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NEWS ❚ PROMOTIONS ❚ AWARDS ❚ OUTREACH

-entering society after experiencing the horrors of war can be a shattering experience. Family and friends, who were safely tucked away thousands of miles from the battlefield, can never fully understand what a veteran has endured.

One such veteran is Ryan Baudhuin. After a combat tour in Iraq as a Marine, Baudhuin found himself struggling to adjust. He was battling PTSD, mental health, substance abuse, loss, and grief.

 Savage Arms brand ambassador Ryan Baudhuin credits hunting and the camaraderie of the outdoors with saving his life.

His life was spiraling out of control, but in 2011 he was invited to the Horicon Marsh Veterans Hunt, an event hosted by a volunteer group dedicated to helping veterans.

He credits that hunt with saving his life, and he has used it to propel him into a career in the outdoor industry. And that includes giving fellow veterans a chance to hunt.

“Having been through the struggles myself and seeing what hunting and being outdoors can do for you, I want to give the gift of the outdoors as it was given to me,” he says.

Baudhuin now puts on his own events for veterans through his non-profit High Point Adventures, hunting everything from bear and ducks to exotic game in the pursuit of healing in the outdoors. He is now also a brand ambassador for Savage Arms.

“You get to these events, and you will see guys who are struggling. The event is not the hunt; that’s just the setting. The event is the camaraderie that develops between the veterans. The relationships and the interactions between the volunteers and guides add to the authenticity of it all. You feel a sense of community. And you build a network here,” he says.

The Horicon Marsh Veterans Hunt has been held each year for more than a decade, relying on an ever-growing network of volunteers to deliver a first-rate experience. What started as a way to bring fewer than 10 veterans into the field has blossomed into an annual, wildly popular hunt with a waiting list to attend. Its popularity is only overshadowed by the difference it makes in first-time attendees and returning regulars every October. Last year’s hunt featured over 50 volunteers, dozens of sponsors, 55 volunteer guides, more than three dozen dogs and, most important, more than 80 veteran hunters.

“This event has saved lives,” said Andy Johnson, treasurer of the Horicon Marsh Veterans Hunt. “When this event first started, we really weren’t thinking about savings lives; we were just taking people out duck hunting. But it has turned into so much more. It’s gaining traction, and we’re getting people from all over who want to be involved. These are people who want to help—and help for the right reasons. They want to help vets and try to give back some of what we feel is owed to them.”

“My first year was 2015,” said U.S. Marine Corps veteran Matt Owens. “I had never hunted ducks before. I instantly fell in love with it and couldn’t wait to come back. For 51 weeks a year I pretty much wait for this weekend. It’s all I can think about.”

“Using hunting and the outdoors as a healing tool for PTSD and mental health is just one tool in the toolbox that we can give these guys,” says Baudhuin. “I think the biggest thing they find out there is peace and tranquility as well as the camaraderie.”

You can watch Bauduin’s journey on the Savage website as part of an ongoing series of blogs called “Savage Journeys.” This particular episode debuted on Veterans Day on the site as well as on Savage’s social media channels. For more information about the Horicon Marsh Veterans Hunt and Savage Journeys, visit the Savage Arms homepage.

(savagearms.com)

By Slaton L. White

Willie Vernon came aboard Christensen Arms last September as executive vice president of marketing. Prior to joining Christensen Arms, she worked as head of marketing for several well-known companies such as BOTE, SilencerCo, the tactical business unit of Vista Outdoor, and, most recently, Rex Specs. In all, Vernon brings more than 13 years of industry expertise and experience spearheading successful marketing efforts targeted to the outdoor and firearms industries.

One of Vernon’s key tasks at Christensen Arms will be to lead the marketing team as it strives to introduce new audiences to the brand. At the same time, she and her team also intend to cultivate existing areas of strength by growing the overall presence and footprint of the firearms market. Her experience across multiple industries and product categories, as well as her knowledge in both B2B/ B2C channels, are invaluable assets as Christensen Arms seeks continued growth through innovative product development.

