Originally published in the September/October 2024 Issue of Safari Magazine.

The deer don’t stand a chance! Well, that may not be exactly true. Researchers tell us that a deer’s sense of smell is up to 1,000 times that of a human. They have 310 degrees of vision around them (you can see 180 degrees), and they can hear up to 54,000 hertz, while you and I top out at about 24,000. Thankfully, we have the edge when it comes to innovation. Each year, manufacturers invent gear that helps us become better hunters. Here are a few new products to up your venison and antler quest. — John Geiger 

New Rifle For Deer-Hunting Adventures

Springfield’s Model 2020 Boundary Evolves From Waypoint Family

Just before this went to press, Springfield released their new Model 2020 Boundary rifle. SAFARI Magazine editors were among a handful in the industry who got to test it out in advance. The Boundary is a welcome evolution of the Model 2020 family, which started with the Waypoint, a fine rifle in its own right. 

The test rifle was 43 inches long, weighed just under 7 pounds without a scope and was chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. Our first impression was that it’s a solid platform that shoots well from the bench, sitting, prone or offhand. 

It’s designed to straddle the classic look of a deer gun — with its hinged floorplate and clean lines — and the advantages of a modern precision firearm. The new Boundary would be at home anywhere there is hunting in the world, from red stag in New Zealand to whitetails in Kentucky.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this rifle is the rigid action it inherited from the Waypoint family. It’s based on Remington’s 700 push feed but is made with precise electronic discharge machines (EDC). EDC is used to make highly accurate cuts to the world’s toughest metals. The bolt is therefore fitted to high tolerances, thanks to the EDM-cut raceways in the receiver.

The rifle comes with either a fluted stainless steel or carbon fiber barrel. The one we shot was carbon fiber. Interestingly, the carbon fiber does not touch the steel below except for about 5% of the steel’s surface area. Springfield says this creates an air gap between the two elements that aid in cooling. We did notice the barrels cooled quickly between shot strings at the range.

At the range, the rifle was at home on the bench, sitting, prone and offhand. It has a wide, flat forend that is a hybrid between a bench gun and a walking gun. There were no malfunctions or trouble feeding or ejecting. It printed a session-best 0.861-inch group at 100 yards. The gun preferred Federal Premium Terminal Ascent cartridges among the six cartridges that we tried. Muzzle speeds were where we expected them to be, as recorded by a Garmin Xero chronograph.

The TriggerTech trigger broke cleanly at 3.5 pounds and is adjustable from 5 to 2.5 pounds. It’s hard to measure, but Springfield claims the lock time — the moment between the trigger break and primer ignition — is an amazing 1.9 milliseconds. That helps reduce operator error — a heartbeat or any movement that could move the point of aim from your target.

The 2020 Boundary is now available in .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 300 PRC, .300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag and 7mm PRC. $2,173 for the steel barrel version and $2,599 with the carbon fiber barrel. springfield-armory.com.

Christensen Arms Evoke

Christensen Arms new Evoke rifle is designed for both beginner and seasoned hunters. They are feature-rich, yet most are sub-$1,000, making them good entry points into the lineup of Christensen Arms rifles. There are four models — from a Mossy Oak to Precision — in various camo configurations and calibers. The Mossy Oak, for example, comes in 11 calibers, from 300 PRC to the straight-wall 350 Legend. Each has a stainless-steel precision Cerakote barrel, a 60-degree bolt throw on a three-lug bolt and a detachable mag. They are suppressor-ready and include a premium RFR muzzle brake, hybrid grip angle and a user-adjustable TriggerTech trigger. Every Evoke rifle configuration comes with a sub-MOA guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty. christensenarms.com.

Gunwerks WRK Rifle

Deer hunters will welcome a new version of the Magnus rifle system from Gunwerks. By no means a cheap rifle, the new WRX is a lot like the $10k Magnus but has a stainless-steel barrel and limited paint schemes. That, and a few other modifications, cuts the price in half. We are very familiar with the Magnus platform and find it stable, balanced on a bench, sticks or offhand and a highly accurate long-range rifle. Nine calibers, from 6.5 Creedmoor to 300 PRC. 20-, 22- or 24-inch barrel options, and floorplate or flush mag, among other options. $4,975 base at gunwerks.com.

Beretta BRX1

Beretta’s recent straight-pull rifle is now available in .243 Win., .30-06 Springfield and .300 Win Mag. The rifle is made for quick follow-up shots. It only takes a pullback and a push forward to rechamber the gun, which makes it great for a quick second shot when needed. The gun has a sleek appearance, with a carbon fiber barrel option. The bolt is ambi, and you can change barrels, bolt heads and mags to accommodate different calibers with the same action and stock. $1,499. beretta.com.

Weatherby Alpine CT-1

Weatherby has released its newest model in its Model 307 platform. The Alpine CT is for hunters who want a light, accurate bolt-action rifle that they can customize. Weatherby’s Model 307 action is a 2-lug, fully cylindrical action. It complements the historic MarkV and Vanguard lineups yet is compatible with many modern aftermarket accessories, such as stocks, triggers, rails and mounts. Alpine CT’s will have the option of Peak 44 Bastion stocks, which weigh just 24 ounces. 13 chamberings, from .240 Weatherby to .300 Weatherby, including 300 PRC. MSRP is $2,199. weatherby.com.

