>> JIM: THIS TIME, IT'S DRAG RACING WITH GUNS. FAST STRINGS OF FIRE AT THE US STEEL NATIONALS. PLUS, THE COLT 1878, NOW ONE OF HISTORY'S GUNS. AND WORLD-CLASS TRAINING WITH THREE WORLD CHAMPS IN LAS VEGAS. >> ANNC: THIS IS SHOOTING USA. REPORTING THE STORIES OF AMERICA'S SHOOTING SPORTS. >> JIM: OF ALL THE VARIATIONS OF THE PRACTICAL PISTOL SPORTS, THE ONE THOUGHT OF AS THE FASTEST IS STEEL SHOOTING. HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU DRAW AND SHOOT FIVE STEEL TARGETS? WELL, IT SEEMS SIMPLE ENOUGH, BUT WHEN YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF THE SPORT IT COMES DOWN TO HUNDREDTHS OF SECONDS. IT'S LIGHTNING QUICK BANG AND CLANG ACTION, BUT AS STEEL SHOOTING HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE RIMFIRE PISTOLS AND RIFLES, STEEL HAS BECOME A WELCOMING FORMAT FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS, AND ALL AGES, WITH ENTIRE FAMILIES ATTRACTED TO THE SPORT. JOHN SCOUTTEN TAKES US TO DAYTONA FLORIDA FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS OF THE US STEEL NATIONALS. >> JOHN: THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND OF THE START SIGNAL AND A CLEAN RUN ON STEEL, FIVE SHOTS, FIVE HITS. THIS IS STEEL SHOOTING, STAND IN THE BOX, WAIT FOR THE BEEP, DRAW AND SHOOT FIVE STEEL TARGETS AS FAST AS YOU CAN, DO IT FIVE TIMES AND KEEP YOUR BEST FOUR TIMES FOR SCORE. AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL SHOOTERS ARE SPLITTING HUNDREDTHS OF SECONDS PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER IN AS LITTLE AS A SECOND AND A HALF. BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE FASTEST GUNS HERE, THIS IS A SPORT FOR EVERYONE, MAN OR WOMAN, YOUNG OR OLD, THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU IN STEEL SHOOTING THAT ATTRACTS THE INDUSTRY SUPPORT THAT MAKES THE MATCH HAPPEN. >> SEAN: WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ALL OF OUR SPONSORS, ESPECIALLY SMITH & WESSON, WHICH THEY'VE SPONSORED THIS EVENT SINCE THE BEGINNING. >> JOHN: THE PRIMARY REASON THE GUN COMPANIES, LIKE SMITH & WESSON, WANT TO BE INVOLVED HERE IS THAT THERE ARE DIVISIONS FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY GUN OUT THERE. BECAUSE THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY TWO MATCHES THAT MAKE UP THE US STEEL NATIONALS DIFFERENTIATED BY THE AMMUNITION: RIMFIRE AND CENTERFIRE. THERE ARE RIMFIRE PISTOLS, REVOLVERS, AND EVEN RIFLES, EITHER WITH OPTICS OR WITHOUT. IN MY CASE IT'S A SMITH & WESSON M&P 15-22 SPORT. AND THE SAME GOES FOR THE CENTERFIRE GUNS, REVOLVERS AND SEMI AUTOS, OPTICS OR IRON SIGHTS, ALL ARE WELCOME AND HAVE A DIVISION IN STEEL SHOOTING. THE KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIMFIRE AND CENTERFIRE, RIMFIRE STRINGS START FROM THE LOW READY ELIMINATING THE DRAW. MAKING THIS DIVISION IDEAL FOR NEW SHOOTERS, LIKE SIX YEAR OLD VENICE OLIVER. >> VENICE: I LIKE SHOOTING. >> JOHN: DAD, RON, IS A REGULAR FRONT RUNNER IN THE RIMFIRE OPEN CARBINE DIVISION; HIS SKILLS ARE CLEARLY RUBBING OFF ON VENICE. >> RON: GOOD JOB. >> VENICE: OKAY, GOTCHA. >> RON: GOT ME. THAT WAS AN AWESOME RUN, YEA. >> JOHN: THE OLIVERS AREN'T THE ONLY FAMILY WITH STEEL SHOOTING IN THE BLOOD; MAX FRIEDMAN ENJOYS THIS MATCH AS PART OF HIS SPRING BREAK. >> MAX: WE COME HERE EVERY YEAR AND ALSO MY FAMILY, WE ALWAYS COME DOWN HERE AND WE MAKE IT INTO A VACATION. >> JOHN: A SHOOTING VACATION EVERY YEAR THAT MAX AND HIS FAMILY CAN PLAN ON. SOMETHING EVERYONE ELSE CAN PLAN ON, THE EIGHT COURSES OF FIRE THAT MAKE UP THE STEEL NATIONALS. COMPRISED OF FOUR TARGET STEEL AND THE STOP PLATE. THE STEEL WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OF THREE SHAPES AND SIZES, THE 10 INCH ROUND PLATE. THE 12 INCH ROUND PLATE OR THE 18 BY 24 INCH RECTANGLE. BETWEEN SHOOTERS ALL OF THE STEEL IS REPAINTED TO GIVE EACH COMPETITOR A CLEAN LOOK AT THE TARGETS. THE STEEL SHOOTING FORMAT IS ALSO VERY ACCESSIBLE FOR ADAPTIVE SHOOTERS, LIKE DAN JORDAN PUTTING TOGETHER SOME SOLID STRINGS ON THE STAGE FIVE TO GO. ANOTHER LONG TIME STEEL COMPETITOR IS TREVOR BAUCOM, THIS TIME HE'S GIVING THE RIMFIRE RIFLE A TRY. >> TREVOR: THE RIFLE'S FUN, IT'S NEW, BUT IT'S FUN. >> JOHN: IT IS A LOT OF FUN, BUT THERE IS A SERIOUS FIGHT FOR THE WIN GOING ON HERE. MAX MICHEL IS TAKING NO PRISONERS ON THE STAGE SPEED OPTION, HIS BEST FOUR STRINGS TOTAL 8.16 SECONDS, ALMOST HALF A SECOND FASTER THAN THE NEXT CLOSEST SHOOTER. IT'S PERFORMANCES LIKE THIS THAT GIVE MAX THE OVERALL WIN IN THE RIMFIRE DIVISION BY NEARLY FOUR SECONDS. WE'RE NOT DONE AT THE US STEEL NATIONALS YET. TONY PIGNATO JOINS US FOR COVERAGE OF THE CENTERFIRE MATCH. >> TONY: AND WE HAVE THAT ACTION COMING UP NEXT. JIM: SHOOTING USA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> JOHN: THE US STEEL NATIONALS IS MADE UP OF TWO MATCHES, THE RIMFIRE