One example of the manufacturer’s innovative product development is Flash Forged Technology. Utilizing automated processes and virgin recyclable materials, FFT is truly 100-percent zero-waste manufacturing. Trimmed composites are repurposed into new carbon-fiber parts without producing harmful toxins or emissions. This new technology helps support Christensen Arms goal of wildlife conservation by reducing the company’s environmental impact and protecting our lands and wildlife for the enjoyment of future generations—all while creating a superior product.

“It truly represents the latest in carbon-fiber structural manufacturing,” she says. She also believes this new technology will help “meet the expectations of our customers by exceeding our own expectations, because at the end of the day, we’re a company made up of shooters. Of hunters. Of outdoorsmen and women. We have a passion for what we do, and it allows us to always be pushing ourselves and the limits of what was previously thought possible. Our goal is not to meet the expectations of our customers, but to exceed them.”

The other half of that equation is, according to Vernon, “We never settle. We never want ‘good enough.’ We never aim to make something that is just slightly better; we aim to break the mold entirely. We stand firmly on our robust history and the lessons it has taught us, all the while keeping our focus fixed on the future. We aren’t just dreaming of the future, we’re creating it by developing great products that serve our customers in their pursuit of excellence.”

Vernon believes her experience across multiple industries and product categories, as well as her knowledge in both B2B/B2C channels, will help support the growth of Christensen Arms. “Christensen Arms isn’t a one trick pony, and it needs someone who has an equal number of tricks up their sleeves,” she says. “With my background in both the firearms and outdoor industries, I have an extremely broad understanding of the many ways in which customers experience the great outdoors as well as a passion for how our shooting sports segment plays a vital role in the conservation of the great outdoors. Christensen Arms serves customers through a wide range of channels, each of which has its own nuances and needs. Being a multi-faceted marketer will help me to serve the needs of both Christensen Arms and its beloved customer base—both in the present and in the future.”

One of those channels is the Ram’s Club, the company’s ambassador program. “The Ram’s Club is a group of exceptionally passionate men and women who live and breathe what Christensen Arms represents: a commitment to stewardship of our natural resources, a passion for excellence in both self and gear, and an unending love of the shooting sports. This group is invaluable to us, as they not only serve as ambassadors for the brand and our products, but vice versa. They provide a crucial channel through which we receive incredible community feedback as we continue on our quest of continuous improvement.”

Another goal is to grow the overall presence of Christensen’s footprint in the firearms market. Just how does Vernon intend to do that? “Through supe-

 Flash Forged Technology utilizes automated processes and virgin recyclable materials.

rior customer care and our intense dedication to innovation and producing the highest quality products possible. Customers in this space are highly discerning, and it is our goal to provide them with the absolute best gear possible. As customers continue to seek out the best of the best products, their search will continue to lead them to Christensen Arms. “

It's a daunting task, but Vernon has always relished a challenge. And she is constantly re-invigorated by the industry’s vitality.

“Good people, amazing products, and the great outdoors,’ she says. “Our industry centers around a lifestyle of exploration, consistently pushing yourself to be better, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and adventure. What could be more exciting than that?"

(christensenarms.com)

VISIT US AT BOOTH #10560

The new Species holster is an inside-the-waistband holster offering a timeless design coupled with retention capabilities. Species features a SafariLaminate impact-resistant thermoformed construction, granting superior durability and longevity. In conjunction with the durable exterior, the suede-lined interior gives an enhanced fit while protecting the firearm’s finish. An adjustable, passive trigger-guard-retention system allows for a personalized feel during draw and reholstering. The inclusion of an integrated tension device allows for a tailored fit. Species also adjust for cant and vertical height, maximizing each individual wearer’s comfort.

“Safariland continues to prioritize concealed carry for the responsible citizen,” says Tim Drnec, Safariland’s vice president of marketing. “Following the release of our Schema holster, Species is the next product in Safariland’s new concealment lineup. The new offerings allow owners of today’s newest and most popular firearms to use a holster with retention, great concealment, and comfort.”