Benelli Lupo HPR

Benelli has designed its new iteration of the Lupo rifle to be the most accurate Lupo ever. At first glance, you’ll notice the new synthetic stock that uses many features usually found in a long-range chassis gun. It has an 8-position comb height for precise eye alignment, adjusted with a button on the stock. Removable grips let you add a hunting-style or target-style grip. As usual, Benelli includes many drop and cast shims for the best fit for you. They’re backing it with a five-shot .75-inch MOA guarantee. There are six calibers, from 6.5 Creedmoor to .338 Lapua. MSRP for all models is $2,949. benelliusa.com.

HS Precision PLC

H-S Precision has been building custom rifles in South Dakota for nearly 30 years. It designs and builds every component of its rifles. Their latest — the Professional Long Range Carbon Hunter — is their first with a carbon barrel. With all H-S rifles, there are many options when you go to order a gun. For example, you can have a Timney curved, straight or H-S custom trigger installed. Other spec options include a choice of caliber, color, barrel length, twist rate, muzzle brake, trigger and more. The PLC has a push-feed action and a detachable magazine. $6,039 base price. hsprecision.com.

Franchi Momentum Elite

Franchi is adding new options to its Momentum line. The Momentum Elite now comes in the venerable .30-06 as well as 450 Bushmaster. Both models come with a 22-inch free-float barrel in Midnight Bronze Cerakote and are joined to an Evolved Ergonom-X stock. The .30-06 build-out is an obvious choice for folks who want a proven .30-caliber rifle, while the 450 is a hit with people in straight-wall deer states in the USA. Momentum Elite now comes in six calibers. $899 at Cabelas.com.

Tenpoint Crossbows

This crossbow company has been around for more than 30 years. TenPoint is pushing technology further and further to make crossbows that are faster and still highly accurate, stable shooting platforms. TenPoint says they can control flexibility and torque better and get more accuracy by making a better riser, which holds the limbs to the bow. The crossbow weighs 7.2 pounds, has a 6.5-inch cocked width and has a TriggerTech trigger. $2,449–$2,549.99. tenpointcrossbows.com.

Trijicon Tenmile

Trijicon is expanding its Tenmile HX series riflescopes to include a 5-25×50 first focal plane scope. The 5X magnification gives hunters a wide field of view or a high-magnification view of distant targets. It’s made with outstanding glass, highly repeatable adjusters, 80 MOA of adjustment and a purpose-built first focal plane MOA-based illuminated reticle, all inside a 30mm tube. MSRP, $2,190. trijicon.com.

Hornady Outfitter Cartridges

Outfitter cartridges are made for the most rugged hunting. They have corrosion-resistant nickel-plated cases, are watertight and are loaded with tough copper-alloy CX bullets. The line has been around for a while, but hunters can now get Outfitter in a 190-grain 300 PRC, as well as 20 other calibers already on the market. $35-$83 per box at scheels.com.

Federal Fusion Tipped

Fusion is Federal’s deer-hunting cartridge. It’s been popular since it was introduced in 2005. The hollow-point bonded bullet performed well, but Federal has now made it more of a long-range contender with a polymer tip to increase accuracy and a skivved nose cavity to promote expansion. The Fusion Tipped still has an electronically fused jacket and core (most bullets are mechanically pressed together), giving it very good weight retention. $44-$81 per box. Federalpremium.com

Winchester Ammo XP

Winchester Ammo’s Deer Season XP bullets are now available in multiple calibers. Deer Season XP is the company’s top-shelf deer bullet brand. It’s made to fly accurately, expand rapidly and give a massive terminal performance. The bullet has a large polymer tip, streamlined profile and alloyed lead core. There are nine calibers now available, including 350 Legend at $36 per box. winchesterammo.com.

Leupold RX-5000

Leupold’s new RX-5000’s Long Range mode lets you range to 5,000 yards — that’s nearly three miles — on reflective targets, 3,100 yards on trees and 2,000 yards deer-sized game out of the box. To assist with using Long Range mode, the RX-5000 ships with an included tripod saddle and can be fired remotely using the Leupold Control app. On the app, you can use your RX-5000 to remotely drop location pins to your phone using digital maps like onX Hunt, Apple Maps and Google Maps. leupold.com.

Swarovski NL

Glassing can get old quickly if your binos are heavy or bulky. Swarovski’s new addition to their Pure line is anything but. The NL Pure 10×52 is designed with your hand in mind. They make it easy to enjoy a relaxed view for a long period of time. We experienced this on a recent stag hunt where we glassed 90% of the time while stalking and shooting 10% of the time. The NL Pures were delightful. They also have a substantial field of view at 72 degrees or 390 feet at 1,000 yards. $3,449 retail. Info at swarovskioptiks.com.

Sig Sauer Zulu6 HDX

Sig Sauer’s new Zulu6 HDX image stabilization binos allow you to easily study distant objects, like antlers or pick apart distant hillsides for signs of bedded animals. The Zulu6 has eliminated or mitigated many of those past technological hurdles and brings a bright, stabilized image to your eye. The 12x binos are less than $1,000, while the largest 20x42mm is $1,200. sigsauer.com.