AND THE CENTERFIRE. >> TONY: THERE ARE A LOT OF DIVISIONS IN THE CENTERFIRE MATCH AND IT LASTS TWO FULL DAYS. OUR DAY ONE COVERAGE STARTS NOW. >> JOHN: DAY TWO OF THE US STEEL NATIONALS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTERFIRE MATCH. >> TONY: KEY DIFFERENCES HERE BESIDES THE CALIBER IS THAT SHOOTERS MUST NOW DRAW FROM THE WRISTS ABOVE SHOULDERS ALSO KNOWN AS THE SURRENDER STARTING POSITION. >> JOHN: THE MAJORITY OF THE SHOOTERS WILL CHOOSE THEIR IRON SIGHTED GUNS FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE CENTERFIRE MATCH, LIMITED DIVISION, PRODUCTION DIVISION AND REVOLVERS ARE ALL SEEN ON THE STAGES. >> TONY: THE GUN COMPANIES HAVE SENT THEIR TOP PRO SHOOTERS TO RACE FOR THE WIN AND SHOW OFF THE LATEST OFFERINGS. >> JOHN: SMITH & WESSON HAS A PAIR OF WORLD CLASS REVOLVER SHOOTERS WEARING THE TEAM JERSEYS, LEAD BY DAVID OLHASSO. >> TONY: AND DAVID GETS RIGHT TO WORK ON THE STAGE ROUNDABOUT. >> JOHN: HE'S GETTING FASTER SHAVING HUNDREDTHS OF SECONDS OFF EACH STRING OF FIRE. >> TONY: ALL OF THESE STRINGS ARE KEEPERS AND NOW HE CAN LET IT RIP. >> JOHN: IT WAS QUICK, BUT THERE WAS A MISS, THE THREE SECOND PENALTY DOESN'T HURT HIM, THAT'S THE THROW AWAY. PUSHED IT A LITTLE BIT? >> DAVID: WELL, LAST RUN, I HAD FOUR CLEAN RUNS SO YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET FOUR CLEAN ONES YOU CAN EITHER DO ANOTHER CLEAN ONE OR YOU CAN TRY AND BE A HERO. YOU LOSE A LITTLE IF YOU'RE A HERO AND IT FALLS DOWN, BUT IF YOU HOOK UP YOU GAIN A COUPLE TENTHS, SO I LOST THE LAST ONE, BUT I GOT THE FIRST 20 SHOTS HIT SO THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. >> TONY: JOSH LENTZ IS ALSO RUNNING IN THE SMITH & WESSON BLUE, AS A DECORATED CHAMPION IN IDPA, JOSH IS FINDING HIS WAY IN STEEL SHOOTING. >> JOHN: WOW, HE TOOK OVER A TENTH OF A SECOND OFF ON THAT STRING, MATCHING DAVID'S PACE. AFTER HIS LAST SHOTS FLY JOSH IS JUST A FRACTION OFF OF THE PACE SET BY TEAMMATE DAVID. >> JOSH: ROUNDABOUT WENT PRETTY WELL, COMING INTO THIS EVENT I DON'T REALLY PRACTICE IT, THIS IS ONLY MY SECOND STEEL CHALLENGE COMPETITION. SO I AM JUST COMING OUT HERE AND JUST SHOOTING, LOOKING AT MY SIGHTS AND JUST SHOOTING THE GUN. I'M HAPPY WITH MY PERFORMANCE SO FAR. >> TONY: MARK ITZSTEIN ALSO HAS A LONG RESUME WITH A WHEEL GUN. HE IS POISED TO PLAY THE ROLE OF SPOILER AND THE OTHERS KNOW IT. >> DAVID: MARK'S BEEN PRACTICING LIKE A FIEND, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GIVE HIM A JOB SO HE CAN STOP PRACTICING ALL DAY LONG. >> JOHN: MARK'S FIRST TWO STRINGS OF FIRE ARE OFF THE 2.7 SECOND PACE. THAT'S MORE LIKE IT. AND STRING FOUR IS THE FASTEST WE'VE SEEN, A 247! >> TONY: AND THAT 334 IS THE THROW AWAY. >> MARK: ROUNDABOUT HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME IN THE PAST, SO I PUSHED IT, I HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD RUNS AND A COUPLE NOT SO GOOD RUNS, BUT I THINK WE ALL FINISHED UP WITHIN TWO TENTHS OF A SECOND. >> JOHN: THREE SIMILAR RESULTS FROM THREE SIMILAR GUNS. BUT MARK'S SMITH & WESSON TITANIUM AND SCANDIUM MODEL 327 HAS ONE KEY DIFFERENCE, THE CALIBER. 38 LONG COLT? >> MARK: YEA, LAST YEAR I SHOT .38 SPECIAL WITH A LIGHT BULLET AND A LITTLE BIT OF POWDER IF YOU COME OUT OF THE DRAW TO FAST ALL OF THE POWDER RUSHES TO THE FRONT OF THE CASE AND YOU CAN GET SQUIBS AND YOU'LL DEFINITELY GET A LIGHT SHOT. SO LAST YEAR THERE WAS A LOT OF GIGGLING AND JOKING BECAUSE APPARENTLY MY SHOTS WERE A LITTLE BIT LIGHT. >> TONY: FOR DAVID, IT'S THE NEW 9MM OFFERING, THE MODEL 929. >> DAVID: IT WAS REALLY A QUESTION OF WHETHER IT WOULD WORK, MY OLD USPSA GUN WAS A HAND BUILT GUN, SO I WENT TO A FACTORY GUN NOW, SO THE 929 IS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE. IT'S A LITTLE BIT HEAVIER GOING OUT AND I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE DRAWS. BUT THE TIMER TELLS THE TRUTH, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. SO I AM REALLY HAPPY WITH THE GUN. >> JOHN: LIKE MARK, DAVID HAS ADDED A HOGUE CUSTOM BIG BUTT GRIP AND CUSTOM SIGHTS. >> DAVID: HOGUE GRIP AND SIGHTS ON THE GUN PRETTY MUCH, IT'S GOT A DAWSON FRONT AND A BOWEN REAR, THAT BOWEN REAR IS REALLY COOL IT GIVES A NICE CRISP SIGHT PICTURE. >> TONY: JOSH IS ALSO RUNNING THE NEW SMITH & WESSON MODEL 929. >> JOSH: I WANTED TO USE A NEW GUN. I GOT IT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT GUN, TITANIUM CYLINDER IS GREAT, ACCURACY IS GREAT, JUST FACTORY CONFIGURATION AND I AM LIKING IT SO FAR. >> JOHN: LIKE THE OTHERS JOSH ALSO HAS A CUSTOM SIGHT COMBINATION. >> JOSH: I HAVE IX-S FRONT SIGHT, I HAVE THOSE STANDARD ON ALL MY GUNS. AND A BOWMAN REAR SIGHT. >> TONY: AS THE TRIO OF WHEEL GUNNERS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE FINAL STAGE FOR THEIR MATCH, IT'S JOSH WITH A LITTLE OVER FIVE SECOND LEAD ON MARK AND ALMOST