The Species IWB holster is now available for the Sig Sauer P365/ P365XL, Glock 43/43X, Springfield Hellcat, and Smith & Wesson Shield/ Shield Plus and can comfortably fit standard 1.5-inch belt widths. $44.99.

(safariland.COM)

By Larry Keane

NSSF’s Government Relations-State Affairs team put some miles on their shoes in all 50 state capitals in 2022. There are significant gains for the firearm and ammunition industry to show for it, too.

Most state legislatures run early, run fast, and complete their work in the first few months of the year. Other state legislatures run throughout the year. That makes it a tall task for the NSSF State Affairs team.

Wyoming continued the state’s tradition of supporting and defending the firearm industry and Second Amendment rights. Republican Gov. Mark Gordon signed the NSSF-supported Second Amendment Protection Act, which prohibits state and local law enforcement from being conscripted to implement federal executive actions of questionable legality with regard to bans of firearms, firearms accessories, magazines, or ammunition. The bill contains harsh criminal penalties (up to a year in jail) if ignored.

In Virginia, NSSF made progress to expand hunter access by opening more hunting opportunities for Sunday hunters. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the NSSF-supported pro-hunting Senate Bill 8 into law. The new law repealed Virginia’s blue laws relating to Sunday hunting on public land and opened nearly 2 million acres of public land for Sunday hunting. Since 2014, Sunday hunting has been legal on private land in Virginia. Now, hunters won’t be restricted to private land hunting only on Sundays.

Hunters in Colorado got a boost, too. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed HB22-1168 into law in a bipartisan signing ceremony. It allows hunter education to be taught in schools across the state. NSSF was recognized by the legislators for our work supporting and bringing sponsors together for the bill. The law creates a statewide curriculum for teaching hunter education classes to seventh graders and above, as an elective course. The courses will be taught by a certified instructor and would meet state instruction requirements.

Georgia hunters also benefited from NSSF efforts this year. Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed HB 1349 into law protecting the state’s vast public hunting lands. Specifically, HB 1349 addresses the state’s current “No-Net-Loss” statute, updating the year, which will result in an additional 200,000 acres of protected public hunting land. “No-Net-Loss” refers to the numbers of baseline acres available for hunting and that no fewer acres shall be available for hunting in the future.

NSSF gave Iowa youth hunters cause to celebrate in 2022. NSSF joined Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds for the official signing of Senate File 2334. This law expands turkey hunting opportunities in Iowa by requiring the DNR to allow the use of .410 bore and 28-gauge shotguns for turkey hunting. It expands the allowable shot size to “shot not smaller than shot size number 10.” When this bill was first introduced, it would have only allowed for the use of .410s with no shot-size adjustment. NSSF worked with the legislature through the process, and the result is a commonsense measure and victory for Iowa hunters. This bill passed with unanimous and bipartisan support.

Vermont joined the list of states allowing the use of suppressors for hunting, an ongoing effort by NSSF’s State Affairs team. Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed S. 281, a law that legalizes suppressor hunting, after it cleared both state legislative chambers. The bipartisan bill, originally relating to hunting coyotes with dogs, was amended to tweak state suppressor laws with the approval of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

Several state governors signed laws for Constitutional Carry or “permitless carry” of concealed firearms by law-abiding gun owners in their respective states. These efforts were supported by NSSF. This pushed the total to 25 states that no longer require law-abiding gun owners to obtain a state-issued concealed carry permit to carry a concealed firearm. Alabama’s Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, Indiana’s Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, and Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp all signed laws recognizing that law-abiding gun owners in their state no longer need to obtain concealed carry permits to exercise their Second Amendment right to carry a firearm outside the home, a right confirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision.

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem delivered on her promise to do away with her state’s fees on concealed carry licenses by signing SB 212 that reduces the cost of South Dakota’s concealed carry permit laws to zero. South Dakota doesn’t require permits to carry concealed firearms but offers permits for reciprocity reasons.

