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Shooting USA – Tactical Police Competition
Law enforcement officers compete in a multi-gun match that’s really street-smart training for today’s threats of mass shooting attacks. Plus, the double-action Colt Model of 1877, never as famous as the Peacemaker, but now one of History’s Guns. And Handgun Silhouette competition reaches out 500 meters, to rifle distances, at the World Championships.
Competition for Law Enforcement
 Eight years ago, the National Rifle Association found that our nation’s police officers were not getting effective training. So, the NRA came up with a solution: Tactical Police Competition or TPC. It’s three-gun competition, limited to duty gear, for local, state, and federal law enforcement officers. So, at one match in Fairfax, Virginia, more than 120 officers from 50 different agencies are in attendance to compete with gear they carry on the street while running through scenario-based courses of fire.
 “It’s great trigger-time. We need more and more of it in law enforcement, and we just don’t get enough of it,” says Master Police Officer Rob Sloan of the Fairfax County Police Department. “It puts us in situations where we’re having to move with our guns, not just staying static shooting at a wall target. So the training value alone is excellent.”
The NRA designed this competition with the officer in mind, which is reflected in the scoring system. All courses of fire are timed and scored in seconds, including hits on paper targets. Unlike civilian shooting sports, which favor speed, TPC favors accuracy. Just missing a paper target costs competitors 40 seconds! Police departments recognize the importance of TPC, so some send their officers to compete, while other officers attend on their own time.
“It’s challenging and sometimes it’s stuff that my department can’t afford to do. So, I seek it out on my own,” says SWAT member Kevin Lally. “Being a cop isn’t an eight-hour job where you can just check in and out. A lot of our training is done on our own personal time.”
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History’s Guns - Colt Model of 1877
 It’s hard to think of a more successful American revolver from the late 1800s than the Single Action Army, but the first successful double action made in America was Colt’s Model of 1877. Colt produced the revolver made in three different calibers, but the Lightning chambered in .38 Colt was the most popular of the three. Still, the double-action was a long time coming for Colt.
 “Kind of late by real standards, because there had been lots of double actions prior to that, especially in Europe.” says Firearms Historian Garry James. “The double action’s very smooth. It’s very comfortable and when it works it’s a super little gun.”
World Championship of the International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association
 Silhouette shooting is a challenging discipline with competitors shooting as far as 500 meters with enough energy to knock down a 60-pound steel ram. Silhouette shooting for handguns is also growing. The discipline has advanced to rifle-distances thanks to new cartridges and new guns, but the sport is still a challenge. At the World Championship of International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association (IHMSA) in Oklahoma City, competitors must also battle triple-digit temperatures and high winds. The challenge and the result are appealing to the long time enthusiast and to new shooters as well.
“That new shooter comes out and when he hears that bullet clang on the target, we pretty well got the hook in him,” says Jim Fields, the Match Director and IHMSA World Champion. “Of course you know 200 meters makes their jaw drop but 500 meters, they think you’re lying to them.”
 More than 120 shooters from the U.S., Canada, South America and Australia compete at the World Championships. They shoot handguns at 80 steel targets representing different game animals at varying distances in a set amount of time, but the target must fall to score. The gun cannot touch the ground, so many competitors use different shooting positions to steady the gun, including one known as the Creedmoor.
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Comp-Tac Holster & Belt
 Comp-Tac is short for Competition and Tactical, and the company produces holsters and gear that are made for competitors and law enforcement. The new outside-the-waistband International Holster is Comp-Tac’s premier competition model that facilitates a quick draw with the front cutout. It’s a favorite among professional shooters including Comp-Tac Pro Randi Rogers. It is made to fit many popular makes and models, including those with red dot optics. The International Holster is about $65.
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Comp-Tac’s Kydex Reinforced Contour Belt is designed for concealed carry, competition, and for everyday use. The internal layer of Kydex reinforces the structure, which prevents wrinkling over time, and adds stability. Plus, the belt is cut on a contour to match your shape. The reinforced belt comes in brown or black, with or without taper for $85.
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BLACKHAWK! Go-Box
 It’s time to ditch that Ziploc bag or tin can of ammunition. BLACKHAWK! has a new solution to carry your brass. The Go Box 30 Ammo Bag. It has the same internal space as a .30 cal ammo can, but is durable. It rolls up and clips to close and has a wrap-around carry handle that will hold the weight, with the help of the reinforced padded base. Plus, there’s a hook-and-loop badge holder to label the bag. It’s available in Black or Coyote Tan for $38.
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Bushnell AK Optic
 If you’ve found an AK that shoots tight enough to warrant an optic, Bushnell has the answer. The new AK Optics 1-4x24 variable power scope is built on a 30-milimeter tube for superior light gathering. All of the lenses are multi-coated, which makes this rugged optic both fog and waterproof. The reticule is BDC designed around the flight characteristics of the 7.62x39 cartridge, and it’s on the second focal plane. The AK Optics is available for $350.
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Pro Tip: Julie Golob – Carry Gun Grip
 Smaller guns have bigger felt recoil, but they’re also easier to control when the gun is gripped correctly. So, Smith & Wesson Team Captain Julie Golob shows us the right way to grip that carry gun for both revolvers and semi-autos.
VIEW THE PRO TIP
GET THE DVD!
 NRA Membership Offer: Jim Pays $10 when you join the NRA through the Shooting USA website.
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