TEN SECONDS ON DAVID. >> JOHN: IT PUTS JOSH IN A GOOD POSITION TO TIE UP THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE IRON SIGHT REVOLVER DIVISION. >> TONY: THE STAGE SHOWDOWN HAS TWO SHOOTING POSITIONS; THREE STRINGS ARE FIRED FROM ONE AND TWO FROM THE OTHER. >> JOHN: EVEN WITH A LITTLE AFTERNOON RAIN, JOSH IS ON CRUISE CONTROL. AND THAT WAS JOSH'S THIRD STRING FROM THE LEFT SIDE BOX, HE HAS TO MOVE NOW. >> TONY: AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE. >> JOHN: ONE OF HIS 3.5 ONES GETS THROWN OUT AND JOSH LOCKS UP THE WIN WITH A 12.98 FOR THE STAGE. AFTER THAT EXCLAMATION POINT ON HIS FINAL STAGE, JOSH LENTZ CAPTURES THE IRON SIGHT REVOLVER CHAMPIONSHIP IN STYLE, ALMOST SIX SECONDS AHEAD OF MARK ITZSTEIN. >> TONY: IN THE LIMITED DIVISION, IT'S ALL BJ NORRIS, AND IN THE PRODUCTION DIVISION, IT'S DAVE SEVIGNY. >> JOHN: MAX MICHEL WAS HOT EARLY SETTING A NEW SUB SEVEN SECOND RECORD ON SMOKE AND HOPE, BUT CONSISTENT SHOOTING THROUGHOUT GIVES THE WIN TO DAVE. >> TONY: NEXT, IT'S THE FASTEST GUNS IN THE MATCH! THE OPEN DIVISION IS ON DECK, STAY WITH US. JIM: SHOOTING USA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> JOHN: IT'S THE FINAL DAY OF THE US STEEL NATIONALS. THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE OPEN GUNS SEE TIME ON THE RANGE. >> TONY: DOT OPTICS AND COMPENSATORS ARE THE NORM, WITH EVERYONE FIGHTING FOR EACH SPLIT SECOND, IN HOPES OF CAPTURING THE TITLE "NATIONAL CHAMPION." >> JOHN: DAY THREE AND MOTHER NATURE HAS THROWN A CURVE BALL, RAIN DROPS AND RED DOTS GENERALLY DON'T MIX. >> MAX: I DON'T MIND THE RAIN, I REALLY DON'T. I AM SOUTHERN BOY FROM LOUISIANA AND WE DON'T MIND GETTING DIRTY, IF IT RAINS IT'S NO PROBLEM. >> TONY: AND IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL. >> JOHN: HE CLEARLY ISN'T BOTHERED BY THE RAIN. MAX IS LAYING DOWN THE FASTEST STRING SEEN ON THE STAGE. EASILY A TENTH OF A SECOND FASTER PER STRING THAN THE REST OF THE FIELD. THAT'S HIS FIRST BOBBLE, STILL A 194. >> TONY: THIS WILL BE HIS THROW AWAY, MAX'S BEST FOUR TOTAL 7.34, THE BEST FOR THE DIVISION. >> JOHN: ON THE STAGE ROUNDABOUT, THE SKIES HAVE CLEARED AND KACI COCHRAN IS MAKING IT KNOWN THAT SHE INTENDS TO UNSEAT THE DEFENDING LADIES OPEN DIVISION CHAMPION, JESSIE DUFF. >> TONY: AND THIS IS THE KIND OF SHOOTING THAT WILL DO JUST THAT. A SLIGHT STUMBLE THERE. >> JOHN: THAT'S A GREAT RECOVERY, FINAL STRING. SOLID. KACI'S BEST FOUR TOTAL 9.28. >> TONY: JESSIE KNOWS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND ROUNDABOUT IS HISTORICALLY ONE OF HER STRONGER STAGES, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW SHE WANTS TO START. >> JOHN: SHE IS GETTING FASTER WITH EVERY STRING, BUT THESE NEED TO BE SUB 2.3 TO CATCH KACI. FINAL STRING NOW AND SHE NEEDS A GOOD ONE. THAT'S THE STUFF, JESSIE'S BEST FOUR TOTAL 9.78, GIVING THE EDGE TO KACI. >> TONY: ON THE STAGE SPEED OPTION, THE TRIO OF ELITE REVOLVER SHOOTERS IS BATTLING IT OUT, THIS TIME WITH RED DOT OPTICS ON THEIR WHEEL GUNS. >> JOHN: MARK ITZSTEIN GETS THE BALL ROLLING ON THE STAGE, BUT QUICKLY FINDS HIMSELF MAKING PICK UP SHOTS. >> TONY: WITH ONLY EIGHT SHOTS IN THE CYLINDER THERE ISN'T AS MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR. >> JOHN: THAT'S A SOLID FINISH; HE THROWS OUT THAT SEVEN SHOT 468. >> TONY: NEXT UP IS JOSH, STRING ONE HAS ONE PICK UP SHOT, BUT IT'S QUICK. >> JOHN: THAT'S MORE LIKE WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR. >> TONY: BUT THIS ISN'T, THAT WAS AN EIGHT SHOT STRING, DANGER CLOSE TO A RELOAD. >> JOHN: AND UNLESS YOU'RE JERRY MICULEK, A RELOAD IS GOING TO ADD OVER A SECOND. THAT'S THE WAY TO RECOVER; JOSH THROWS OUT THAT EIGHT SHOT 548 AND EDGES BY MARK BY EIGHTEEN HUNDREDTHS OF A SECOND. >> TONY: DAVID OLHASSO IS NEXT. AND IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT HE DIDN'T INTEND TO START OFF WITH A SEVEN SHOT STRING. >> JOHN: HE NEEDS THESE NEXT TWO STRINGS TO BE SOLID. HE'S GETTING FASTER, SHAVING HUNDREDS OF SECONDS OFF EACH STRING OF FIRE. >> TONY: THAT IS THE WAY TO FINISH, HIS FOUR KEEPERS TOTAL 13.68. >> JOHN: IT'S A BATTLE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER FOR THE MEN OF THE OPEN DIVISION. >> TONY: IT TURNED INTO A THREE-WAY SPRINT BETWEEN BJ NORRIS, KC EUSEBIO, AND MAX MICHEL. >> JOHN: AFTER SEPARATING HIMSELF EARLY, MAX HAS ALLOWED THE OTHER TWO BACK INTO THE RACE, BUT ROUNDABOUT IS A STAGE HE TYPICALLY DOMINATES. >> TONY: AND HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE THAT TREND. IT'S AN AMAZING EFFORT, HIS THROW AWAY IS A 207, ANOTHER BEST FOR THE MATCH PERFORMANCE FOR MAX MICHEL. >> MAX: ROUNDABOUT WENT WELL, I HAD TO EAT ONE PICK UP SHOT BUT IT WAS A QUICK PICK UP SO EVERY RUN WAS LESS THAN TWO SECONDS AND THAT'S ALL I CAN ASK FOR GOING IN. >> JOHN: THE OPEN DIVISION STANDINGS AFTER SEVEN STAGES