Diamond Blade Knives

A great knife will keep its edge for a long time yet be easy to sharpen. That’s what former Alaska guide Charles Allen and his company, DiamondBlade Knives, designed the Surge knife to be. We used a combo set during the recent hunting season made up of a Surge and a Pinnacle II caping knife, both in one belt sheath. They kept their edges longer than most knives we’ve used, and the double-knife sheath is super practical. $299-$525. diamondbladeknives.com.

Banks Blind

The Stump Sequoia blind from Banks Outdoors has 44 square feet of room, providing space for multiple hunters. It has eight silent-swinging tinted framed windows, and its seamless polyethylene construction makes it very durable and weather-resistant. It comes in several options, from a base model to a tricked-out, accessory-equipped Pro Hunter version. banksoutdoors.com.

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“Pulsar’s corporate sponsorship of SCI highlights their dedication to supporting hunting traditions and wildlife conservation efforts,” said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. “We are proud to welcome Pulsar as a sponsor and look forward to the innovative contributions they will bring to SCI’s Convention and the hunting community at large.”

“We are thrilled to become partners with Safari Club International,” said Sellmark’s Jeff Murray, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Their commitment to the outdoors and developing hunting opportunities makes them a perfect partner. Pulsar is committed to providing hunters with the best thermal technology available to ensure a successful and thrilling adventure.”

SCI’s 2025 Annual Hunters’ Convention will be held from January 22 – 25, 2025, in Nashville, TN. It will feature top-tier exhibitors, educational seminars, and opportunities for hunters to connect and share their passion. Pulsar’s participation will allow attendees to explore its latest products and experience firsthand how its advanced thermal optics can transform their hunting adventures.

For more information about Safari Club International and the 2025 Annual Hunters’ Convention, visit https://safariclub.org/convention/. To learn more about Pulsar and their products, please visit https://pulsarnv.com/. 

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This agreement marks a momentous step by SCI and Cinegética to join forces as hosts of the preeminent hunting events on both sides of the Atlantic: SCI’s Annual Hunters’ Convention and Ultimate Sportsman’s Market, dubbed the “Super Bowl of the Hunting World,” and Cinegética’s premier hunting and conservation convention.

SCI’s 53^rd Annual Hunters’ Convention and Ultimate Sportsman’s Market will take place from January 22 – 25, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. Cinegética will hold its 2025 convention from March 20 – 23, 2025, in Ifema (Madrid), Spain.

The SCI–Cinegética partnership is the product of discussions that began more than five years ago. As a result, SCI and Cinegética are joining forces to promote conservation, the hunting lifestyle, and the many additional benefits generated by hunting activities. Both organizations recognized that societal understanding of hunting’s contributions to the conservation of wildlife habitats has rapidly declined, resulting in detrimental short-, medium-, and long-term consequences for responsible management and maintenance of ecosystems and habitats of countless species. 

“SCI intends to enhance the incredible success of Cinegética’s fair by increasing the number of exhibitors who participate, contributing to the work of those who made Cinegética what it is today, and adding to the proficiencies of SCI staff,” said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. “This transatlantic agreement will benefit hunting, hunters, environmental protection, conservation, and the defense of hunting rights.”

“Cinegética and SCI are proud of this agreement. It is an honor to work together with SCI, the largest hunting organization on the planet, in the defense of what hunters believe and promote, and the development of environmental conservation projects worldwide,” noted Cega Multimedia’s Marco Quintas. “This agreement will also serve to increase awareness of the importance of hunting in modern and globalized societies.”

Background

For over 50 years, Safari Club International (SCI) has been the leader in defending the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI is unique in the scope of our ability to defend and advance our freedom to hunt. SCI is the only hunting rights organization with a Washington, D.C.-based national and international advocacy team and an all-species focus. SCI also mobilizes more than 150 chapters and affiliate networks representing millions of hunters around the world.

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By Reya Kempley

Originally published in the November/December 2023 issue of Safari Magazine.

Kim Rhode placed one of her Olympic medals around the neck of a grinning fan, then posed for a photo with an easy-going smile. It’s a familiar scene at trade shows and shooting events around the country. She attracts fans every-where she goes, and for good reason — the six-time Olympian has won a medal in each of the consecutive Games she has attended, the first woman and summer Olympian to do so.  

The California resident is a living legend in the shooting sports. Her friendly demeanor makes her an accessible inspiration for young and old alike. 

At 6, she began going on dove hunts with her family in Arizona, and later went on African safaris at age 12. She enjoyed deer hunting in Utah and northern California. Her family had passed down a love of hunting, the outdoors and shooting sports to her.  

“I was just a little kid trailing behind my dad through the woods,” said the California native. “He was trying to be very quiet as we followed some deer tracks. Suddenly, I saw a deer standing on the hillside. I jumped up, pointed at the deer, and yelled, ‘There it is dad!’ Of course, the deer took off and my dad’s shot was now at a deer on a full run.” 

