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MAY 28, 2020

Effective June 1, American Outdoor Brands Corporation will change its name to Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. The change reflects the spin-off of its outdoor products and accessories as a tax free stock distribution to stockholders in late summer. That change will create two independent, publicly traded companies: Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (the firearms business) and American Outdoor Brands, Inc. (the outdoor products and accessories business). The company’s common shares will continue to be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select exchange under the new symbol “SWBI” beginning at the market opening on Monday, June 1, 2020.
Rock River Arms has announced an addition to the company's expanding lineup of AR-platform pistols. The new RUK-9BT has a 4.5" chrome-lined barrel chambered in 9x19mm, a free-float handguard and SB Tactical SBA3 brace.
Faxon Firearms hosted a Fundraiser for the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation. Faxon has created Limited Edition T-shirts to support the foundation that provides scholarships to students that have lost a parent in the line of duty.

Primary Arms Government Division announced that it will be acting as the newest GLOCK Law Enforcement Distributor for the state of Texas. The firm will now be a provider of GLOCK products and services including the GLOCK Blue Label Program in the state.
The John Bartolo show recently hosted Jeff Siegel, Media Lodge CEO for a discussion about the firearms industry, media and the current state of both.
High Speed Gear expanded its duty line of gear with two new products, the Duty Triple Pistol TACO and the Duty Double Pistol TACO – Covered Plus. They meet LE demand allowing carry of additional magazines or to fit high capacity pistol mags.

Kopfjäger announced the release of the SDR (small diameter rifle) grip. This durable silicone grip can be attached to Kopfjäger’s classic Reaper Grip to accommodate smaller-sized rifles such as youth rifles, air rifles and pellet guns.
Safariland Training Academy, in collaboration with Police One, presents a series of 23 free online training sessions for law enforcement, focused on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new “Buy Now” feature on the firearm product pages, powered by Gearfire, allows the consumer to enter a zip code, and select an authorized SIG SAUER dealer in their region they can buy directly from.

5.11, Inc. announced it is gradually reopening its United States-based retail stores in light of the restriction lifts surrounding COVID-19. Each of 5.11’s 66 company-owned stores will be opening on a case-by-case basis in accordance with all federal, state and local health and safety protocols.
 

Part of learning how to defend yourself with a firearm is learning how to shoot it accurately. In the beginning you’re focusing on the fundamentals of marksmanship, or zeroing a weapon, so there’s nothing wrong with using “bulls eye” type targets. At some point you shift to defensive “accuracy,” which requires a different type target.

Flat two-dimensional targets are fine for target shooting. I use a lot of them for teaching, especially in the beginning. They have a human shape, and you can locate the various zones of the body – pelvis, chest and head. They aren’t that expensive, and are easy to store and transport. To help with defensive work I stencil the head with eyes, nose and mouth. Head shots are generally for special occasions – that’s all you can see to engage or you need the immediate incapacitation a proper headshot produces, most of the time. Normally you get one opportunity for this shot; regardless of why you’re making a head shot it has to be “accurate.” In this case we’re talking surgical accuracy. From a frontal view of the head the hit needs to be placed in the ocular cavity, right between the eyes and nose. Adding a little more anatomy to the target provides a more realistic expectation of where the shot should place.

I’m also a fan of negative targets. Take a cardboard target and cut out the appropriate size hole in the proper location. Your goal is to place all the hits through the hole; no hits on the cardboard. “But,” they say, “I can’t see my hits.” This is as it should be. You won’t see them in real life either. The threat is moving as you fire, and remember they have clothes covering the body. (Covering your targets with old t-shirts is a great way to add realism, and hide the hits.). Negative targets get you out of the habit of looking for the hits, which wastes time. The threat will let you know when you’ve hit them often and well enough.

It’s interesting that most people shoot more accurately and efficiently with negative targets. When you give them a small point of aim, like a four-inch diamond, they try too hard, and will scatter the shots all about. With a negative target I normally see their group size decline, significantly. It’s sort of ironic – to shoot accurately you can’t be thinking about hitting the target.

The ultimate targets for defensive training/practice are 3-D, human shaped. It will be rare for the threat(s) to be there squared up in position right in front of you. Angular views are much more common. 3-D targets add realism – closer to the actual shape of a person. Placing a cardboard target behind the 3-D shape allow you engage different parts of the body from various angles, then check the cardboard to see if the shots are going “center mass.” 3-D targets come in a variety of types, such as hard-shell plastic and the ones made from dense rubber – all are well worth the cost.

The goal of defensive shooting is to be as accurate as required in the shortest time necessary. It’s all about regulating your speed. For example with chest shots you’re looking for a six-inch group. Firing from three yards should be much quicker than your speed from twenty yards. The group size should remain the same; the pace will vary, especially when engaging different parts of the body. Defensive training and practice should be with targets that are appropriate for this application. Plus, working with different targets adds a little variety, which is always fun and challenging.

Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, which is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. He is the author of The Book of Two Guns, AR-15 Skills and Drills, has a regular column in American Handgunner and makes some cool knives and custom revolvers. Visit Shootrite’s Facebook page for other details.

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