Nikon has come out with a new RifleHunter 550 yard laser rangefinder featuring the new ID (Incline/Decline) Technology. The advanced ID Technology compensates for various incline or decline shooting angles and provides the equivalent horizontal range to the target. You simply aim, push the button and plan the shot according to the displayed distance.  The Nikon RifleHunter gives up to a 550 yard range and displays in 2 yard/meter increments in ID Technology mode or 1/2 yard/meter increments in standard mode out to 99.5 yards with 1 yard/meter increments beyond 100 yards in either mode. The slim design is easy to use with one hand and measures only 5.1 x 2.7 x 1.5 inches and weighs only 6.3 ounces without the CR2 battery (included). The 6X optical magnification also makes it easier to spot your target. The Nikon RifleHunter Laser Rangefinder retails for $279.95 and can be purchased at Explore Products.

EasyHit Fiber Optic Shotgun Sights can now be purchased from EasyHit-USA.com. The EasyHit Shotgun Sight is the only fiber optic sight used by Mr. Tom Knapp to complete a new world record of shooting individually 10 simultaneously hand thrown clay targets in the air! The EasyHit sight can correct eye dominance issues and improve most shooters hit rate. It fits most ribbed shotguns and installs in seconds without tools. The EasyHit can be purchased at EasyHit-USA.com for $24.99 plus shipping.

Article copied from National Shooting Sports Foundation Online News Vol. 9 No. 11.  Hunting (Equipment)  and shooting-related equipment has out-driven golf (equipment) in sales, according to data released by the National Sporting Goods Association. New statistics show that hunting gear and firearm sales topped $3.7 billion in 2006, up 4.1 percent from the previous year. Only exercise equipment performed better, with sales of $5.22 billion, according to NSGA’s most recent “Sporting Goods Market” report. Golf equipment, which claimed the No. 2 spot the previous year, fell into the third spot with $3.66 billion in sales. NSGA’s sales projection for 2007 shows golf equipment and hunting and shooting equipment again running neck-and-neck to claim the No. 2 spot, with exercise equipment remaining at No. 1. Included in the hunting- and shooting-related equipment category are firearms ($2.18 billion in 2006 sales), airguns ($224.1 million), ammunition ($977.1 million), knives ($51.8 million), paintball guns/packages ($220.9 million) and reloading equipment ($52.0 million).

When traveling by air with your expensive golf clubs you should always protect your clubs by using a hard golf travel case. Many people put there clubs in a soft case. But this does not protect the clubs from the abuse of air travel including having other luggage thrown on top of your clubs, and just plain old rough handling. There are many different cases on the market, but the best seem to be the SKB hard golf travel cases. A great all-around case is the SKB 2SKB-4814 Wheeled Shaped Golf Case. The case inside dimensions are  Inside dimensions: 48″ x 14″ which fits most standard golf bags and drivers up to 48″. What makes this such a great case is that it is not only very well built, but it is also covered by an awesome warranty. SKB Golf Cases are made in the USA out of durable ABS material and are warrantied for life plus have a “Million Mile Warranty”. Plus SKB has a $1500 Club Coverage warranty as well. If your clubs are ever damaged by the airlines in an SKB case, they will cover up to $1500 of the club purchase price. No other case company has coverage on the case AND your clubs! The 2SKB-4814W also has the new TSA locks for security. If you are traveling with 2 sets of clubs then consider the SKB 2SKB-5020W Wheeled Double Golf Case with inside dimensions of 50″ x 12″x 20″. If you are flying only a couple of times or on a budget you might want to consider the Doskocil Golf Guard Deluxe Case with outside dimensions of 49.6″ x 14.9″ x 16.4″. This case is not as heavy-duty as the SKB cases, but still offers more protection than a soft case and is still wheeled for easy travel. You can see all of the SKB and Doskocil golf cases at Explore Products at discount prices. 

If you are planning to use a firearm for self-defense you will face the issue of gun storage. Most states make it illegal to have a handgun in reach of a minor child. A standard Gun Case will secure the handgun but will not provide fast access in the event that you need it in an emergency situation. You could purchase a Handgun Safe, but most of them are hard to access in an emergency situation. The best solution is a fingerprint activated handgun safe. We have looked at many different designs over the years, but have found most fingerprint activated safes to be either crude in their design or slow to open. A safe that takes 5 seconds or more to open may actually create a dangerous situation. Five seconds may not sound like a long time, but count it out to your self while imagining someone is breaking into your house!

The BioMax Fingerprint Activated Handgun Safe is new on the market, but is actually a improvement over a previous safe companies design marketed under Bio Secure which is now out of business. The BioMax opens in about 2 seconds and can be programmed for up to 10 different users.  

Bio-Max’s advanced pressure-sensitive sensor is unlike other sensors in the market, it allows you to clearly sense both dry and wet fingers. It also has the largest sensing area, which enables you to capture a complete fingerprint for higher accuracy of recognition or authentication. Your fingerprint is the key, so that only those who are authorized can open the case.  This versatile case with its spacious interior accommodates (2) Handguns and also provides secure storage for jewelry, medications, evidence, sensitive documents and other valuables at home or while traveling. It Operates on (2) 9-Volt batteries (included) with a power saving mode to provide maximum battery life with low battery alert. The BioMax’s interior dimensions are 11½”L x 8½”W x 2¾”H and it weighs about 8½ pounds. It includes a locking cable and also works with an optional mounting plate to secure it to a wall, bed frame, etc. The BioMax can be purchased from Explore Products for around $369.99.

I had a chance to try out the Calcutta Fishing CR Ultra Grip 9″ Pliers and Super Tool. The CR stands for corrosion resistant matte finish which is supposed to resist corrosion in fresh and saltwater. The pliers have a rubber sure grip handle which makes them easy to hold onto even when wet or covered with fish slime. The tool has a 9″ long nose pliers with teeth that make holding fish hooks easy. It also features a 5 position crimp tool plus break tip for split rings. It also has a back hinge punch for opening jig heads where the eyelet is painted over or has excess lead. The pliers are hefty feeling and have a nice substantial weight. The only drawback is that they do not float like the X-Tools pliers. The Calcutta pliers can be purchased at Explore Products.