While that early adventure did not go as planned, her father gave her another try, and she learned to love hunting. And that was a good thing because, pretty soon, they realized she had a gift. 

At 10, she started competitive shooting, and her parents enrolled her in a junior NRA program. While she initially tried her hand at 3-position rifle, it was skeet and its moving targets that she loved. 

“It was just to have fun and shoot the local shoots,” she said. “Then it grew to state, and the world, and the Olympics. At a certain point I had that goal of going to the Olympics, but it didn’t come until later in my career.”  

“Later” is a relative term for her. Only five days after turning 17, Rhode had already become the best woman in the world at double trap, winning Olympic gold at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. She was the youngest female gold medalist in Olympic shooting history.  

“I remember the enthusiasm of the crowd [and my teammates] cheering ‘USA, USA,’ the nervousness…I remember even oversleeping the night before the competition,” she recalls. “It was everything I had hoped and dreamed for.”  

Four years later in Sydney, Rhode again found herself on the podium, this time with a bronze medal. She won her second gold medal at the next Olympics in 2004 in Athens.  

It was after Athens that her event was eliminated from the Olympic program. Many athletes would choose retirement facing such a roadblock, but instead, Rhode decided to switch gears from double trap to skeet.  

Amazingly, she kept up her medal-winning pace, earning a silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, her third gold in London in 2012 (tying the world record), and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Games.  

While Rhode maintains a grueling training regimen on her home clay range, hunting remains a cherished part of her life.  

“I enjoy the outdoors, watching the dogs work, and the friendship that comes from hunting,” she said. “Not to mention the food.” 

Hunting also makes her a better competitor, she said.  “Wild birds are unpredictable, flying in all direc-tions. It teaches you to swing and move with the target,” said Rhode. 

In the time between hunting, training and traveling the world, Rhode is passionate about promoting the shooting sports for women and youth with the organization Kids & Clays. She’s active politically in her home state of California and with the NRA, and is vice president of the International Shooting Sports Federation, which governs international Olympic shooting sports.  

Events for her sponsors Beretta and Winchester are always on her to-do list.  

Now Rhode is making time to prepare for yet another Olympic Trials. With as much ambition as that little girl spotting the deer for her father, Rhode looks ahead at her Path to Paris leading to the 2024 Olympic Games and beyond. She has no plans of stopping. It all goes back to her first gold medal as a 17-year-old.

“Wearing the red, white and blue on your back and being up on that podium watching that flag — that’s really what it’s about,” she said. “I still get choked up hearing the national anthem because of that moment.” 

Reya Kempley is USA Shooting’s communications coordinator.

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Hunters Extravaganza Exhibitor, Dave Peterson from Do All Outdoors says, “Working with Texas Trophy Hunters Association and their crew has been a great experience from the very beginning! Immediately you can see their passion for the sport we all love so much their drive to educate and bring new hunters into our world.  Watching TTHA change people’s lives is the reason we have partnered and will continue to partner with such a great organization.”

2023 Summer Hunters Extravaganza dates: https://www.ttha.com/events/view/hunters-extravaganza

• Houston, TX- August 4-6, 2023, at the NRG Center
• Fort Worth, TX- August 11-13, 2023, at the Fort Worth Convention Center 
• San Antonio, TX- August 18-20, 2023, at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall 

About Texas Trophy Hunters Association: TTHA’s Hunters Extravaganza Shows are where hunters from across Texas and beyond gather each year to get ready for hunting season. The shows are known for promoting the newest and best in hunting products, accessories, clothing, rifles, knives, archery equipment and hunting gear. Exhibitors find these shows to be the perfect place to launch new products or services, sell hunts or gather market information while the attendees find it’s the perfect place to find all their needs for the hunting season. 

TTHA, “The Voice of Texas Hunting^®”, continues to promote, protect, and preserve Texas’ wildlife resources and the trophy experience for all our future generations. TTHA offers a variety of marketing services through print, digital, television and member-based platforms. For more information, please visit www.TTHA.com. TTHA is a subsidiary of Safari Club International (SCI), the leader in promoting and protecting the freedom to hunt worldwide and host of the Ultimate Sportsmen’s Market in Nashville, Jan 31-Feb 3, 2024.

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Like most rifles that are built specifically for the individual hunter, this example could be considered eclectic, at best. Hmmm. Same could be said for me.

And there is a back story. This particular project spans a number of years, going back to a time when fellow scribes Jon Sundra, Jack Mitchell and I converged on the Shaw Barrels booth at the SHOT Show.

     Someone suggested that I should try a Shaw Barrels rifle chambered for some exotic wildcat cartridge, while someone else felt a particular barrel treatment was in order.

All of that sounded intriguing. But there was something in the back of my mind that kept insisting that I get something that is both utilitarian and features some combinations one doesn’t normally find in regular production rifles.

When the dust settled, it was decided that the rifle would be one of Shaw’s Mk VII variants with wood stock (I like the feel of real wood), 26-inch rather heavy contour spiral fluted barrel and chambered for the .300 Win. Mag. cartridge.

The action, trigger guard and outside of the barrel would be highly polished stainless steel, with the insides of the flutes blued. Contrast is nice, and I always have liked shiny rifles.