TELL THE STORY, WITH KC LESS THAN A SECOND AHEAD OF BJ, AND MAX A LITTLE OVER TWO SECONDS BEHIND IN THIRD. OUTER LIMITS IS THE FINAL STAGE, THIS TIME IT'S FOUR STRINGS OF FIRE, WITH THE BEST THREE FOR SCORE. >> TONY: THE SHOOTERS MUST MOVE BETWEEN THE SHOOTING BOXES, IT'S A TOUGH STAGE TO MAKE UP GROUND ON. >> JOHN: MAX LEAVES IT ALL ON THE RANGE, POSTING AN ASTOUNDING TIME, 11.17, BUT HE WILL NEED SOME SERIOUS DISASTERS FROM THE OTHERS TO HAVE A CHANCE. >> TONY: NOW IT'S BJ, AND A SOLID SET OF THREE STRINGS COULD BE ENOUGH TO PUT THE PRESSURE BACK ON KC FOR THE TITLE. >> JOHN: OH, THESE EXTRAS DON'T HELP. HE'S GOT TO BE CLEAN ON THE FINAL TWO STRINGS. >> TONY: A COUPLE OF PICK UPS THERE ADD TIME, BJ'S BEST THREE TOTAL 11.74. >> JOHN: KC NEEDS AT LEAST A 1251 TOTAL HERE TO LOCK UP THIS CHAMPIONSHIP. >> TONY: MORE EXTRAS IN STRING 2. AND AGAIN IN STRING 3. >> JOHN: FINAL STRING NOW... AND HE'S DONE IT. THE THREE KEEPERS TOTAL 12.17, GOOD ENOUGH TO GIVE KC THE WIN. THE RESULTS FOR THE OPEN DIVISION REVOLVERS SHOW DAVID OLHASSO ON TOP, ALMOST FOUR AND A HALF SECONDS AHEAD OF SECOND PLACE. >> TONY: IN THE RACE FOR THE OPEN DIVISION SEMI AUTOS IT ENDS UP BEING A CLOSE ONE, WITH KC HOLDING ON. BJ NORRIS IN SECOND, JUST LESS THAN FOUR-TENTHS OF A SECOND BACK AND MAX MICHEL OVER TWO SECONDS BACK IN THIRD. >> JOHN: A GREAT PERFORMANCE FROM KC. COMING NEXT, JIM'S BACK WITH THE DOUBLE ACTION ARMY. COLT'S FAMED REVOLVER THAT CAME AFTER THE PEACEMAKER. AND LATER, WORLD-CLASS TRAINING WITH THREE WORLD CHAMPS AT MAX MICHEL'S PRO SHOOTER EXPERIENCE IN LAS VEGAS. JIM: SHOOTING USA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> JIM: THE 1873 SINGLE ACTION ARMY, THE PEACEMAKER, THE COLT MOST OFTEN THOUGHT OF AS THE GUN THAT WON THE WEST, BUT THAT WASN'T ALL COLT WAS DOING IN THE 1870'S. FIVE YEARS AFTER THE PEACEMAKER WAS INTRODUCED, COLT FOLLOWED THE NEW TREND IN EUROPE, WITH A DOUBLE ACTION. IT GOT A NEW NAME, THE FRONTIER, BUT IT WAS NOT NEARLY AS SUCCESSFUL ON THE FRONTIER AS THE PEACEMAKER. THE MODEL OF 1878 IS NOW ONE OF HISTORY'S GUNS. NO DOUBT THIS REVOLVER LOOKS FAMILIAR AND THERE'S GOOD REASON FOR THAT. IT WAS PATENTED BY COLT IN THE LATE 1870'S, BUT IT'S NOT THE GUN THAT WON THE WEST THE LEGENDARY SINGLE ACTION ARMY. THIS IS CLEARLY A DOUBLE ACTION, THE COLT MODEL OF 1878. >> GARRY: AS YOU CAN TELL, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A RELATIONSHIP TO THE COLT SINGLE ACTION. FROM THIS POINT ON, IT LOOKS LIKE A COLT SINGLE ACTION, BUT THEN AGAIN, ONCE YOU REMOVE YOUR HAND, YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE SOME MAJOR DIFFERENCES. YOU KNOW, THE SHAPE OF THE FRAME IS DIFFERENT TO ACCOMMODATE THE MECHANISM. OF COURSE, IT HAS THE BIRD'S HEAD GRIP OR AS THE BRITS CALLED IT, THE PARROT'S BEAK GRIP. OF COURSE, THE GUN CAN BE FIRED SINGLE ACTION AS WELL. >> JIM: COLT DEBUTED THIS DOUBLE ACTION JUST FIVE YEARS AFTER THE SINGLE ACTION ARMY AND BRANDED ITS NEW REVOLVER WITH A WILD WEST NAME AIMING TO SELL THE BLACK POWDER SIX-GUN TO COWBOYS AND LAWMEN. BUT THE FRONTIER, AS COLT CALLED ITS NEW DOUBLE ACTION, DID NOT CATCH FIRE IN THE WEST, NOR DID OTHER DA'S, DOUBLE ACTIONS OF THE PERIOD, DUE LARGELY TO THE SUCCESS OF COLT'S OWN SINGLE ACTION. >> GARRY: YEAH, THE US WAS KIND OF A JOHNNY COME LATELY WHEN IT INVOLVED DOUBLE ACTIONS. AND THE BRITS AND THE BELGIANS, ESPECIALLY, CUT RIGHT THROUGH TO THE CHASE ON THIS AND CAME UP WITH SOME PRETTY DARN GOOD DA'S RIGHT AWAY. >> JIM: WITH LITTLE SUCCESS IN THE AMERICAN MARKET, COLT SET ITS SIGHTS ON EUROPE AND ESPECIALLY GREAT BRITAIN. THE BRITS WERE ALREADY USING DOUBLE ACTIONS, AND THE PARROT BEAK GRIP ON THE 1878 WAS A LOT LIKE SEVERAL BRITISH DESIGNS. A GOOD MANY OF HER MAJESTY'S MILITARY OFFICERS BOUGHT AND CARRIED THE COLT, PREFERRING IT TO ENGLISH DOUBLE ACTIONS LIKE THE WEBLEY. >> GARRY: AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, EVEN THOUGH THE BRITS HAD MUCH BETTER DOUBLE ACTIONS THAN THOSE PRODUCED BY COLT AT THE TIME, THESE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A VOGUE IN ENGLAND AND THEY WERE PURCHASED IN SOME QUANTITIES. >> JIM: ULTIMATELY, COLT SOLD 50-THOUSAND MODEL 1878'S, INCLUDING A FEW TO THE US MILITARY. AND THOSE 50 THOUSAND WERE CHAMBERED IN A WIDE RANGE OF CALIBERS. >> GARRY: THIS PARTICULAR REVOLVER WAS AVAILABLE IN LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT CALIBERS. THEY MADE THEM FROM 1878 TO 1907. THE US MILITARY ADOPTED THEM FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. BUT THEY'RE GOOD GUNS. THEY WERE IN .45 COLT. >> JIM: THE COLT GARRY IS SHOOTING WAS BUILT FOR THE BRITISH MILITARY AND ISSUED IN A STANDARD BRITISH CALIBER. >> GARRY: AND IT'S IN THE BRITISH CALIBER .476 MILITARY CALIBER; .476 BEING, BASICALLY, A ROUND THAT HAD A .455 BULLET. THE CASE DIAMETER WAS ACTUALLY .476. IT WAS A FORMIDABLE ROUND, BUT IT WAS ALSO INTERCHANGEABLE WITH .455 WEBLEY. TO LOAD IT, YOU PUT IT ON HALF-COCK, OPEN THE LOADING GATE AND START DROPPING IN THE AMMO. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE'RE USING BLACK POWDER .455 LOADS, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY .476 LOADS, NOBODY DOES. BUT THE ROUNDS WERE INTERCHANGEABLE IN THE PERIOD, SO THIS IS TOTALLY CORRECT. LEST SOMEBODY THINK THE .455 IS A WIMPY LOAD, TRUST ME, IT'S NOT. >> JIM: GARRY BELIEVES THIS REVOLVER'S BIG DRAWBACK IS ITS LONG AND HEAVY TRIGGER PULL. OTHER THAN THAT, THE REVOLVER IS WELL BUILT, RELIABLE AND ACCURATE, A TYPICAL COLT. >> GARRY: THE 1878 REPRESENTS THE FACT THAT COLT WAS SERIOUSLY GETTING INTO THE DOUBLE ACTION MARKET. THEY HAD, BASICALLY, RECOGNIZED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE. AND THE '78 SHOWED THAT COLT WAS IN THE DOUBLE ACTION MARKET TO STAY. >> JIM: THE COLT REMAINED IN PRODUCTION FOR 30 YEARS, BUT THE EARLY 19-HUNDREDS BROUGHT NEW AND BETTER DOUBLE ACTIONS AND BROUGHT THE END FOR THE MODEL OF 1878. >> GARRY: IT WAS PRETTY MUCH OF A DEAD END. IT WAS FINISHED. THERE WERE SO MANY OTHER, BETTER DOUBLE ACTIONS OUT THERE; SWING-OUT CYLINDERS, AND SMITH & WESSON'S AND COLTS AND WHAT NOT, THAT IT WAS PRETTY WELL TOAST AT THAT TIME. >> JIM: BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, THE DOUBLE ACTION FRONTIER AND THE SINGLE ACTION PEACEMAKER WOULD BOTH BE A FOOTNOTES IN THE LONG HISTORY OF FIREARMS DEVELOPMENT. BUT COLT WOULD BE BACK WITH A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL SINGLE ACTION, JOHN BROWNING'S 1911. COMING NEXT, SOME TIME WITH THE TWO NEWEST COLTS FROM THAT LONG HISTORY, THE COMBAT UNIT RAIL GUN AND THE NEW DEFENDER. JIM: SHOOTING USA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> JOHN: HERE IS THE LATEST OFFERING IN THE BROAD LINE OF 1911'S FROM COLT. THIS IS THE COLT COMBAT UNIT RAIL GUN, AND IT DRAWS THAT NAME FROM THE UNDER BARREL RAIL HERE, BUT THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT IS THE LATEST ITERATION FROM COLT OF A FIGHTING SEMI AUTO. THEY'VE GOT FORWARD COCKING SERRATIONS. THE FRONT SIGHT IS A NOVAK NIGHT SIGHT FOR EASY ACQUISITION IN ALL LIGHTING CONDITIONS. THE FIVE INCH NATIONAL MATCH BARREL ENHANCES ACCURACY. THE RATHER COARSE 25 LINES PER INCH FRONT STRAP CHECKERING AND UNDER TRIGGER GUARD RELIEF HERE ENHANCE YOUR GRIP. ALL OF THESE FEATURES WERE INCORPORATED WITH INPUT FROM MEMBERS OF THE COLT COMBAT UNIT, KEN HACKATHORN AND DARYL HOLLAND. BOTH MEN USED THE NEW COLT COMBAT UNIT RAIL GUN IN A SERIES OF PRO TIPS FILMED AT GUNSITE IN NORTHERN ARIZONA, AND BOTH GUNS PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY. AS DOES THE ONE WE HAVE HERE CHAMBERED IN .45. ONE ENHANCEMENT TO THE COLT COMBAT UNIT RAIL GUN THAT YOU CAN'T SEE BUT YOU CAN FEEL WHEN YOU SHOOT IT IS THE DUAL SPRING RECOIL SYSTEM. THE OVERALL WEIGHT AND BALANCE OF THIS FULL SIZE 1911 MANAGES THE FELT RECOIL OF THE .45 VERY WELL. WHEN YOU ADD IN THE PROGRESSIVE TENSION OF THAT DUAL SPRING SYSTEM, YOU END UP WITH A VERY PLEASANT SHOOTING 1911. THE COLT COMBAT UNIT RAIL GUN IS AVAILABLE IN .45 LIKE THIS ONE, OR IN 9MM. RETAIL PRICE JUST UNDER 1500. >> JIM: AND I'VE GOT THE SMALL COLT, THE NEW ENHANCED DEFENDER IN STAINLESS STEEL, DESIGNED TO STAND UP TO EVERY DAY CARRY. IT'S CHAMBERED IN EITHER 9MM OR 45 ACP IN ITS THREE INCH BARREL. COMES WITH A DRILLED ALUMINUM TRIGGER, UPSWEPT BEAVER TAIL GRIP SAFETY, AND LOW MOUNT NOVAK THREE DOT CARRY SIGHTS OVER THE ENHANCED HAMMER. THE GRIPS ARE G-10 AND WELL TEXTURED TO ENHANCE YOUR GRIP. THE DEFENDER IS A SERIES 80 ACTION, SO THE FIRING PIN BLOCK ADDS A DEGREE OF SAFETY, BUT YOU WON'T FEEL IT AS THE TRIGGER LIFTS THE BLOCK BEFORE DROPPING THE HAMMER. TRIGGER ACTION IS CRISP, SMOOTH, AND WITHOUT ANY TRACE OF CREEP. THE NEW DEFENDER IS THOROUGHLY UPGRADED TO BE YOUR TWO-POUND, FULL POWER CARRY PIECE, BUT THE PRICE ISN'T. SUGGESTED RETAIL IN STAINLESS, $899. AND STILL AHEAD, IT'S THE ULTIMATE GUY'S WEEKEND IN VEGAS, WITH SPEED SHOOTING WORLD CHAMP MAX MICHEL. JIM: SHOOTING USA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> JIM: THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY WHO SHOOT FOR A LIVING. WELL, YOU'VE SEEN ONE OF THEM FREQUENTLY ON SHOOTING USA FOR AT LEAST A DECADE. WE COULD TALK ABOUT MAX MICHEL'S LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR MAYBE AN ENTIRE SHOW, BUT INSTEAD WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW HE'S GIVING BACK TO THE SPORT HE ENJOYS. AND MOST RECENTLY HOW HE'S TURNED A WEEKEND LONG TRAINING SESSION INTO THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. CALL IT THE ULTIMATE GUY'S WEEKEND. GUNS, GO KARTS AND GOOD COMPETITION IN LAS VEGAS. >> NATS: YEA, THAT WAS FUN. >> JIM: THREE DAYS OF TRAINING WITH THREE WORLD