooting, the barrel “disappears behind the bead.” Also, at only 1.1 pounds (the 25-inch Raven model weighs less), not much weight is added.

If you have a situation where you want to shoot a shotgun but would like a lot less noise, you need to check out the Metro Gun. Eli Whitney, John Moses Browning, Thomas Edison and L. P. Brezny all had the vision and made inventions happen, but only one of them made the quietest shotgun you will ever see. ASJ Editor’s note: For more on the Metro Gun, visit metrogun.com.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

With an average of 72 decibels using subsonic shotgun ammunition, Larry Brezny doesn’t even need to put ear protection on little Gwen Nibert.

americanshootingjournal.com 135

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

Heirloom holsters from THE INSIDE STORY OF HOW SAVOY LEATHER CREATES PERSONAL TOUCHES

INTERVIEW BY DANIELLE BRETEAU • PHOTOGRAPHS BY JERRI SAVOY

T

he American Shooting Journal spends a lot of time with different products and one of the things we do is look to our readers for the latest greatest guns and gear out there. One of the names that kept coming up over and over … and over and … you get the idea, is Savoy Leather holsters. What surprised us the most was that people from all facets of the shooting industry favor these holsters: tactical gurus, CCW carriers, cowboys, hunters and some who fit all of these categories. It is not often we find a product that seems to be equally coveted across such different groups.

Savoy Leather falls into that category and we needed to know who these people were and how they did it. I reached out to Jeremiah Savoy who was nice enough to share a few of their eastern Oklahoman secrets. You’ll need to fill out some documentation before we disclose this classified information, but go ahead, it’s worth it. We will wait.

American Shooting Journal Who actually founded and owns Savoy Leather?

Jeremiah Savoy My wife Jerri and me. I am the president and she is the vice president.

Jeremiah Savoy designs and creates each holster by hand and says that he is happy to work one on one with customers if they have their own design in mind.

ASJ That’s great, so it’s a family business. Can you tell me a little bit more about your backgrounds, where you came from and how you became interested in firearms?

JS I was raised in south Louisiana and spent most of my life there. In 2013, my wife and I moved to Oklahoma where we thought we would have a better opportunity to grow our business. We chose Weleetka, where Jerri had previously enjoyed living.

Savoy Leather creates stunning holsters and has captured the sights of shooters nationwide.

ASJ This is my favorite question to ask: What was the spark that eventually started Savoy Leather? Many people have a great ideas, but those who take the steps to make them happen, well, these people are driven. Why were you and Jerri so passionate about doing this?

JS I felt I needed to focus a bit more. I was filling my time americanshootingjournal.com 137

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--------------------------------------------------------------------JS I am the artist behind most of the designs, but we welcome original ideas from customers. Sometime people may not realize that their creation simply can’t be made in leather, or, more to the point, it will not look good, so we work with them to create the design they love and one that works.

ASJ What has been your favorite piece to create and why?

JS My favorite piece was one I created for the Lone Survivor Foundation, founded by Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell. It was a fun challenge to create that piece, and best of all, it was for a great cause. It is always an honor when we are asked to create an item for a foundation that we believe in.

ASJ What have you tried to make that you have not perfected?

JS I am passionate about everything that I do. I’ve attempted to work with wood several times, but I am just never satisfied with the outcome.

Savoy Leather uses 100 percent American-made materials and all the holsters are created in Weleetka, Okla., east of Oklahoma City.

with random activities and wanted a new hobby. For my birthday one year, Jerri gave me a set of leather tools and some blank leather. I started making all kinds of things. The more I created, the better I became – people started requesting things. At first, I would just purchase more tools and give everything away. At that time things were financially tough.

One day Jerri nudged me and said I would have to either slow my hobby down or start selling my creations. And so began our leather business.

ASJ Where is the furthest you have shipped a product?

JS There are a couple guys in Guam who started out as customers, and ended up as friends. That has, thus far, been the furthest we’ve ever shipped anything. I always laugh when I talk to them on the phone. With the time difference of almost a full day, I feel like I’m getting a call from the future.

ASJ The gun industry is very broad. There are tactical

ASJ Sometimes we do not realize the number of folks it takes to put out great products, and for so many nationwide.

Who makes up the team at Savoy Leather, and why have you chosen them?

JS Well, Jerri and I work at the shop every day, and there are currently nine other full-time employees with us. They are all local folks from the Weleetka area. We are trying to help this little town come back to life and employing them is the first step. We are trying to create an atmosphere where people love to work and enjoy creating heirloom-quality products.

