Here is some of the latest news from the shooting sports industry:

Robert R. Reese of Geneseo, Illinois, iconic founder of Springfield Armory, died Saturday, June 22, 2019, in Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, Iowa. He was 87.

Robert Rost Reese was born June 27, 1931, in Moline, Illinois, to Thomas William and Ruby Rose (Rost) Reese. Bob married Carol Schillinger on June 25, 1952, in Geneseo and went on to serve in the U.S. Army National Guard at Camp Cooke in Santa Barbara County, California. Upon discharge from the Army, Bob and Carol returned to the Midwest where he began farming in Henry County, Illinois, with his father. In addition to farming, Bob had several other occupations. He was an agriculture equipment salesman in Tipton, Iowa, a real estate developer in Hanna Township, and a dealer of Army surplus with a store in Geneseo.

In 1974, Bob resurrected the "Springfield Armory" name, and in doing so, preserved iconic and historically significant firearm designs such as the M1 Garand, the US M14, and the 1911 pistol. Bob, his wife, Carol, and their son, Dennis, were the first employees in this next chapter of the legendary Springfield Armory. They were joined by sons Dave and Tom, and together the Reese family grew the business to be a global force in the firearms industry.

Bob was a man of many interests and talents. He enjoyed boating, water skiing, snow skiing, and racing dirt bikes, but his greatest passion was in all things related to firearms and shooting. He was an avid competitive shooter, hunter, and fisherman, who pursued those interests together with Carol all over the world. He hunted big game well into his late 70s, traveling to such places as Mongolia, Azerbaijan, the Amazon, Alaska, Africa, and everywhere in between.

Bob was a lifelong, committed advocate for the Second Amendment, who cherished its significance and lived his life guided by the principles of independence and personal responsibility. He loved trips to Camp Perry, exhibiting on Commercial Row and supporting the Highpower Rifle Championships and Bullseye Pistol Championships, an annual tradition that began only months after founding Springfield Armory in 1974. Bob was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and has several firearms patents to his name. At age 17, he became the North American Junior Trapshooting champion.

Bob is survived by his wife, Carol; three sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis J. and Jane Reese of Geneseo, David R, and Colleen Reese of Colona, and Thomas William and Jane Reese of Geneseo; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Stefany and Chris Toomer, Nicholas Reese, Robert and Bethany Reese, Jon Reese, Kelly and Houston Holt, Carolyn and John Kozlik, and Thomas William Reese; and two great-grandchildren, Ruby Grace Holt and Eli Joseph Reese. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Carol Kleeman.

Stories and condolences may be shared at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.

Memorials may be made to the following:
— VFW - https://heroes.vfw.org/page/21776/donate
— Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/

TrueTimber To Exhibit at ICAST Fishing Show

TrueTimber, which debuted its fishing line at the 2018 ICAST show in Orlando, has expanded the line and will display a variety of performance apparel items, accessories and partner products at the 2019 ICAST show from July 10-12.

TrueTimber invites attendees to visit booth 4846 to experience the TrueTimber Fishing product line and see a number of other products in the brand’s most popular camouflage patterns. Attendees can discuss licensing opportunities with the fastest growing camouflage brand in the country and meet professional angler and TrueTimber brand ambassador Edwin Evers.

“ICAST is one of the most important trade events in the recreational fishing industry, and TrueTimber has a lot in store for attendees this year,” said TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars. “In the wake of our TrueTimber Fishing launch last year, another ICAST gives us an incredible opportunity to familiarize trade professionals with the product line and ultimately get it into the hands of anglers all over the world. Attendees will see our best-in-class camo patterns, including Viper Aqua and Rift, which were designed exclusively for those who live and breathe fishing and the outdoors.”

One of the most successful anglers of all time, Evers is one of only five competitors in history to pass the $3 million mark in career winnings. Evers has recorded 11 wins and 110 top-20 finishes in his 22-year career. He won the 2016 Bassmaster Classic and 2019 Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Stage Two in Conroe, Texas. Evers is also an avid outdoorsman and hunter — primarily hunting deer, turkey and waterfowl — when he’s not on the water.

Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls Sponsors Mountain Archery Fest

Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls has recently signed on as a sponsor for all three locations of Mountain Archery Fest.

The first Mountain Archery Fest event was June 28-30 at Eagle Point in Beaver, Utah. The second event will be at the Purgatory Resort in Durango, Colorado July 12-14 and the final event is at Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico on Aug. 9-11. All three locations offer scenic mountain views and fantastic archery courses.

The Mountain Archery Fest will have multiple courses at each event to challenge shooters archery skills and physical condition. Elk calling seminars at each location will be performed by Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls prostaff members. RMHC will have a booth at each event with a variety of calls available. Each event will also have an elk calling contest sponsored by RMHC.

For more information regarding the Mountain Archery Fest events, go to www.mountainarcheryfest.com.

Sig Sauer's July Promotion on Legion Pistols

In coordination with the launch of the P320 XFIVE Legion pistol, Sig Sauer is offering an exclusive promotion in July with the purchase of any of its Legion Series pistols.

From July 1-31,  buy any new Sig Sauer Legion Series full-size P226, P229, P220, or the new P320 XFIVE pistol and get $200 in SIG Store Rewards. Purchase any new compact Sig Sauer Legion Series P938 or P238 and get $100 in Sig Store Rewards.

Sig Store Rewards are redeemable at the Sig Sauer Web Store and can be used to upgrade, outfit, and optimize your purchase.

