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Shooting USA – Speed Shooting World Championship
This time, it’s gun racing on historic targets at the World Speed Shooting Championships. It’s been 35 years since Mike and Mike drew up the first Steel Challenge on a napkin. Since then it’s become a tradition and a challenge to the best in the handgun sports. Plus, the preview of new guns coming from Colt for 2017. And, an old Colt, the Woodsman, is now highly collectible as one of History’s Guns.
The Steel Challenge
 Some 35 years ago two guys created the first Steel Challenge event consisting of different arrangements of five steel targets. Those target designs are still the same to this day, where competitors draw and shoot for speed. However, as the match remains the same, the guns continue to evolve. Now, the Speed Shooting World Championship in California accepts new models, including the pistol caliber carbine.
 “The more guns that you put into the sport, the more people you put into the sport,” says United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) President Mike Foley. “Pistol caliber carbine is a gun that is available to the mainstream public. You don’t have to have a lot of advanced skills or support equipment. You simply need a rifle and five magazines, and ammunition.”
 Competitors shoot the eight classic courses of fire. The action begins with an audible start from the timer, and every competitor shoots five strings of fire. The best four strings count for score. The Steel Challenge is one of the best competitions to challenge both speed and accuracy, in all divisions of the sport.
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History’s Guns: Colt Woodsman
 Colt had the most popular .22-design for the majority of the 20th Century. That Colt autoloader was the Woodsman, a John Browning design that today is highly collectable. Colt released the Woodsman in 1915, and then halted production during World War Two. In 1945, Colt geared up production again. In total, Colt built nearly 700,000 Woodsmen in six decades of production.
“The Colt Woodsman is one of the great .22 auto pistols of all time,” says Firearms Historian Garry James. “It has all the good controls on it: your thumb safety, your slide-release and button-mag release. You know, similar to the Government Model, really.”
New Products from Colt in 2017
 For the first time in nearly two decades, Colt has a new double-action revolver that will be sold in gun shops this year. The new compact wheel gun, called the Cobra, is just one of the new releases from Colt for 2017. Ahead of SHOT Show, the firearms manufacturing company organized a preview for journalists at Gunsite Academy in Arizona.
The Delta Elite in 10mm is also making a return, but with a new rail system. Plus, Colt’s legendary Gold Cup is now a Series 70 model. Colt is also producing a period-correct reproduction of the M16A1, which is likely to be a favorite among collectors, and it is already catching the eye of Colt Combat Unit Member Darryl Holland.
“That A1 really is something neat. It's like traveling in a time machine, back 30 years and I’m back in basic training,” says Holland. “The engineers went to great lengths to make it identical to the late 60's when that gun first came out, so I am really pleased.”
 Colt is also be introducing with the Combat Unit M4, which was developed with input from Holland and the rest of the Combat Unit. The M16A1 and the M4 are expected to hit store shelves later this year.
Stay tuned to http://www.colt.com for updates.
Hornady Precision Hunter in 7mm Magnum
 Hornady is out with the new Precision Hunter ammunition in 7mm that’s built around the state-of-the-art ELD X bullet. ELD stands for Extremely Low Drag, and the X means the bullet with a polymer tip is built to expand. It is the most consistent true-flying bullet tip, and the jacket is specifically designed for excellent performance at all ranges. Hornady Precision Hunter ammunition is available in all of the popular hunting calibers.
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LMSS - Bushnell Elite Tactical Spotting Scope
 The LMSS is the newest spotting scope in the Elite Tactical line from Bushnell. The Lightweight Modular Spotting Scope, or LMSS, is an 8-40x60mm variable power with a quarter 20 mount, making it compatible with just about any tripod. The glass is ED Prime and HD-coated, which means the LMSS is both waterproof and fog-proof. Additionally, there are threaded mounting points with hex head screws to add rails or illuminators. Since the LMSS is part of the Elite Tactical line, it’s covered by the 100 percent, no questions asked, money back guarantee from Bushnell.
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Pro Tip: SFC Daniel Horner - AR-15 Training
 The AR-15 is the most popular sporting rifle on the market. It’s also the choice for many who compete in multi-gun competition. We’ve got eight-time Multi-Gun National Champion, Sergeant Daniel Horner of the Army Marksmanship Unit, to explain how to sharpen your techniques and keep your training current with the AR.
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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