NSSA President Don Kelly and NSSA-NSCA Executive Director Michael Hampton, Jr. announce two significant personnel changes in the organization, effective November 1. Gary Burley, NSSA Skeet Director for the past three years, has transitioned to the new position of Chief Operations Officer, with responsibilities across NSSA, NSCA, and the National Shooting Complex. Nathan Boyd has moved into the position of Interim Skeet Director. Since 2016, Nathan has served as NSSA-NSCA Special Projects Manager, which included the leadership role in creating new opportunities for junior shooters. In … [Read more...]
Phil Murray Announces Retirement from White Flyer
Phil Murray, White Flyer National Sales Manager, announces his retirement from the company, effective January 2, 2020. Murray grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where his love for shotgun sports began at the early age of 9. Murray’s career included tenure at NSSA, Krieghoff, Beretta, Kolar, and White Flyer. Murray joined White Flyer in 1995 and has played a crucial role in White Flyer becoming the #1 manufacturer of clay targets in the world. Murray was inducted into the NSSA Hall of Fame in 1995 for his shooting accomplishments, and on October 3, 2019, he received the prestigious NSSA … [Read more...]
Officers Address Membership on Endowments
The Officers of the National Skeet Shooting Association wish to address and update the NSSA-NSCA membership on a matter under discussion: To our membership, Members, sponsors and others have, from time to time, given gifts to the NSSA-NSCA. Sometimes the donor has specified their intent for these donations, such as 'Youth Shooting.' Because we have determined that there is substantial interest among our members and friends in supporting the work of the Association, we are exploring the potential benefits of soliciting gifts and donations to the Association in a more formal and … [Read more...]
August Is National Shooting Sports Month
National Shooting Sports Month in August is the perfect opportunity for experienced target shooters and newcomers alike to head to a shooting range and experience what millions of Americans have long appreciated — that a day at the range is a day of fun! This 31-day celebration of the shooting sports, developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) in 2017, reminds people that everyone can enjoy these safe, fun and social activities. It’s also the perfect time for an experienced shooter to mentor a newcomer in a sport that can provide a lifetime of enjoyment at every skill … [Read more...]
A Changing of the Guard at Kolar
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...]