Certainly, the trend these days is for non-reflective camo finishes on rifles and there is nothing wrong with that. But there also will always be a place in my gun rooms for shiny rifles.

I don’t know that I remember any snickering in the Shaw booth that day, but that rifle has attracted other shooters like moths to a flame when it has been taken it to the range or on hunts. Some marvel at it, others seem confused because it is not the typical combination of looks and feels of a hunting rifle. Still others just shake their heads.

Certainly, I did not set out to make any kind of a fashion statement. Truth is that I just wanted something different that also could be valid for hunts on open public land in the Western United States and could be fun to have and to shoot. In the end, fun with a gun is what it is all about.

It is in this vein that a discussion about Shaw Barrels’ offerings comes front and center because, given all of their options, there are more than 75,000 possible combinations. That’s more than the combined numbers of fingers and toes of several thousand gunwriters.

Practically speaking, though, there are fewer basic configurations, as Shaw Barrels explains:

“Your choices include two barrel contours, long or short actions, and multiple barrel lengths up to 26 inches. We are happy to offer the Mk VII Gen II in both right and left-handed models for all action lengths.”

Stock options include two colors of wood laminate, checkered wood and H-S Precision synthetic.

“We have implemented a number of enhancements but without the high price tag of most custom rifles,” the company noted. “Mk VII prices range from $1,010 to $1,980 for a fully decked out rifle.”

The receiver of the MK VII is Shaw’s interpretation of the Savage 11/110. The Mk VII receiver is drilled and tapped for regular 6-48 Savage 10/110 Round Receiver scope bases. Timney triggers and Warne bases available upon request.

Some of the important features are:

• Glass- and pillar-bedded actions with fully free-floated barrels
• Checkered stocks with Pachmayr recoil pads
• Savage AccuTrigger
• Three position safety
• Dedicated long and short actions
• Precision button-rifled barrels
• 11 degree target crown
• Polished feed ramps and rails
• .25-inch heavy duty recoil lugs
• Drilled and tapped for Savage 10/110 Round Receiver scope bases.

That’s a whole lot to think about, and all of those features are present in the rifle being discussed here. With scope and sling, ready to go hunting, the weight of the rig with empty internal magazine is 10 1/2 pounds (nominal weight of the rifle alone is 8 1/2 pounds).

Certainly, this is not some featherweight wand that a hunter would choose as a first pick for a wild sheep or goat hunt high in the mountains. There are other kinds of rifles for that, and Shaw Barrels offers them as well.

What I had in mind for this rig was to be able to use it on hunts where the game is spotted at distance before the stalk begins.

Or it could work great for shooting across agricultural fields at big buck deer — that sort of thing where the rifle isn’t carried all day but is solid enough to make an accurate shot at distance when the time for that comes around.

The long and rather heavy barrel makes the rifle a bit nose-heavy, which is very nice when it is shot from some sort of rest in the field (backpack, shooting sticks, bipod, log, rock, etc.).

Also, by being slightly nose-heavy with a long barrel, it is a true joy to shoot. Felt recoil as akin to that of most full-bodied .30-06s or .308s and there is no bucking or snorting. Very nice.

The trigger pull was set at Shaw Barrels at 3.0 pounds and it “breaks” deliciously cleanly and crisply with no perceptible overtravel. This means the trigger pull will not tend to move the rifle off-target.

“The Mk VII Rifle comes standard with the AccuTrigger trigger system. Once in our facility, we triple hone all engagement surfaces for the ‘glass rod’ feel. Three position safety lever is standard,” Shaw Barrels explains.

Another feature of this rifle that was a bit of an education for me was the bolt handle and knob. I must admit that in all the decades I have been shooting, I never really gave the bolt handle and knob much attention.

I have noticed the difference, and routinely shoot the butterknife bolt handles on Mannlicher-Schoenauer and classic Mauser rifles, and have used about every other design, including some with very large, wood knobs. They all have worked fine, so there wasn’t much to say or think about.

However, I did notice that the new Shaw Barrels teardrop bolt handle was a bit different.

“Starting from raw steel stock, we carefully polish them down to a satin matte or polished finish,” Shaw Barrels noted. “Right- and left-hand models are the same.”

In use, I noticed that this particular bolt handle design enhanced my ability to cycle the action better when holding the rifle to my shoulder. That can matter on a hunt where a quick follow-up shot is needed.

The various contours of the knob make it really easy to use both fingers and the base of the palm of the hand to cycle the action. Not something I would have thought of, but darned handy that someone did.

It is in the shooting of the rifle that the fun comes into focus. This is just one nice gun to shoot. And, depending on the specific ammo being used, it is quite accurate.

Most good loads, factory or handloads, had no trouble grouping within, or under, an inch at 100 yards. Some days the groups were a little tighter than other days — a measure of the pilot, not the rifle.

When I did my part, the rifle delivered three-shot groups between 3/4-inch and an inch with a variety of loads. It seemed to prefer Hornady’s 190-grain Precision Rifle loading.

It’s great when a hunting rifle does its best work with serious hunting loads like Hornady’s Precision Rifle offering. With such accuracy from a .300 Win. Mag. 190-grain bullet, this rig is ready for deer, elk, moose, bear and just about any of the African plains game.

