After 27 years establishing the brand and directing the sales, financial, and administrative aspects of Kolar Arms, John P. Ramagli is stepping away from the daily management of the Racine, Wisconsin firearms manufacturer. Ramagli, widely recognized as “Rags,” will continue in the role of a consultant and remain active in various aspects of Kolar’s continued business development. Ramagli, 73, cited recent open-heart surgery as a major contributing factor in his decision. Jeff Mainland is now Chief Executive Officer and President of both Kolar and U.S. Competition Arms, the manufacturer of … [Read more...]
Final Shots: James “Jim” Swanzy III
James (Jim) Swanzy III of Clute, Texas, long-time president of Capital City Skeet & Trap, passed away on February 21. Jim and his wife Marian were married for over 40 years and lived in Austin. After retirement, Jim enjoyed shooting and riding and traveling on his BMW motorcycles. He played an integral part in making Austin's Capital City Clays a welcoming and fun location for shooting skeet, trap, and sporting clays. Following the death of Marian in 2016, Jim married Margaret Kana in 2017 and moved to Clute. In September 2018, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Jim fought the … [Read more...]
High School Seniors: Apply for NSSA-NSCA Scholarships
NSSA and NSCA will each award four $2500 college scholarships this year to deserving members who will graduate from high school and start a four-year college program in 2019. The scholarships will be awarded based on academics, citizenship, and participation in NSSA or NSCA. Applicants must submit an application, a short essay, a transcript, and a letter of recommendation. The scholarships are paid incrementally by semester, and students must maintain a B average. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2019. Scholarship winners will be notified prior to the end of the school year and will be … [Read more...]
New NSCA Charter Calls for New NSCA Elections
The NSCA Advisory Council has developed and the NSSA Executive Committee has approved a new charter for the National Sporting Clays Association, which is a division of the National Skeet Shooting Association. The charter defines a new governance structure and calls for elections to be held this year. The new governing structure eliminates the Advisory Council and Regional Delegate positions and creates a 15-member Executive Council, with three members from each region, elected from the National Delegate body. Five officers will be elected from the Executive Council. The new governing bodies … [Read more...]
Support Kids & Clays and SCTP at Registered Shoot
The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is partnering with the Kids & Clays Foundation to hold a registered two-day sporting clays charity event at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. The event will be held Friday and Saturday, July 20-21, during SSSF’s Scholastic Clay Target Program National Championships. The event is open to the public, parents, and coaches of athletes attending the SCTP Nationals, as well as the athletes themselves. All registrants for the event will be entered into a drawing for a large prize package of firearms and outdoor and shooting gear worth … [Read more...]
Former NSSA-NSCA Executive Director Don Snyder Passes
We are very saddened to report that Don Snyder, former NSSA-NSCA Executive Director, passed away Wednesday, May 30. Don was a World Champion skeet shooter, many-time All-American, and a member of the Armed Forces Skeet Association Hall of Fame. After retiring from the Air Force, Don began working for NSSA and the National Shooting Complex, filling numerous roles over the years. He served as NSSA Chief Instructor, managed the NSCA 5-stand truck and trailer program, and was the personnel director for the National Shooting Complex. He later became the NSSA Director prior to becoming the … [Read more...]
2018 NSSA-NSCA Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to eight 2018 high school graduates who are recipients of $2500 NSSA-NSCA scholarships. The scholarship winners were chosen for their leadership, academics, and participation in NSSA-NSCA. Watch for profiles of each scholarship recipient in the June issue of Clay Target Nation. NSSA Scholarship Recipients Olivia Grace “Gracie” Woelffer Congratulations to Gracie Woelffer of Fort Mill, South Carolina, on being awarded a $2500 NSSA scholarship. Gracie is a recent graduate of Christian Liberty Academy and plans to continue her education at Liberty University. Her home shooting … [Read more...]
Get Your Krieghoff K-80 Raffle Tickets
The annual Krieghoff K-80 raffle has begun, and tickets are now available! Krieghoff has generously donated a K-80 Suhl Scroll shotgun, Pro-Sporter edition with 32-inch barrels. The gun is valued at $23,990. The raffle benefits the NSCA USA Sporting Clays Team and the NSSA-NSCA All-American programs. The drawing will be held in October during the 2018 National Sporting Clays Championship at the National Shooting Complex. You do not have to be present to win.* Tickets are $100 each, and only 500 will be sold. To buy your tickets, contact Lori Hartmann (NSCA), 210-688-3371 ext. 254 or … [Read more...]