The Legion Series pistols are an exclusive product line developed by Sig Sauer based on input from elite shooting professionals, and designed to exceed the expectations of the serious shooter. The Sig Sauer Legion is an exclusive, members-only access program available to owners of the Sig Sauer Legion Series of firearms. Upon registration of any Legion Series firearm, members receive a complimentary thermo-mold carrying case, a challenge coin matched to the firearm, exclusive access to Legion gear and merchandise, and receive exclusive communications from Sig Sauer and the Legion.

For additional details about the Legion Series pistols visit sigsauer.com.

Legacy Sports International Hosts Training

Legacy Sports International recently hosted four days of valuable in-house seminars, training and hands on range time for their Territory Sales Representatives team in Reno, Nev.

This training helped build the team’s knowledge of the Legacy Sports International brands of Howa, Pointer, Citadel, Lithgow Arms and Niko Stirling. Day one consisted of training with Netsuite, LSI's newly enhanced business management software. The afternoon session was focused on social media training and accounting.

On day two, the team toured the 50,000 square foot LSI warehouse  which LSI shares with Reno Cerakote. Representatives from NIC industries gave a seminar on Cerakote and its functional benefits. The day finished with further training from Reno Gunsmithing, where the team worked on the assembly and disassembly of various firearms.

Day three consisted of a visit to Green Gulch Ranch Hunting Club in Vinton, Calif., where hundreds of clay targets and rounds of ammunition were put to use as the team shot various Howa Precision Rifles with NikkoStirling Optics out to 1,000 yards, Pointer Shotguns on the trap range, and pinged targets with Citadel 1911’s. On the final day the team reviewed their sales plan for the balance of the year for each of their respective territories and had discussions on continued improvements as well as 2020 product selections.

Lag Tactical, Cerakote, Green Gulch Ranch and Reno Gunsmithing provided support for the event.

Barrett Partners With Shoot Steel for Branded Targets

Barrett has entered into a licensing agreement with Shoot Steel Inc. to design, manufacture and market a Barrett-branded collection of high-performance steel targets.

"We are extremely proud to announce this partnership between Shoot Steel and Barrett Firearms," said Max Roszkowski of Shoot Steel Targets. "These two companies, being leaders in their respective areas, aim to produce hard use and field-tested equipment guaranteed to live up to every expectation the end consumer might have.

"The new line of Barrett Targets will combine the already proven design aspects of Shoot Steel targets as well as incorporate some new features and materials including AR550 steel and weather resistant target coating. In short, both Barrett customers and Shoot Steel customers have grown to demand the best, and we aim to give them the training tools they need to continuously develop and test their skills for years to come."

The Barrett collection will include 3/8" and 1/2" target lines as well as the most popular target packages and reactive targets. As Barrett Targets continues to develop and rigorously test new products, more will be added under the Barrett line.

"Barrett enthusiasts are passionate and expect quality and performance when a product bears our brand name," said Chris Barrett, President.

For more information and purchasing information, visit www.barrett-targets.com

NSSF Announces 2019 Trust Grant Recipients

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has selected five recipients to receive a portion of 2019’s $100,000 grant allotment provided by the NSSF Hunting Heritage Trust.

Recipients of and the projects to which the grants will be applied include:

• National Wild Turkey Federation, $13,000 for the project “Increasing the Number of Women Shooters Who Participate in Hunting”

• Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, $25,000 for the project “Toolkit for Hunting Recruitment and Retention (to Increase Hunting License Buyers from Hunter Education Graduates”

• Georgia Wildlife Federation, $26,000 for the project “Continuation and Expansion of College Learn-to-Hunt Programs in Georgia”

• First Hunt Foundation, $16,000* for the project “First Hunt Foundation R-3 Program”

• Pheasants Forever, $20,000 for the project “Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Women on the Wing Initiative”

“Recruiting new hunters, keeping active hunters in the field pursuing the sport they love and bringing back to the fold those who haven’t been hunting in a while is critical to the preservation of this cherished pastime,” said Steve Sanetti, NSSF CEO. “We are excited by the depth and breadth of the programs each of these organizations has developed for these funds and are looking forward to the positive impact they will have.”

The 2019 grant funds are the first to be released from the $1 million fund established in October 2018 as the NSSF Hunting Heritage Trust. The grant was funded equally by NSSF and the Hunting Heritage Trust. This first-of-its-kind grant program works directly to support NSSF’s mission of promoting, protecting and preserving hunting and the shooting sports. It is designed to distribute funds for 10 consecutive years to organizations meeting eligibility requirements and intending to use the funds to support recruitment, retention and reactivation programs, known collectively as R3 efforts.

*The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation graciously matched the NSSF Heritage Hunt Trust funds awarded to the First Hunt Foundation.

Nosler To Promote Paczkowski

Nosler, Inc., has promoted Tim Paczkowski to the role of North American Sales Manager.

Paczkowski, who was first hired in 2003, has held such positions as Territory Sales Representative and Regional Sales Manager where he was responsible for Canada and partial U.S. territories. In his newly expanded role, Tim will be responsible for managing sales activities in the entirety of the United States and Canada.

Prior to joining Nosler, Paczkowski, a graduate of the Colorado School of Trades Gunsmithing program, spent time as a gunsmith, several years in retail sales, then worked for over 15 years for several prominent sporting goods distributors in the United States.

“I am very happy to have Tim taking the reins in this critical role for us," said Pat Mundy, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Nosler. "He brings decades of experience in sales, deep industry knowledge, and strong planning and interpersonal skills to the position.”

Paczkowski is a lifelong hunter, avid shooter, and handloader.