The build time for such a rifle is generally around four to five months. And Shaw Barrels offers a whole lot more than the Mk VII model. There are other bolt-action offerings, as well as some interesting AR rigs.

Since Shaw Barrels has been an OEM barrel maker for the industry, they chamber barrels in a really comprehensive number of cartridges — by my count 109, but I would wager that this number grows as time goes by. We’re talking about everything from .17 Remington Fireball to .458 Lott.

And this company has an interesting history:

“Shaw Barrels began its history as a nut and bolt manufacturer that heavily supported the railroad industry. As the likelihood of the United States entering WWI became more and more likely, the country’s resources were diverted to wartime efforts. Factories of all kinds were converted to making implements of war. Small shops all the way to large automakers were given the task of tooling up for the impending entrance to the first global war. With the experience and know how it was only natural that our efforts were allocated to manufacturing all types of small arms barrels. At the conclusion of WWI our sister company, Small Arms Manufacturing was born. Small Arms Manufacturing would go on to be the leading supplier of OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) gun barrels, providing premium gun barrels to small shops and large manufactures alike. Over the years we have expanded to three plants, all with the ability to produce premium grade gun barrels in all varieties,” the company explains.

So, for those who have a yearning to have a rifle made that is something a little different, Shaw Barrels is a place to check.

The post Shaw Barrels Mk VII Rifle – Something Nice And A Little Different appeared first on Safari Club.

    Benelli shotguns stand unrivaled for their field performance, precision manufacturing, and superb handling. Discerning sportsmen plying wetlands and uplands across the globe have long hailed the reliability, innovative technology, and elegant manners of Benelli shotguns. Built on the foundation of Benelli’s proven Inertia Driven system, Benelli semi-autos represent an extension of the sporting enthusiasts who wield them because they design around the human form. Integrated comfort features, ergonomic geometry, and careful balance deliver shotguns that shoulder quickly, swing easily, and aim intuitively.

    At Benelli, forward-thinking never stops. But sometimes “forward” demands a look back…and that can lead to interesting questions. Benelli designers posed themselves one such question by asking, “How would the world’s most advanced semi-auto shotgun look if reimagined as an interpretation of a classical Italian custom?” In other words, a melding of Old-World firearm artistry paired with 21st-century design manufacturing.

    Such was the genesis of the Benelli Magnifico Set of Five.

Inspiration – Design Influence

   The Magnifico Set of Five stand as unique creations that draw on the rich tapestry of Italy’s culture, innovation, and the renowned craftsmanship born of the country’s unparalleled artisan heritage. The result is a masterfully creative achievement—functional art rendered in wood and metal. Classical forms long expressed by artists through the Golden Ratio are represented in the trigger guard’s flowing lines, gracefully curved receivers hint at the courtyard arches of the Ducal Palace in Urbino. From muzzle to stock, Italy’s artisan gunmaker craft reaches the apex of classical style and contemporary engineering in the Set of Five.

Inspiration – Sporting Heritage

    The driven shoot, a treasured pastime and cultural staple of the European noble class serves as the Set of Five guiding theme. Steeped in tradition, the driven shoot has enlivened estates throughout Western Europe for centuries. It continues to set the fashion and decorum of traditional upland hunting around the world to this day.

The Magnifico Set of Five

    The Magnifico Set of Five are a set of semi-auto shotguns—two chambered in 12-gauge, two in 20-gauge, and one in 28-gauge—representing Benelli’s commitment to quality manufacturing, innovation, product refinement, and the possibilities that the company’s Italian heritage and artisan culture can bring forth in the luxury sporting arms class.

    The Benelli Set of Five brings together Italy’s leading designers’ artistic prowess and master-level craftsmanship in their respective disciplines—contemporary progenies of Italy’s guild tradition that stretches back through the Italian Renaissance era.

    While most high-art interpretations come from the creative spirit of individual artists, the Benelli Set of Five more closely mirrors an orchestral movement. Guided by a maestro, the opus comes to life as each artist breathes their unique vision and talents into the composition, creating an elegant, unified whole.

    So it is with the Set of Five.

    Conducted by Benelli designers and engineers and using Benelli’s premium shotgun as the canvas, each artisan approached the project with their own nuanced interpretation of a classically inspired yet technologically advanced modern shotgun.

Mechanical Works

    Benelli is a company dedicated to engineering excellence and a higher design form that erects both a physical and an emotional bridge between man and the manufactured. The Set of Five begins with Benelli’s premium shotgun. The company’s unrivaled Inertia Driven system is at the heart of each gun, which delivers reliable cycling with any load, clean operation, and a soft, refined recoil pulse. Combined with the platform’s exceptional balance and handling, these shotguns are ideally suited for long days and short flush intervals.

Engraving

    The engraver’s art hits its crescendo in the firearm world under the direction of Giovanni Steduto and Valerio Peli, master engravers from Creative Art Laboratorio Incisioni, one of today’s most renowned firearm engraving bottegas. Steduto and Peli hand-engraved each of the Set of Five receivers with inspirational scrollwork and modern interpretations of classical hunting scenes inspired by the aristocratic hunting traditions.