Our motto is “Let our family create an heirloom-quality product for yours.”

ASJ In all of the designs you have, Savoy Leather offers a lot of patriotic styles. Were you in the military?

JS Neither of us have been in the military, but we support our troops and enjoy making patriotic themes.

ASJ Looking at your leather goods you have a couple things going on: 1) I’m pretty sure I would be able to tell a Savoy Leather holster from someone else’s holster because yours has a very specific look and feel; and 2) There is a lot of diversity in the designs. Who makes your designs and can people submit their own?

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

While most of their customers hail from all corners of the US, shipments have been made as far away as Guam.

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--------------------------------------------------------------------shooters, competitive shooters, hunters, law enforcement or work-related shooters, collectors, historians – it goes on.

What group do you feel is your largest demographic within this industry?

JS We have tailored our work, a bit, to each group. A lot of these shooters have several guns and most carry on a daily basis, so even if someone is more inclined towards one group or another, people seem to have guns that they are proud of and like to show off. You don’t want to pull your awesome gun out of a funky holster. It should compliment the gun and show a glimpse of the owner’s personality.

ASJ Looking ahead, what are your goals?

JS Our one-year goal is to get the word out about our products. We would like to see them in more gun stores, and we are currently putting together a wholesale plan for dealers. Above all, we want to make sure we continue the same level of quality. All of our holsters are made with 100 percent American materials right here in Oklahoma. As our products hopefully become more popular, we would like to have a production rate that can employ as many as 50 people. We have a love for this area, and we want more Americans working.

ASJ Do you have any charities that you support that you would like to share with our readers?

JS Other than the occasional holster donated to auctions

Jeremiah and Jerri Savoy started Savoy Leather as a hobby that has grown into an 11-person, holster-making company.

for charities, we do support our friends at Trinity Outdoor Disabled Adventures. This is an awesome group who take the disabled on fishing, hunting and camping trips, just to name a few. They have dedicated their time, effort and hearts to sharing the joy of the outdoors with people who may not have the ability to do so by themselves.

ASJ What is a personal motto or thoughts you and Jerri try to live by?

JS Our personal motto is “Put the Lord first and he’ll take care of the rest.”

ASJ Thank you, Jeremiah, and give our love to Jerri.

JS Thank you for the opportunity. ASJ

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gun reviews

FAR EAST’S TAKE ON AN OLD WEST CLASSIC Japanese-made Winchester Model 73 In .357

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB SHELL

W

inchester has a long line of lever-action rifles and one of their earlier editions was the Model 73. Originally, in 1873, black powder was the only propellant, so the 73 was offered in .44-40, the first metallic centerfire cartridge manufactured by Winchester. Later options included the .38-40 and .32-20, along with the .22 rimfire. It was popular and considered to be the gun that won the West; however, it had limited strength and was heavy.

Winchester manufactured the 73 all the way up through 1919 with just over 720,000 made.

Today’s Model 73 is offered in .44-40, .45 Colt and the .357 model, which I am reviewing here. They are made in Japan by the Miroku Corporation and imported by Browning. They make quite a few Browning and Winchester guns, and from my previous

The Winchester Model 73 is known as the gun that won the West. It is not too surprising that this rifle is still being produced today, with very little variation from the original.

WINCHESTER MODEL 73 SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer Caliber Action Receiver Barrel Rifling Magazine Sights Trigger Stock Overall length Weight MSRP

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One of the treaured features of this rifle is the dust cover on the receiver. This is a common trait on more modern rifles, but not so much on the traditional styles.

americanshootingjournal.com 143

gun reviews affordable than the originals and have the feel of the older models – without the risks of shooting an antique.

Right out of the box the action is smooth and clearly shows handiwork was involved in making these guns. It has a crescent-shaped stock, which aids in firing quick shots because it holds onto the shoulder nicely. The sights are semibuckhorn, which are adequate for closerange hunting, but the tang is drilled for a receiver sight in case someone is interested in longer range precision shooting.

The rie can propel a 180-grain hunting bullet almost 1,700 feet per second and produces 1,050 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. This will work on many medium and large game animals, such as pigs and deer. As a comparison, a .223 rie shooting a 55-grain bullet at 3,200 fps will produce 1,150 foot-pounds at the muzzle.

As with all of the guns and gear I review, I like to have other shooters test products as well. This way I get varying opinions. One of my testers is a youth who is recovering from a broken wrist. In spite of that, he had no problems with shooting or handling the gun. Like everyone else, he found the action smooth and the trigger light.

