2013

The United States Carbine Association (USCA) is a new association, their first match was held on St. Patrick’s Day, 2013. The fact that they were able to host their inaugural National Championships in their first year is in and of itself impressive. Then, you add in the match itself, and then the location, and it’s...

Tucked away in an industrial corner of the North East sits Springfield, Massachusetts. 30 minutes north of Hartford, Connecticut and 3 hours from Boston, Springfield may not seem like much, but for IDPA shooters it’s a required pilgrimage. That’s because Springfield is also home to Smith & Wesson, makers of some of the most popular...

Bianchi Cup is different from any match I’ve experienced. It was my first major match, but I don’t think that was it. Even veteran competitors will tell you that Bianchi Cup is different, steeped in tradition with a vast prize table. I’ve been told it’s “what a national championship should feel like.” While I’m new...

After the breakup between Heizer Defense and DoubleTap both companies fell pretty silent. There was some talk about the DoubleTap after SHOT Show 2013, but not the same hubbub as when the companies originally announced their idea. At the NRA Annual Meetings in 2013, however, on display in the Feature Product Center on the second...

Each year companies use the NRA Annual Meetings as an opportunity to roll out new products for consumers. While we spotlight the splash-making Beretta Pico, there are plenty of other interesting and awesome products that just can’t be left out.   Colt Mustang XSP Prestigious firearms manufacturer Colt has released a polymer version of the...

The second floor of the NRA Annual Meetings was a completely different world from the first. While there are still plenty of people, guns to see and celebrities to meet it was not the same giant spread of booths covering acres of convention show floor. Rather, it was set up more as a hallway and...

The NRA Annual Meetings, held in April at the Houston Convention Center in downtown Houston, Texas, were divided up into three floors, each a unique experience. The first floor held the manufacturer booths, the second floor held contests, book signings and a Starbucks and the third floor was full of meeting rooms and offices. The...

Although only half way over, 2013 has seen some major changes taking place in the National Rifle Association. Even while they continue to support their regular demographic they have begun to reach out and embrace newer, younger and different demographics. A change that will help them out in the short run, and may become essential...