Those are just the highlights. This summary doesn’t include the countless bills introduced annually that NSSF works to defeat that would harm the firearm industry. New legislative sessions are already opening for 2023 and NSSF is back at it, representing the firearm industry in every statehouse in the country.

The Alaskan360 is a .36 caliber suppressor rated up to .338 Lapua for rifles and up to 9mm for pistols and submachine guns. This lightweight suppressor weighs 11.8 ounces with the mount. Made from 17-4 stainless steel and Grade 5 titanium, the Alaskan360 is built for a lifetime of use. This is the first suppressor to use the Rugged Universal Mount, or R.U.M., which offers back-end modularity by allowing the Alaskan360 to work with all Rugged rifle mounts as well as with industry-standard mounts.

“The Alaskan360 is built to handle hard days on the range, backcountry adventures, and anything in between,” says Michael Derdizak, CEO of Rugged Suppressors. “We wanted to create a suppressor that is fullauto rated for a multitude of platforms without sacrificing sound signature nor performance.”

The product’s versatility was a key design factor. “The Alaskan360 and 1/8x24 R.U.M. were designed to provide unsurpassed versatility to the shooter,” says Henry Graham, president of Rugged Suppressors. “This is a very flexible suppressor, integrating with all Rugged rifle end caps. In fact, the R.U.M. is compatible with all Rugged muzzle devices, and it offers a wide range of calibers and platforms.”

As with all Rugged Suppressors, the Alaskan360 is covered by Rugged’s unconditional lifetime warranty. SRP: $1,009. The price includes the R.U.M. Sold separately, the R.U.M’s SRP is $279. Booth

(ruggedsuppressors.COM)

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By offering so many nontoxic ammo options for shotgunners, HEVI-Shot is often misunderstood.

By Slaton L. White

Over the past two decades, HEVI-Shot has become an industry leader in performance shotshell production, so much so that the name is synonymous with high-performance, non-lead projectiles. In 2000, HEVI-Shot started production with the goal of making waterfowl ammo that outperformed steel. To do this, they spent more than a year developing their own alloy mixture using tungsten and other metals. The result was a very heavy pellet far superior to steel. Given its density, it also outperformed lead. These “Heavier Than Lead” pellets are now known as HEVI-Shot’s own recipe of 12 g/cc tungsten pellets. Sometime along the way, HEVI-Shot also started crafting its own bismuth pellets.

As a small company, HEVI-Shot had to rely on outside vendors for components and some manufacturing help. For more than two decades, it did quite well for itself, yet still had challenges caused by this reliance on outside vendors. That changed two years ago when the ammunition powerhouse, Vista Outdoor, purchased HEVI-Shot. This is the same company that owns Federal, Speer/CCI, and Remington Ammunition. Literally overnight, HEVI-Shot had access to quality resources and deep pockets. HEVI-Shot is still located in its original facility in Sweet Home, Oregon, and it operates independently of Vista Outdoor’s other ammo companies. But with access to the expanded resources, courtesy of Vista Outdoor, it is now in a much stronger competitive position.

Over 22 years, the list of products in HEVI-Shot’s catalog got long and complicated, containing many unique product names for each category of specific products. Admittingly, the company knew its catalog of products could make its customers dizzy, and in 2022 it set about reevaluating its catalog, discontinuing many of its convoluted product names and streamlining the product line. Today, HEVI-Shot has approximately 110 specific loadings organized into 13 different product families: six for waterfowl, three for upland, three for turkey, and one for predator.

The key to understanding HEVI-Shot’s product line is grasping the overall strategy of pellet materials and stacked payloads. HEVI-Shot only loads nontoxic pellet materials: steel, bismuth, or tungsten. Of these three shot materials, steel has the lightest density (7.8 g/cc). Bismuth is next (9.6 g/cc), and tungsten is the heaviest (12 g/cc).

 HEVI-Shot only loads nontoxic pellet materials: steel, bismuth, or tungsten. Some shells are stacked to contain multiple shot types in one shell. This stacked, dual-shot design improves a shotgun shell’s performance.