Watch for Increased Target Prices
Shooters will soon be feeling the trickle-down effects of higher-priced components in clay targets, according to White Flyer Targets, manufacturer of the clay targets used by many clubs across the country. Phil Murray of White Flyer explained the necessity for the cost increase in recent letters to its distributors and gun clubs: March 13, 2018 Dear White Flyer Distributor, As many of you are aware the aluminum industry has recently experienced a major revitalization. In the aluminum manufacturing process, pitch plays a significant role in the smelting of the ore. Because of this … [Read more...]
Order Eye/Ear Safety Signs for Ranges
Help keep shooters at your range safer by posting these red safety signs on the property, reminding everyone that eye and ear protection are needed at all times. The signs are being sold by NSSA-NSCA for $5.00 each, plus shipping. Printed on durable PVC plastic, the 12x8-inch signs will withstand weather conditions and last for years. Thanks to Laporte Traps who donated the safety signs to NSSA-NSCA. To order, contact Lori Hartmann, NSCA Club Secretary, at lhartmann@nssa-nsca.com, 210-688-3371 ext. 254. … [Read more...]
Open Letter to Our Membership
Below is an open letter to NSSA-NSCA members and governing bodies: February 23, 2018 Further to our letter published to NSSA-NSCA membership in January regarding the 2018 winter executive meetings (see “Target Talk” dated January 24, 2018), we feel it is important to keep all members up to date on the latest association business. Subsequent to the NSCA Advisory Council session in San Antonio, January 19-20, 2018, progress has been made by the Advisory Council members who have signed their Conflict of Interest (COI) form and who have agreed to continue to serve in their duly-elected Advisory … [Read more...]
SCTP/SASP Nationals at Cardinal Center
The 2017 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships brought together competitive shooters, ages 8 to 23, from 32 states to compete for national titles in the shotgun disciplines of Skeet, Skeet Doubles, Sporting Clays, American Trap, Handicap Trap, Bunker Trap, and Trap Doubles. Pistol and rifle competitors competed for action steel-shooting titles in Rimfire Pistol, Centerfire Pistol, Iron Sight Rifle and Optics Rifle divisions. The event was July 8-15 at Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. This was SCTP-SASP's largest … [Read more...]
10 Ways to Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month
Shooting ranges and firearms retailers are invited to be part of the first National Shooting Sports Month this August by listing their shooting events, programs, and promotions at Shootingsportsmonth.org. The excitement of having your shot break a flying clay target or knock over a steel plate (clang!) and then sharing the fun of that experience awaits all who participate in National Shooting Sports Month this August. The National Shooting Sports Foundation declared this 31-day celebration to encourage you to spend trigger time at a local shooting range. Here are 10 ways to celebrate … [Read more...]
Support Freedom Hunters at Benelli USA Invitational
Benelli USA invites the outdoors industry to join in support of Freedom Hunters at this year's Benelli USA Invitational. Slated for September 15 at Prince George's County Trap and Skeet in Glen Dale, Maryland, the event will raise money for Freedom Hunters through a team-based sporting clays competition, silent auction and raffle. "We are very excited to be hosting The Benelli Invitational for the third year. It is great to see so many of our industry partners at this event and hope to see even more this year. The day combines great food, terrific auction items, friendly competition on the … [Read more...]
Clubs: List Your Events for National Shooting Sports Month
Shooting ranges and firearms retailers are invited to be part of the first National Shooting Sports Month this August by listing their shooting events, programs, and promotions at www.shootingsportsmonth.org. With a theme of #LetsGoShooting, this coast-to-coast celebration will focus the public’s attention on the fun and enjoyment of target shooting. Newcomers will be shown how they can take their first shots, and experienced shooters will be encouraged to invite someone new to the range or contact someone who hasn’t touched their shooting gear for a while to help them rediscover the fun of … [Read more...]
