The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) recently published data for 2021 gun sales. Based on dealer surveys, there were approximately 5.4 million first time gun buyers in 2021. This is on top of the estimated 8.4 million first time buyers in 2020. So in the last 2 years, there are likely over 13 million new/first time gun owners in the US.

Thirteen million new gun owners, exercising their Second Amendment Rights, is a great thing for sure! First, however, those 13 million need to get training. Get training somewhere, from a reputable instructor that has, at a minimum, reasonable credentials. Not all instructors are equal, so do your homework.

Every gun owner has a different “journey”. I started mine at a very young age. I still remember when I got to carry a BB gun in the woods for the first time when I was 5 years old. My dad taught me safety and the fundamentals. 40+ years later, I’ve shot a lot of ammo! Some learn through military service, a friend, or take classes. Regardless of where you are in your journey, all of us, as gun owners, have a responsibility to become proficient in the use of the firearms we own. Additionally, shooting skills are perishable and taking one class does not make you an expert. We all can get better. Get out and practice. Dry-fire at home. Take another class. Push yourself to learn more.

As a side note, 13+ million new gun owners in 2 years….most purchased handguns. Let’s be conservative and estimate they each bought 100 rounds of ammo….that’s 1.3 BILLION rounds of ammo the industry was not really prepared to produce. Add on to that the increase in ammo purchases by “old” gun owners and you can quickly see why the shortages still exist today.

Today is John Browning’s birthday. Arguably the most important gun designer in history whose legacy continues today. Just a few of the guns he created: Colt M1911, Browning Hi-Power, M2 50 cal machine gun, and the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle. He’s also responsible for the development of numerous cartridges, including the 45 ACP.

One of these days I’m going to make a trip to the Browning Firearms Museum in Ogden, Utah. In the meantime, I guess shooting a couple of his inventions will have to do.

Winchester Model 1897 12 Gauge “Trench Gun”, Remington Model 8 chambered in .32 Remington, Colt Woodman .22 Long Rifle, and Colt M1911A1 .45 ACP

http://www.sheepdogmarksmanship.com

I can’t emphasize this enough.… If you choose to carry a handgun on a regular basis (openly or concealed), spend a little money and get a purpose built gun belt. You’ll be far more likely to actually carry all the time if you have a properly designed belt.

My favorite is the black Nexbelt above because it has a fast, ratchet-like buckle adjustment which makes putting a holster on and taking it off very quick. It also provides a wider range of adjustment than a standard belt with established holes. Most importantly, however, is the stiffness of the belt. These belts carry the weight of your gun much better than a standard belt. The leather Magpul belt above has a stiff plastic liner sewn to the leather to create the rigidity. There are many other brands with similar construction and features, and, much like holsters, shop around and find what works for you.

Just like I wouldn’t recommend using a flimsy nylon holster with a thumb strap as a carry holster, I won’t recommend a flimsy belt that doesn’t hold your holster in place and carry the weight. If you carry, comfort is important. If you’re uncomfortable, you won’t carry. Buy a decent belt and don’t be a sheep.

http://www.sheepdogmarksmanship.com

So I’ve been polishing brass with my little Hornady tumbler for over 20 years. It really used to be red and has cleaned quite a bit of brass over the years. Since there’s alway brass to pick up on the range and I have lots in buckets, I decided I needed an upgrade to something bigger. Enter the Dillion CV 2001. This thing is a beast. Now I need a bigger media separator! As with anything Dillon, it’s a top quality product.

New for 2022, I plan to open the range one Saturday each month (usually the 4th Saturday) to people who have previously attended a class at Sheepdog Marksmanship Training. Cost is $25 per person (targets and use of steel included). You must register in advance on our webpage (so I know who is attending). I will be on the range to offer assistance, provide recommendations, etc, but this is an opportunity for you to train on what you need to work on. These training days will primarily focus on handgun proficiency, but I will also open the rifle line with prior coordination. Contact me with any questions. First Open Training Saturday is January 29th.

August is National Shooting Sports Month. This is the coolest August weather in Texas I can remember so saying it’s “too hot” to go shooting or take a shooting class is no excuse (plus I just added another layer of spray foam to the building so the classroom will be even better). Next weekend’s Intermediate Pistol course is a great opportunity for training and the perfect way to participate in National Shooting Sports Month. I will also address Constitutional Carry for those that haven’t gotten your LTC (still smart to get your LTC though). Sign up at http://www.sheepdogmarksmanship.com

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Super Awesome! Army Marksmanship Unit’s 1LT Amber English wins Gold medal in skeet.

https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/team-usa-s-amber-english-earns-gold-in-the-skeet-women-s-finals

Simple observation, but price and availability of most popular ammo seems to be improving. Price for quality brass 9mm ball ammo online has dropped from the ridiculous $0.80/round range down to $0.40 or less. Steel and aluminum cased ammo even less and prices at Academy are even better. 5.56mm ammo stays on for several days. So…hopefully, the worst is passed us and training won’t be so expensive! It will still be a while before things get closer to “normal” levels, but at least things appear to be headed in the right direction.

So I finally got my new EOTECH Vudu 1-8 precision rifle scope today. Very happy, but getting a new optic often comes with a downside…call it the “scope shuffle”. I use the word “downside” loosely in that replacing a scope on one rifle often shifts that scope to a different rifle, and in this case, the addition of a scope to a third rifle that was lacking one. So out to the range we go to get everything zeroed in.

The new scope is great. Super clear glass and I really like the HC3 reticle and the .5MOA illuminated dot. Adjustments are crisp and zeroing out the turrets is quick and easy.

Nice day to shoot a few rounds and get everything zeroed. Keep a look out for future rifle classes! You will enjoy the environment and range.

Please take a few minutes to comment on the ATF’s proposal to ban Pistol Braces and reclassify those weapons as Short-barreled Rifles. This redefinition of a rifle will instantly make upwards of 10 million law abiding gun owners into felons and do NOTHING to reduce crime. By the ATF’s own admission, Pistols with braces have only been used TWICE in mass shootings. 2 out of 10 million+. This isn’t about reducing guns in the hand of criminals. It is only about CONTROL of law abiding citizens. Watch Colion’s video below and share with everyone. Comment on the ATF’s proposed rule and contact your senators.