HEVI-Shot also loads a full line of turkey-hunting ammo using ultra-dense tungsten super shot (TSS) pellets that have a density of 18 g/cc. Although HEVI-Shot is justifiably proud of its 12-g/cc tungsten, it decided to listen to its customers by offering turkey loads using sourced TSS.

“The reason has to do with elementary physics,” says Scott Turner, HEVI-Shot and Federal Ammunition shotshell product line manager. “A denser (heavier) material will carry its velocity and penetration energy longer. This means it will hit harder (faster) as well as carrying its lethality (in foot-pounds) out to greater distances, a decided advantage for turkey hunters.”

Density also affects shot size. A one centimeter cube of steel weighs a lot less than a one centimeter cube of bismuth or tungsten. Because bismuth is 22 percent denser than steel, hunters can choose loads that are one size smaller than steel, yet still have the same or better lethality. Using tungsten, hunters can choose three sizes smaller.

According to Turner, a smaller-sized projectible penetrates deeper, enhancing overall lethality. “In other words, No. 9 shot creates a deeper wound channel than the much larger No. 2 shot,” he says. “The size of shot also affects pellet count. You can fit a lot more No. 9s than No. 2s in a three-inch shotgun hull. So, broken down to basics, if you choose a shotshell that features a material that is denser than another, you will benefit by having more downrange energy, deeper penetration, and/or higher pellet counts, which leads to fuller patterns with more hits on target at longer distances.”

 HEVI-Hammer loads contain pellets made up of 85% steel, 15% bismuth. The result is cost-effective improved performance.

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Beyond that, HEVI-Shot shells are loaded with either straight or stacked payloads. A straight payload means the shell contains only one material. A stacked shell contains multiple shot types in one shell. For HEVI-Shot, that means a layer of steel pellets and a layer of bismuth pellets loaded in the same shell. This stacked, dual-shot design improves a shotgun shell’s performance.

To sum up, HEVI-Shot’s three shot materials and two payload types all have a specific purpose in its product line: Steel satisfies customers looking for a less-expensive option that is effective at close and medium distances. A load that has both steel and bismuth is a better solution because a stacked load offers an increase in overall lethal effectiveness, but adds only a modest price increase. Bismuth is slightly more expensive than steel, but its performance is closer to that of lead loads, so a load with 100-percent bismuth is an even better solution. The HEVI-Bismuth line is also safe to shoot through any lead- or steel-rated shotgun due to the malleability of the material. Though more expensive than steel or bismuth, tungsten is by far the most effective of the three at distant targets.

“The sum of the product’s overall quality can only be determined by the quality of each individual part,” Turner says. “For shotshells, that means the hull, primer, powder, wads, shot, and sealants. What sets HEVI-Shot shotshells apart from the competition is all-season reliability and specialized components. HEVI-Shot uses only high-quality hulls and brass head manufacturing materials. Its primers are known for dependable ignition, and its clean-burning propellent reduces powder fouling, which ensures dependable operation of the firearm as well as making gun care easy, quick, and worry-free.

“As hunters, we invest a lot of time, money, and energy to put ourselves in a position of success. HEVI-Shot was founded by passionate hunters with an unquenchable desire for better performance to achieve that edge. Just like the HEVI-Shot founders, you did not come this far to miss!” Booth #11838

(hevishot.COM)

Scott Turner, HEVI-Shot and Federal Ammunition shotshell product line manager offers these tips to help retailers sell the HEVI-Shot line. “Our product line is complex until you break it down by materials,” he says. “But when you break it all down by product family, it is much easier to understand—and much easier to sell.”

HEVI-Steel: 100% precision steel pellets. HEVI-Hammer: 85% steel and 15% Bismuth. HEVI-Metal Longer Range: 70% steel and 30% Bismuth. HEVI-Bismuth: 100% Bismuth HEVI-Metal XTREME: New for 2023: 70% steel and 30% 12.0 tungsten using the FLITECONTROL Flex wad. HEVI-XII and Magnum Blend: 100% of the original 12.0 tungsten HEVI-Shot pellet. HEVI-18: 100% Tungsten Super Shot (TSS)  Heavy-XII and Magnum shotshells contain 100% of the original 12.0 tungsten HEVI-Shot pellets.