In spite of the Model 73’s older design, it is still very popular and deservedly so.

You have the option of shooting both .38 Special and

If you enjoy carrying a .357 revolver, the Model 73 would be a great companion. Dual-purpose ammo makes for a much easier day at the range.

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gun reviews

The recoil and trigger are so manageable that even this young shooter with a broken wrist easily handled the rie.

.357 Magnum, but some of the shorter .38s may not feed, especially the wad cutters. I tried many hunting loads, including some LBT bullets, and they all fed with no

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

problems. The accuracy is good and recoil is mild even with a full-power hunting load. If you carry a .357 revolver as well, you will have a winning combo. ASJ

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BORN

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The Hungarian vizsla was known as the hunting dog for nobles and kings in many countries.

THE VERSATILE HUNGARIAN VIZSLA STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JASON BROOKS

I

t was early October and opening day of upland bird hunting season as I parked my truck and began to work the edge cover of an apple orchard. Nearing a far corner, where the quail often flushed for the thick cover of a sagebrush flat, I ran into another hunter. We chatted a bit about the birds and hunting strategies when all of a sudden a rust-colored dog busted out of the sage and ran up to me. Instantly the dog leaned on my leg in a welcome of panting slobber all over my boots. The owner apologized, but there was no need to, as I had never seen a hunting dog like his before and was intrigued by it. He explained that the breed was a vizsla and that they were very affectionate, but also warned they have an extremely high amount of energy and must be able to hunt and run. He gave the dog a drink of water and they continued to their truck, and I was left to chase the quail on my own. americanshootingjournal.com 151

Vizslas have an innate drive to point and chase.

The vizsla breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1960.

Due to their timid and gentle nature, many people choose this breed as the perfect home companion.

However, they need a lot of exercise, something potential owners should consider.

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American Shooting Journal // November 2015

A few short weeks later I found myself in basic training for the Air Force, and it would be almost 10 years before I would see another vizsla.

The vizsla is one of the oldest known hunting breeds in the world. Coming from Hungarian lineages as far back as 650 A.D., and noted by several European countries as a prominent hunting dog for kings and nobles, they were considered sacred in Hungary. Several neighboring countries were known to sneak dogs out, which eventually saved the breed.

With their notoriety for being great hunters, as well as a status symbol for Hungarian wealth, when the country was invaded, the dogs were often used as a pawn for retribution and killed. Barely surviving the Hungarian Revolution, as well as World War I, their demise was almost completed during WWII. German soldiers killed the dogs on sight, which often drew out the owners who, in turn, were captured. A few vizslas that had been raised in outlying countries, such as Romania, Austria and Serbia, survived the war.

The first vizsla made its way to the United States in 1950.

Two puppies that ended up in Kansas City involved a deal brokered by the US Embassy in Belgrade. The dogs came from Serbia, and two years later the first litter was born in the US. The breed wasn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1960, but ever since then they have become popular with hunters and earned their own status among the dog-show circuit.

After becoming newly married and settling down with a career, I found an ad in the local newspaper that read “Vizsla puppies for sale.” Instantly I flashed back to that day almost 10 years before in the apple orchard and how the rustcolored pointer was such an amazing dog. It took two weeks for me to convince my wife, who had never had a dog as a pet growing up, that we should get one. After much debate she finally gave in. Only three females were for sale. I picked the middle-sized pup and named her Ruby. She would soon grow to 43 pounds, and become as much as a part of my family as my own kids would be years later.

That first summer I spent every evening working with her to retrieve throw dummies covered in quail wings. She would work by hand signals, as well as return by whistle.

Though the breed is extremely sensitive and shy by nature, the sound of a gun never bothered her. Vizslas have many nicknames, including velcro dog because they always want to be with their owners and are always touching them. Ruby was no exception. She would jump in our laps if we were sitting on the couch, lie across our feet while doing dishes or just come up and lean on us while standing.

Being very versatile in their hunting style and taking to water to retrieve or cross streams while afield, the vizsla comes to a staunch point naturally. Ruby rarely broke point, holding steady until I kicked the bird up and made the shot. If I missed, though, she would chase the bird into the next county, which was another reason to have her whistle trained. If I became upset with her, a quick scold with a solid voice was all it took, and I never struck her. They are timid

americanshootingjournal.com 153

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dogs and don’t take to discipline. Instead we trained her by reward, and each time she completed her command correctly, she would get a fresh sugar pea from our garden. When it was finally time to take her hunting, we spent four days in eastern Washington chasing quail and chukar. It wasn’t until the last day that I realized I had almost run her to death. She had lost several pounds.