    The 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and 28-gauge models each receive distinctive, unique engravings with scenes aligned with the individual gun’s theme. Scenes of waterfowl in wetland settings grace the 12-gauge shotguns with different portrayals on both sides of the receiver. The 20-gauge models edify the upland hunt with bird dogs and flushing pheasants. The 28-gauge life-like etchings of pointers and quail exemplify the pastoral tradition.

    Framing the exquisite hunting scenes are delicate oak leaf and acorn motifs. The presentation is further accentuated with embossed rose gold on the acorns and sky elements, providing a bold, rich contrast to the field settings.

Stock & Fitment

    F.lli Piotti, a premiere custom house overseen by master gun craftsmen in the northern Italy province of Brescia, leveraged the experienced Piotti brothers for the stock and fitment work. The brothers selected the finest walnut billets, hand-fashioning the raw wood to jewel-like perfection and seamlessly integrating the metalwork. Hand-rubbed oil finish and buffalo horn butt plates further emphasize the luxurious form.

Case & Sundries

    A premiere gun set demands only the most acceptable accoutrements for display or field presentation. For the Set of Five, Benelli tapped the leather artistry of Oscar Maschera to craft a one-of-a-kind handmade leather case. Maschera designed the case in a style reminiscent of the triptych form of Renaissance art. The trifold case is constructed of a wooden frame wrapped in premium vegetable-tanned full-grain leather with expert hand-stitching and hardware composed of brass and brass-plated steel. The entire Set of Five fits securely in the case with gauge-specific care sets containing a polished, chrome-plated steel oil bottle, snap cap, and barrel cleaning kit. Foldaway legs are built into the case to facilitate access and to protect the leather bottom.

    Integrated into the case lid is an engraving of Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci—the personification of Renaissance expression. To join Italian artistry across the centuries, the unpublished novella Among forests and fields  by Umberto Piersanti, 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature nominee, is included in a hand-stitched leather-bound cover.

The Magnifico Set of Five Premiere

    Benelli presented the Magnifico Set of Five at an exclusive invitation-only gala held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas during the 2022 Safari Club International Hunter’s Convention.

    In addition to showcasing Benelli’s vision of blending contemporary shotgun performance with Old-World artistry that honors Italian heritage and craftsmanship, the Magnifico Set of Five project also aims to further the important advocacy work of Safari Club International. This luxurious, one-of-a-kind shotgun set will be sold, after which Benelli will donate $200,000 to SCI, helping to fund the organization’s wildlife conservation and humanitarian service efforts, as well as the American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) and the International Wildlife Museum.

The US tour of the Magnifico Set of Five is going on, with two other presentation events, hosted by J. Alain Smith:

– at the Dallas Beretta Gallery on February 10th, 5 pm CST

– at the New York Beretta Gallery on March 3rd 5 pm EST

The post Benelli Unveils Magnifico Set Of Five appeared first on Safari Club.

In the case of Federal Cartridge, which celebrates its 100th birthday next year, a simple congratulation is really all that’s necessary. Any extra space we have to fill can be more than occupied simply listing some of its many achievements, aside from the simple triumph of still being in business — and very healthy at that — when big names like Winchester and Remington have gone down the tube as independent companies.

Federal dates its official beginnings to 1922, but in fact a company of that name was founded six years earlier. It was in receivership, and its small factory was sitting idle, when Minneapolis businessman Charles Horn bought it out of bankruptcy and started the machines running again.

Initially, it was a shotshell company. Horn wanted to use its expertise at making laminated paper tubes to produce cardboard containers for the BBs made by his other company.  Instead, he found himself making 12-gauge ammunition. Up against established giants like Remington and Western (later Winchester-Western), who could (and did) block conventional supply chains, Horn found other ways to sell his product. He wrote letters, travelled the country in his Buick with a trunk full of ammunition, and placed it on shelves in barbershops, pool halls and doctor’s offices. Others in the industry laughed at him, but it worked.

Later, he began making house-brand ammunition for companies like Montgomery Ward and Sears, Roebuck & Co.

This little-guy-versus-the-giants image has stuck to Federal for as long as I’ve been aware of its existence. But when you look back at its history, it’s been a major player in the American ammunition business since the 1930s, and is now, itself, the giant everyone else tries to beat.

While Federal began with shotshells, it moved into the rimfire market in the mid-1920s, and by the ’30s, it was the leader in accurate match ammunition. Centerfire metallic cartridges came at the beginning of the Second World War, and the company produced military munitions. It then entered the civilian centerfire market in 1963.

Federal’s production of serious big-game hunting ammunition is interesting because, as with its initial marketing strategy, it took a novel approach. Here’s what it was up against: Hunters read outdoor magazines and paid attention to what they recommended. Outdoor Life’s Jack O’Connor was the most influential hunting writer, and had a close association with Winchester. Winchester’s best hunting bullet was the Silvertip — easily the most brilliant name given to any hunting bullet ever. Over at Field & Stream, Warren Page had a similar relationship with Remington, and if the Core-Lokt was not as well-known as the Silvertip, it did have adherents.