CHAMPIONS. IT IS AN EXPERIENCE CREATED BY A PRO SHOOTER FOR OTHER SHOOTERS WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR GAME. THOSE WHO WANT TO WIN. >> TRAVIS: I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, YOUR GRIP IS ON POINT. I LOVE IT. >> GEORGE: A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM THREE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOOTERS? AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THAT DOESN'T COME BY EVERY DAY. YOU GOT TO TAKE IT WHEN YOU CAN. >> MAX: EMPHASIZE THE TRANSITIONS AND DEEMPHASIZE THE SPLITS. >> JIM: THIS IS MAX MICHEL'S PRO SHOOTER EXPERIENCE, AND THE NAME REFERS TO THE MAN WHO CAME UP WITH THE BIG IDEA. >> MAX: SO THE WHOLE PREMISE WAS TO GET THREE WORLD CHAMPION SHOOTERS TOGETHER THAT ARE NOT JUST WORLD CHAMPION SHOOTERS BUT THE KIND OF FOLKS THAT YOU WANT TO ASSOCIATE WITH, GREAT AMBASSADORS OF THE GAME, AND REALLY GIVE BACK, AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS OUT THERE THAT DON'T GET TO SHOOT FOR A LIVING, THAT ARE NOT WORLD CHAMPIONS, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACT AS IF THEY ARE FOR THE WEEKEND. >> JIM: MAX IS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE US ARMY MARKSMANSHIP UNIT'S ACTION SHOOTING TEAM, NOW LIVING HIS DREAM AS A PROFESSIONAL SHOOTER AND WORLD CHAMPION. BUT THIS TEACHING IS HIS PASSION. >> ROSS: I MET MAX DOWN IN LOUISIANA, AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GET INTO THE SHOOTING SPORTS. I'M FROM NEW JERSEY AND THERE'S NOT A BIG SHOOTING COMMUNITY OUT THERE SO. AND THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO LEARN THAN FROM THE BEST. >> JIM: SO ONE OF THE BEST IN THE GAME HANDPICKED TWO OF HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS TO HEADLINE THIS PREMIER EVENT. >> MAX: YOU KNOW IF I WAS GOING TO HAVE MY SON TRAIN WITH SOMEONE IT WOULD BE THOSE GUYS. >> JIM: LIKE MAX, TEAM REMINGTON'S TRAVIS TOMASIE IS ALSO A FORMER MEMBER OF THE ARMY'S SHOOTING TEAM AND HOLDS DOZENS OF CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES. HE TOO, CONTINUES TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HE GREW UP IN. >> TRAVIS: PRESENTING THAT MAGWELL AS YOU'RE ACTIVATING THE MAG RELEASE. SIMULTANEOUSLY. IT'S CERTAINLY A PASSION OF MINE. AND I ACTUALLY TAKE ABOUT AS MUCH OR MORE SATISFACTION IN THAT THAN ACTUALLY SHOOTING. I MEAN, IT'S GREAT; YOU SPEND SO MUCH TIME BUILDING YOUR TECHNIQUE AND COMING UP IN THIS SPORT, AND TO BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE THAT TO NEWER SHOOTERS OR EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT NEW, THEY JUST WANT TO GET BETTER. >> JJ: THIS IS A RACE, BUT IT'S A RACE AGAINST YOURSELF. >> JIM: JJ RACAZA ROUNDS OUT THE THREE CHAMPION SHOOTERS. A FORMER FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, JJ IS NOW TRAINING CIVILIANS RATHER THAN FEDERAL AGENTS. >> JJ: THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD IS WHEN THEY COME IN HERE WITH AN EMPTY GLASS AND THEY HAVE THAT LOOK AND THEY'RE HERE JUST WILLING TO LEARN. AND ONCE YOU FILL THAT GLASS A LITTLE BIT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THIS EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR THEM. >> JIM: 18 SHOOTERS HAVE TRAVELED FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, EVEN AROUND THE WORLD TO BE HERE AT THE PRO SHOOTER EXPERIENCE. >> ROB: MAX, JJ AND TRAVIS ALL IN THE SAME ROOM. I ALMOST HAD TO PINCH MYSELF. LIKE, AM I HERE RIGHT NOW? I HAVEN'T BEEN SHOOTING LONG ENOUGH TO DESERVE THIS, BUT I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR IT. >> JIM: GRATEFUL FOR THE TRAINING AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BLOW UP A TANNERITE-STUFFED WATERMELON WITH A FEW FULL-AUTO GUNS, THE M4, THE MP5 AND THE SAW, THE SQUAD AUTOMATIC WEAPON. >> ROLAND: MY SOUVENIR! >> JIM: GUYS ALSO HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN GUNS, GEAR AND OTHER PRIZES THANKS TO DOZENS OF SPONSORS WHO HELPED SHAPE THE EXPERIENCE. THE FUN EVEN CONTINUES OFF THE RANGE, ONTO THE LAS VEGAS STRIP, AND ONTO THE RACETRACK. >> KEITH: IT WAS A BLAST. I REALLY ENJOYED IT. >> JIM: IT'S AN EXPERIENCE DEFINED BY ONE MAN'S PRESTIGIOUS SHOOTING CAREER TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GET OUT TO THE RANGE AND HAVE FUN DOING IT. >> MAX: I WANT THEM TO WALK AWAY WITH THE BIGGEST SMILE THEY'VE EVER HAD. I WANT THEM TO TRULY ENJOY THEMSELVES. YES, I WANT THEM TO BE BETTER. YES, I WANT THEM TO LEARN AS MUCH AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. BUT I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK A YEAR FROM NOW, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW AND SEE ONE OF THESE GUYS ON THE RANGE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD AND SAY, REMEMBER THE TIME IN