Just before I called off the last afternoon of the trip, a covey of chukars ran across the dirt road from a wheat field into a

sage-covered flat. I figured the birds were close, so I let her out. She jumped from the seat beside me into a full sprint working the cover and soon locked up on point. I flushed two birds and made the double count. Ruby found the birds, and I returned to the truck knowing that after all those years the wait was worth it.

As time went by my two boys were born and Ruby was right there helping to raise them. Affectionate and protective, she always kept an eye on the toddlers. When they were old enough to finally join me on a hunt and help carry the birds, Ruby was ready to show them how to find the rooster pheasant. Eventually, by age 10, Ruby was too

THE VIZSLA IS ONE OF THE OLDEST KNOWN HUNTING BREEDS IN THE WORLD old to hunt. Vizslas live for about 12 to 14 years, and since their lineage was so tightly controlled for thousands of years they are prone to some health issues. Ruby had a tumor growing on her right shoulder. Three months later, just shy of 11, Ruby lost her battle with cancer.

It took a full year of vacuuming my truck before all of the dog hair was removed from between the seats. A box of dog toys sat lonely on a shelf in the garage.

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Among all of their commendable traits, vizslas also make great watch dogs.

Some time later, I was surfing the web and found an ad: “Vizsla puppies for sale.” It didn’t take long to talk the wife into another one, but this time, due to the breed popularity in the show-dog world, we were rejected three times.

It turns out that the vizsla is still fighting a battle, but this time it doesn’t involve Mauser rifles. Rather, breeders who are anti-hunting. All three of the vizsla breeders who turned us down did so because we didn’t want to show the dog – we

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just wanted to hunt them. It turns out that the breed is so well liked for their calm and affectionate temperament that anti-hunters think they are too sensitive to hunt. Since the dog does not have an undercoat they cannot be left outside.

Their desire to never be left alone means kenneling the dog is a bad idea. These traits create a great house companion, as long as you let them run off their high energy when needed. After trying to explain that these canines are one of the oldest hunting breeds in the world, and their desire to please and extreme energy was bred into them specifically for hunting, we finally found one breeder who let us purchase a puppy. We again picked out the middle girl and our oldest son named her Lucy.

Lucy showed us a side to the breed that Ruby hadn’t – the guard dog. Vizslas were kept by noblemen for hunting but also lived on estates, and were known to have a strong sense of protection. Lucy growls and barks at everyone who goes by our front window, but once the person enters our home, she runs up and pushes against their leg in true vizsla fashion.

Her training began immediately with bird wings and throw dummies. Her instinct to point and willingness to jump into a stream to cross or dive into a large sagebrush to point quail confirmed we picked out the right pup. Last fall was Lucy’s first hunting season. This time it was my son who steadied the shot and knocked down a quail at the edge of the apple orchard. ASJ

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Product REVIEW

The Flambeau Outdoors Tactical Case REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIELLE BRETEAU

With its robust rubber seal and air-pressure valve, when I first received this case I felt like the gorilla from the old American Touristor luggage commercial trying to get the thing open. I popped the clips … nothing! I pried the edges, threw it around a bit, I might have even kicked it a few times – that’s how strong it was. Needless to say, it’s completely waterproof.

The Flambeau Outdoors gun case should be in the running for anyone who wants a tough, solid, lightweight, foam-padded storage container with all the perks of the bigger names – except the price. This case is solid from seam to seam and has strong locking clips. The only thing I might have added was a red swishy light that roams back and forth on the front.

The interior offers a wide-open space and several layers of foam padding with options. You can choose to use the grid-cut foam, which makes creating a pocket for your gear quick and interchangeable, or you can opt to cut your own pattern and detailed pocket in the solid foam panel, like I did for my Nerf XKB10000-PRO and air bullets.

CASE OPTIONS: SMALL 9 inches by 11.75 inches by 5 inches for $39.99; MEDIUM 10.25 inches by 14.75 inches by 6 inches for $69.99 (this is mine); or LARGE 13.5 inches by 42 inches by 5 inches for $179.99, which would be great for rifles.

You cannot beat this case – literally or monetarily – for the value. ASJ

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I particularly like the egg-crate padded top. It makes me feel like a spy when I open up the case and access my gear. I just wish it would make a strong air-pressure sound and have cold smoke billowing out when I open it.

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