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ISRA Thursday Bulletin - January 25, 2018
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Executive Directors Message
I am at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) for a few days. The SHOT Show is for FFL dealers, the press, range operators, law enforcement and the military. There will be 60,000 - 70,000 people here. The general public is excluded. There are no sales here, only orders taken for later shipment.
Flying out to the SHOT Show is always interesting. The waiting area for the Las Vegas bound plane is always fun. One can just look around at the people and feel you are in the right place. There are a few snowflakes, but if you are in the airplane hijacking business you might want to try another flight. Monday was Range Day for invited folks; luckily, I was one of those. There are opportunities to shoot the latest stuff and I always look for the new items from Illinois companies. My first stop was Lewis Machine and Tool (LMT) from Milan, Illinois. LMT has an AR15 in .224 Valkyrie. The .224 Valkyrie is based on a .223 case that has been shortened so it can accommodate a 90 grain bullet. I was using Federal ammunition with a muzzle velocity of 2700 feet per second and a ballistic coefficient of .563, according to the box. The rifle was equipped with a mil dot scope. Hitting steel plates at 100, 200 and 300 yards was easy. Ok, I missed two shots at 300 yards but it had to be the cross wind. It couldn’t possibly have been me. This is an excellent round for hunting. Prairie dogs beware! The next stop was Springfield Armory and their new 911 model in .380 and based on a miniature 1911 design; obviously designed for concealed carry, the 911 shot very well. The trigger was excellent and the safety is operated below the slide. That means the safety can be on and you can still pull the slide back for unloading and clearing malfunctions. Nice. I then tested the XDs in .45 caliber, with the improved grip. While I like 9mm, I have always felt you should care enough to send the very best, particularly if you have only a few bullets. I loved it. I have no idea how they managed it, but I found pulling back the slide very easy. I will have more gun tests later, but that will have to wait until next week. I want to tell you, I was very moved by the veterans I encountered at the SHOT Show. It is common to see vets with one or more artificial limbs, some in wheelchairs or with service dogs (or both), but all supporting the Second Amendment. Whatever time you read this, I want you to look at your watch and think about this: somewhere in the world there are American soldiers, dirty, grimy and tired, coming back from a mission. Before getting some sleep, they clean their weapons, eat, shower and get ready to do it all over again tomorrow. At the same time, others are going out on patrol. It will be hours before they get back, when they, too, will be tired, dirty and grimy. Others are bringing up supplies, gathering intelligence, loading aircraft, patrolling the seas, flying missions and tending to the wounded. These are all 24 hour a day operations. Some may have been killed. Someone has to take care of them and also inform their families. Those left behind also sacrifice. I want you to think about all of those serving in our wonderful military and their families, thank them and keep them in your thoughts. Then, I want you to think about all of those Congressmen who voted against funding our military, even for a moment, just to make a political point. Keep them in your thoughts also. Thanks for being a member. The Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (ISRA-PVF) is the state and local Political Action Committee (PAC) affiliated with the ISRA. The ISRA-PVF acts as an educational resource, advising voters on the suitability of candidates for public office. We also supply financial and logistical support of the candidates for public office who share our views on the right to keep and bear arms. If you are interested in helping with this mission, please consider making a PVF donation. Donations to the ISRA-PVF are NOT tax deductible and are subject to the rules and regulations of the Illinois State Board of Elections. A copy of our report is available for a fee from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois. Upcoming events: ISRA Calendar For information, visit www.isra.org Saturday, January 27, 2018 AR15 Instructional Class Wednesday, January 31, 2018 ISRA Wednesday Night Air Gun League ISRA 10 Meter International Air Pistol League Saturday, February 3, 2018 Range Work Day Women’s Only Basic Pistol Class Saturday & Sunday, February 10 & 11, 2018 Defensive Tradecraft LLC and ISRA IL CCL Course Check out ISRA's webite at www.isra.org! Tell us what you think! |
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