VEGAS...? AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT. >> JIM: A MEMORABLE TIME IN VEGAS. THIS IS MAX'S FIRST PRO SHOOTER EXPERIENCE, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HIS LAST. EACH OF THE 18 SHOOTERS WHO PARTICIPATED HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY'RE SIGNING UP AGAIN FOR NEXT YEAR. YOU'LL SEE WHY IN A MINUTE. COMING NEXT, GETTING INSTANT RESULTS WITH THE TRAINING TECHNIQUES FROM THE PROS THAT WORK! JIM: SHOOTING USA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> JIM: PRACTICAL SHOOTING IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR HANDGUN SPORTS IN THE WORLD. MORE THAN 200,000 MEMBERS IN 89 COUNTRIES COMPETE UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL PRACTICAL SHOOTING CONFEDERATION'S UMBRELLA, 30,000 OF THEM ARE IN THE UNITED STATES. IT'S FUN. IT'S COMPETITIVE, AND LIKE ANY SPORT, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM TO IMPROVE. SO THAT'S WHY A GROUP OF DEDICATED SHOOTERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD INVESTED THEIR TIME AND MONEY TO LEARN FROM THREE CHAMPIONS IN LAS VEGAS. IF YOU WANT TO SHOOT AS FAST AS A WORLD CHAMPION, THEN LET ONE TEACH YOU. >> JJ: ACT LIKE THERE'S SOMEBODY CHASING YOU DOWN. >> JIM: BETTER YET, LET THREE TEACH YOU. >> TRAVIS: THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH AS YOU'RE GOING TO GET WITH THAT GAS PEDAL. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHAT I'M DOING IS I'M BUILDING THEIR GRIP THE CORRECT GRIP THAT I WANT TO SEE AND THEN I INDEX, PUTTING A LINE BETWEEN THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND. AND NOW THEY GET INSTANT FEEDBACK WHEN THEY DRAW OR ANYTIME THEY PRESENT THE GUN. >> JIM: THIS TRAINING IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE PRO SHOOTER EXPERIENCE, CREATED BY MULTI-TIME CHAMP MAX MICHEL. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE THESE PRO SHOOTERS GET PAID TO SHOOT AND WIN. >> MAX: NOW I'M A SHOOTING NERD. HOW DO I KNOW THAT? BECAUSE I HAVE NO LIFE; RIGHT? I CHANGE DIAPERS AND I SHOOT GUNS. THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. >> PAUL: YOU WATCH THESE GUYS ON YOUTUBE AND YOU THINK THEY LOOK KIND OF WEIRD. AND YOU TRY AND DO STUFF THEY DO, AND OH, THIS DOESN'T WORK, SO YOU JUST DON'T DO IT. BUT THEN YOU COME LEARN WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND WHY THEY'RE DOING IT AND THE LITTLE TIPS AND TRICKS THEY'VE GOT, AND YOU'RE LIKE, WOW, THAT REALLY WORKS. THAT IS FANTASTIC! >> JIM: PAUL PHEGAN TRAVELED FROM AUSTRALIA TO LAS VEGAS TO BE HERE. >> PAUL: IT'S A LONG WAY FROM HERE. VERY LONG WAY. IT TOOK ABOUT 30 HOURS, TOTAL. >> JIM: THE AUSSIE IS ONE OF 18 GUYS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN WITH MAX, TRAVIS TOMASIE AND JJ RACAZA. >> JJ: EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE 18 OF THEM, WE'VE BROKEN IT UP INTO GROUPS OF SIX. DOING THAT GIVES THEM INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION. BECAUSE EVERY SHOOTER COMES OUT HERE WITH THEIR OWN ISSUES, WITH THEIR OWN TECHNIQUE, WITH THEIR OWN STYLE. AND THERE'S NOT ONE SIMPLE TECHNIQUE OR DRILL THAT WILL FIX EVERYONE. I WISH THERE WAS BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE MY JOB A LOT EASIER! >> JIM: IT'S THREE DAYS OF TRAINING WITH THREE WORLD CHAMPS TO CORRECT BAD HABITS ON THE RANGE AND IMPROVE ONE'S SKILL IN THE SHOOTING SPORTS. >> PAUL: MAX MICHEL, JJ, AND TRAVIS, IT'S AMAZING WHAT THEY'VE SHOWED ME. GAME CHANGING. GAME CHANGING. IT'S GOING TO BE SO DIFFERENT FOR ME WHEN I GET BACK HOME NOW. THERE'S NO WAY I'M TELLING GUYS BACK HOME WHAT I CAN DO. THEY CAN WATCH AND FAIL, THAT'S THE IDEA! >> JIM: THE ONE ON ONE TIME IS EFFECTIVE. AFTER TWO DAYS OF TRAINING STEVE FOUTZ PUTS HIS NEW KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST ON A USPSA STAGE. EACH RUN PROVIDES THE INSIGHT STEVE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR. A BIG IMPROVEMENT, SHAVING THREE SECONDS OFF HIS STAGE RUN! >> STEVE: IT'S A GOOD FEELING. IT'S NICE TO BE WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S GOT AN EYE TO BE ABLE TO CRITIQUE YOU, TO HELP YOU IMPROVE. YOU KNOW THREE SECONDS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH BUT IT COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRST AND LAST. >> JIM: AND THE MAN WHO CREATED THE PRO SHOOTER EXPERIENCE IS ECSTATIC, BECAUSE IT'S PROOF THAT THE TRAINING WORKS. >> MAX: IT'S PRETTY AWESOME TO SEE THESE GUYS IMPROVING. SOME OF THEM I'VE WORKED WITH SEVERAL TIMES. SO, I CAN SEE THEIR IMPROVEMENT OVER THE YEARS, OTHERS I'VE JUST MET. WATCHING THEM PROGRESS AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE, IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE. IT'S A LOT OF FUN AND VERY REWARDING. THAT LAST SPLIT WAS BETTER. >> JIM: YOUNG GUN WILLIAM HOWELL IS ALSO REAPING THE BENEFITS. THE 19 