By the 1970s, Federal’s line of big-game cartridges was struggling. It had no bullet to put up against the Silvertip or Core-Lokt. However, Weatherby had been marketing its own Norma-made Weatherby ammunition for years, and offered factory loads with Nosler Partitions at a premium price. “Why not?” thought Federal, and it cut a deal to put Nosler Partitions in Federal ammunition. At the same time, they began loading the superbly accurate Sierra MatchKing bullets in what became Federal Gold Medal Match .308s.

A friend who worked for Federal at the time told me that this decision saved Federal’s centerfire rifle line. Companies like Nosler and Sierra promoted their premium bullets, and Federal could benefit from their reputations and advertising, as well as the breathless accounts of outdoor writers as to their efficacy on big animals.

At the same time, it offered hunters and shooters premium performance without the necessity of handloading. Soon, it was offering the Swift A-Frame as well, and later Woodleigh WeldCores. Finally, in 1992, Federal bought the rights to Jack Carter’s superb Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Trophy Bonded became its in-house premium game bullet.

All through the ’90s, Winchester-Western and Remington suffered from the “not invented here” syndrome, even to the point of denying outright, to myself and others, that there was any such thing as a “premium” big-game bullet.

This is just one of dozens of stories that could be told about Federal Cartridge, which now anchors the Vista Outdoor group, and includes names like CCI, Speer, Alliant Powder, Hoppe’s, and RCBS.

And, we have room for one brief irony. Vista’s most recent acquisition is Remington Ammunition, bought out of bankruptcy after a turbulent 30 years. Wherever he is, Charles Horn has the last laugh.–Terry Wieland

Terry Wieland is a recognized authority on fine firearms. He has written several books on guns and hunting, has hunted around the world and returns to Africa as often as possible. He lives in Fenton, Missouri.

The post He Who Laughs Last appeared first on Safari Club.

YouTube, the world’s largest video content media mogul, has launched the biggest attacks on added new guidelines that will ultimately shut down hunting content creators’ webpages from making much, if any, money. Safari Club International has been tracking big tech censorship and constantly trying to put a stop to it. Here is what we know so far about YouTube’s mission to cancel hunting: 

YouTube has added new guidelines to its “Ad-Friendly content Guidelines” that sets restrictions on any picture/video showing an animal in distress caused by human action. Censoring this kind of content from a hunting channel will limit views. This is demonetizing hunters, as taking away views will remove any chance of making ad-revenue, the only way to make money from YouTube, and ultimately end with the expiration of said channel. Furthermore, this is bad news for outdoorsmen and women who enjoy learning from these videos or using it as educational moment for their children or new hunters. 

Examples of these restrictions are already starting to surface and hurt conservationist hunters. Seek One, with over half a million subscribers and millions of views on their channel, was confronted by YouTube earlier this year. Violation of these restrictions, which at the time were unclear to Seek One, cost them 30 days of revenue lost. Much of their content, which is ethical hunting and beneficial to conservation, is now restricted to “causing distress to animals.” 

Ending big tech censorship is important on many different levels: freedom of speech, freedom to hunt, and freedom to express and share your craft, hobby, and livelihood. With these restrictions in place hunting channels will have to leave platforms like YouTube or Facebook to be able to gain ads and produce revenue. When we lose our voices on big platforms such as the one mentioned above, we put this sport and the wellbeing of the great outdoors at risk. Big Tech is following emotional arguments against hunting without regard for benefits to species, field to table food, and habitat protection. 

Safari Club International won’t let this stand. SCI is fighting against Big Tech censorship on behalf of hunters across the country. If you haven’t already, now is the time to SIGN OUR PETITION TO STAND UP TO BIG TECH and let you voice be heard! Safari Club International is always First For Hunters. 

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The Boone and Crockett Club president, James F. Arnold stated, “We appreciate SCI’s support as a Trailblazer in Conservation as we move forward with our Poach & Pay project. The research that got underway this summer will help provide us with the specific actions that we can take to change the game on poachers. Our partnership with conservation organizations like SCI will ensure that we can implement the changes that the Poach & Pay research identifies in order to promote hunting ethics and the future of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.”

SCI is sponsoring this program as part of our diligent commitment to legal hunting and conservation of wildlife. The initiative focuses on assessing restrictions to prosecuting poachers, researching the conservation impacts of wildlife crime, describing incentives and deterrents for poachers, providing solutions to poaching, and addressing the negative narrative against hunters in the media. SCI is honored to add the Poach & Pay program to our work of standing First for Hunters. 

“SCI is proud to support the Poach & Pay program and to work with the Boone and Crockett Club in the fight against illegal poaching,” said CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. “This program will be critical to our efforts to increase participation in the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and promote legal, regulated hunting. Hunters are the first line of defense against poaching, and SCI is excited for this important initiative across the country.”

SCI continues to work on all fronts in supporting hunters across the country. SCI is excited to be a part of this critical initiative and looks forward to future partnerships with the Boone and Crockett Club as we work together for the rights of hunters.

The post SCI Supports The Boone and Crockett Club’s Poach & Pay Initiative as “Trailblazer in Conservation” appeared first on Safari Club.