By Larry Keane

The dust is mostly settled after the midterm elections. As of this writing, the Georgia Senate runoffs were still undecided, but prognosticators are already arguing about what happened and what it means.

The firearm industry employed a robust #GUNVOTE campaign to ensure voters who care about the Second Amendment were registered to vote, informed, engaged, and turned out at the ballot box. Millions of law-abiding Americans cast their #GUNVOTE.

The single most significant federal outcome from November 8 was Second Amendment-friendly Republicans winning the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. With at least 220 seats, Republicans will control the levers of power over the several congressional committees to determine what legislation will be considered for hearings, what bills will receive votes, and what Congressional investigations will be conducted. Republicans chose Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as their nominee for Speaker of the House and current Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced she would not seek a leadership position. After years of Democratic attacks and gun control grandstanding against the firearm industry, a Republican majority will emphasize the importance of lawful gun ownership and of protecting the Second Amendment.

A major victory came in Nevada where Republican challenger and former Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo unseated incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak, flipping the governor’s mansion red. During his short tenure, Gov. Sisolak signed into law several gun control restrictions, including mandatory firearm storage, implementing “red flag” laws that deny due process rights to the accused, banning certain firearm accessories, and implementing universal background checks on private firearms within the state, among many others. Most importantly, Sheriff Lombardo will provide a needed check against the state legislature in 2023, where both chambers will be controlled by gun-control-friendly Democrats.

Voters in the Hawkeye State overwhelmingly approved a ballot initiative, the Freedom Amendment, to add Second Amendment protections to the state’s constitution. Iowa was one of just six states that lacked constitutional guarantees to protect against state-level gun control efforts but now only five remain: California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York.

The outcome of the Georgia senate runoff election on December 6 means the Democrats will retain control of the Senate. With the election of Sen. Warnock, Democrats have now gained a one-seat majority in the U.S. Senate. This is because Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D-PA) defeated Dr. Mehmet Oz, flipping the Pennsylvania open seat of retiring Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and the Democrats held off challenges in Nevada, Arizona, New Hampshire, and Colorado. Even if Herschel Walker had won the runoff, creating an evenly divided Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris would still hold the tiebreaking vote and Sen. Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) remains in power. Gun control in the Senate is unlikely to garner the required 60 votes to overcome a filibuster despite President Joe Biden’s continued push for another federal ban on so-called “assault weapons.”

While the Nevada governor’s mansion flipped red, Democrats were victorious in Arizona, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Republican Governors. Doug Ducey (R-AZ) and Larry Hogan (R-MD) were term-limited and Charlie Baker (R-MA) declined to run for a third term. Pro-Second Amendment Republicans hold majorities in both legislative bodies in Arizona, and Democrats control both bodies in Maryland and Massachusetts.

Oregon voters narrowly approved Ballot Measure 114 that will enact several gun control measures that will “virtually eliminate the firearm industry.” Ballot Measure 114 expands background check requirements to all firearm transfers, including private transfers, and requires gun owners to pay extra fees, enroll in hands-on firearm training, and submit fingerprinting, photographs, and other data for collection. It requires Oregonians to obtain a permit to purchase a gun even before they can pass an FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) verification and limits ammunition magazine capacity to 10 rounds. Ballot Measure 114 faces several legal challenges, including from NSSF. Numerous Oregon sheriffs have openly declared they will not enforce it, and the lead up to enactment of the new restrictions have spurred skyrocketing firearm sales in Oregon.

Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Witmer won reelection and will now enjoy a Democratic majority in both legislative chambers. It marks the first time in nearly 40 years Democrats will control the state Senate and House, and Michigan will be one of 18 Democratic trifectas in the country. Gov. Witmer is a gun control proponent and will now have legislature support to pass gun control bills unchecked.

To keep up to date on developments in Washington, D.C. and state capitals, be sure to sign up for NSSF’s weekly Government Relations Update.