YEAR OLD IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST TO ATTEND, AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WILL HOPES TO MOVE UP IN USPSA COMPETITION. MAX: TAKE OFF ALMOST A FULL SECOND, I THINK, ALREADY. >> WILL: THEY ARE SO ENCOURAGING. A BUNCH OF FUN GUYS. THEY TRY TO DO THEIR BEST WITH TEACHING ANYBODY THAT'S KIND OF YOUNGER, TRYING TO GIVE THEM LITTLE POINTS, TRYING TO HELP THEM GET BETTER, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE. THEY WANT YOUNGER PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BE THE KIND OF NEXT GENERATION OF SHOOTING FOR THEM AND HELP REALLY PROMOTE THE SPORT. MAX: THERE YOU GO. LOOKING BETTER. >> JIM: YOUNG OR OLD, MAX MICHEL'S PRO SHOOTER EXPERIENCE IS APPEALING TO BOTH GENERATIONS. AND IT'S A GOOD INDICATION OF A STRONG FUTURE FOR THE SHOOTING SPORTS. >> TRAVIS: I THINK IT SHOWS WHAT GREAT GROWTH WE'RE HAVING IN THE SHOOTING SPORTS. PRACTICAL SHOOTING CONTINUES TO GROW. YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN IT. AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL VERY GOOD THAT THE SPORT IS HEALTHY AND I THINK THIS REALLY REPRESENTS A LOT OF THAT GROWTH! >> JIM: GROWING THE SPORT WITH MAX, TRAVIS AND JJ CREATING STRONGER COMPETITORS, AND MORE COMPETITION IN THE SHOOTING SPORTS. WELL, UP NEXT, ANOTHER PRO SHOOTER. JULIE GOLOB IS WITH US WITH SOME TIPS FOR FIRST TIME GUN OWNERS ON HOW TO DO IT SAFELY. JIM: SHOOTING USA IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> JIM: WHETHER YOU'RE ABOUT TO BUY YOUR FIRST GUN, OR IF YOU'VE COLLECTED A SAFE FULL OVER THE YEARS. GUN SAFETY HAS TO BE A PRIORITY. IT CERTAINLY IS FOR SMITH & WESSON PRO JULIE GOLOB, WHO HAS SOME TIPS ON SAFE GUN HANDLING THAT SHOULD NEVER BECOME CASUAL. >> JULIE: WHETHER YOU'RE A NEW OR EXPERIENCED GUN OWNER FIREARM SAFETY IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT. EVERYONE WHO SHOOTS SHOULD KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE BASIC RULES OF FIREARM SAFETY. IN TODAY'S PRO TIP WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THE BASIC RULES OF FIREARM SAFETY THAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW: BY ALWAYS TREATING GUNS AS IF THEY ARE LOADED. NEVER POINTING A FIREARM AT ANYTHING YOU DON'T WISH TO DESTROY, ALWAYS KEEPING YOUR FINGERS STRAIGHT AND OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU'RE ON TARGET, AND ALWAYS BEING AWARE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT'S BEYOND IT, THAT WILL MAKE YOU A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNER. IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO COMMIT THESE RULES TO MEMORY, BUT JUST IN CASE, WHY NOT POST THEM IN YOUR GUN SAFE. NOW, WE ALL KNOW THE BASIC RULES OF FIREARM SAFETY BUT LET'S GET INTO THE DETAILS. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CASUAL GUN HANDLING AND IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET IN THE HABIT OF PICKING UP AND USING THE FIREARM IN YOUR STRONG HAND. THIS IS GOING TO HELP YOU CONTROL THAT MUZZLE DIRECTION MUCH EASIER. YOU ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE FIREARMS CONTROLS WITH WHATEVER HAND THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO KEEP THE GUN IN YOUR STRONG HAND. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WANT TO AVOID TRANSFERRING THE GUN TO YOUR SUPPORT HAND TO SAY RACK THE SLIDE. AND THE REASON YOU WANT TO AVOID DOING THIS, YOU DON'T WANT TO ACCIDENTLY PLACE YOUR FINGER ON THE TRIGGER OR DROP THE FIREARM. THIS IS GOING TO HELP YOU BECOME SAFER AND MORE EFFICIENT AND BE ABLE TO LET YOU USE THE FIREARM WHEN YOU NEED IT. MAKE IT A HABIT WHETHER YOU'RE DRY FIRING AT HOME OR YOU'RE SHOOTING ON THE RANGE PRACTICING YOUR GUN HANDLING SKILLS PRACTICING WITH THE GUN IN YOUR DOMINANT HAND WILL NOT ONLY BECOME EASIER, YOU'LL BE SAFER FOR IT. FINALLY, ALWAYS STORE YOUR FIREARM SAFELY WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN USE. CHANCES ARE YOUR GUN CAME WITH A GUN LOCK WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT. BUT, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE VISIT PROJECTCHILDSAFE.ORG FOR A FREE GUN LOCK. THERE ALSO SAFES, BIG AND SMALL, THAT HELP YOU STORE YOUR FIREARM SAFELY AND ALLOW YOU QUICK AND EASY ACCESS SHOULD YOU NEED IT. REMEMBER FIREARM SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. >> JIM: THANKS JULIE. GOOD REMINDERS. AND WE'LL HELP YOU FIND PROJECT CHILD SAFE FOR A FREE GUNLOCK WITH A LINK AT OUR WEBSITE. PLUS, WE'VE GOT MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEXT STEEL NATIONALS, AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN FAMILY STEEL SHOOTING, AND A LINK TO INFORMATION ON MAX PRO SHOOTER EXPERIENCE. ALL OF THAT AND MORE IS AT SHOOTING USA.COM. FOR ALL OF US, I'M JIM SCOUTTEN, SHOOT SAFELY, SHOOT OFTEN, AND KEEP 'EM IN THE TEN RING!
