Here is the latest tactical shooting sports industry news:
Franklin Armory has signed Andrew Lee, the defending MotoAmerica Stock 1000 motorcycle racing champion, to a sponsorship deal for the 2019 season.
Lee maneuvers a Kawasaki ZX-10R in the Stock 1000 division and wears the No. 1 plate on the front signifying his 2018 championship. In eight races last year, Lee won three times, claimed four poles and had seven top-two finishes.
Franklin Armory offers AR-style firearms for sporting, military, and law enforcement applications along with NFA-compliant firearms.
“We’ve now got some firepower to go along with our horsepower,” Lee quipped. “I’m very excited to be working with Franklin Armory. The people who work there are really great, and the company sources all American materials and equipment, which in my book is awesome. I’m super-thankful to have them in my program this year.”
Jay Jacobson, owner and president of Franklin Armory, is a former backmarker in AMA road racing and loves the sport.
“It is an honor to be able to give back to the sport that I love so much," Jacobson said. "I know just how impressive it is that Andrew has accomplished so much in so little time. The crossover demographics between motorcycles and firearms are significant, and we appreciate the opportunity to be able to engage our customers while supporting Andrew Lee Racing in the upcoming MotoAmerica Stock 1000 series.”
Lee will make his season debut at the first round of the series April 5-7 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
PRS Taps Savage Arms as Official Gas Gun
The Precision Rifle Series has named Savage Arms as its Official Gas Gun for the 2019 season.
“Savage Arms, an industry leader in out-of-the-box purpose-built firearms, has been an integral supporter of the PRS, its growth and our competitions,” said Shannon Kay, PRS director. “This year, Savage will support the entire series and our members. We’d like to thank the entire team at Savage Arms for their unmatched professionalism and dedication to delivering products designed to give our shooters an edge.”
PRS is an annual points race for several series, including the PRS Bolt Gun Series, PRS Gas Gun Series and PRS Club Series. The matches involve the practical application of long-range rifle shooting born out of military, law-enforcement and hunting scenarios.
“Savage has a history of being extremely accurate straight from the factory,” said Beth Shimanski, marketing director for Savage. “We know that the PRS is all about accuracy, and we have focused our new product development to bring some products that pair perfectly with this discipline. This partnership is a great place for Savage to showcase these new products while supporting a great organization in our industry.”
Shimanski said Savage’s MSR 10 Precision will cover the PRS Open and Heavy Tactical divisions. The MSR 15 Long Range will compete in the Light Tactical division.
“Savage has always been known for building accurate, competition-ready rifles, as seen in both our F-Class and 3-Gun competition models,” she said. “With the growth of PRS, we saw an opportunity for our rifles to excel in these competitions. Our introduction of the MSR 10 Precision was a perfect entry into this sport and allowed us to put our flag in the ground as the premier, complete and ready-to-compete gas gun of PRS.”
Sig Sauer to Host Relentless Warrior Championship
The Second Annual SIG SAUER Relentless Warrior Championship is set for March 30 at the Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, New Hampshire.
The Sig Sauer Relentless Warrior Championship is the premier competitive shooting championship for America’s future military leaders. More than 100 cadets from the United States Air Force, Naval, and Coast Guard Academies, Virginia Military Institute (VMI), West Point, and Texas A&M will gather to compete against one another through a high-level skills course to be named the “Ultimate Warrior.”
“This year Sig Sauer is raising the bar to deliver a first-class competition for our nation’s future leaders and warriors," said Chad Barber, Match Director and Firearms Logistic Manager for Sig Sauer Academy. "We have planned for an intense day of competition with a tough course of fire through six mission stages that will test the marksmanship and leadership skills of these young cadets.”
Team SIG members and professional competitive shooters Max Michel, Lena Miculek and Daniel Horner will serve as honorary match safety officers. Team SIG also will provide shooting clinics and demonstrations for the match participants.
“At Sig we feel a deep sense of responsibility to the future of our nation’s military leaders and we are honored to encourage their development as marksmen and leaders through our sponsorship of this elite competition,” added Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, Commercial Sales for Sig Sauer.
The Sig Sauer Academy is located in Epping, New Hampshire.
Sightmark Showing at OSPOA
Sightmark will showcase law enforcement and military-inspired red dots, riflescopes and accessories at the Oklahoma Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association conference and vendor show.
The show is March 26-27 at the Choctaw Resort and Casino in Durant, Oklahoma.
Each year, OSPOA hosts CLEET-certified training courses to help fulfill continuing education requirements for law enforcement officers and many vendors from surrounding areas. Guests will have the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and get hands-on with the latest technology which exceeds law enforcement and military demands.
The Oklahoma Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association is a 501c (3) non-profit organization made up of law enforcement and private security personnel representing all branches of law enforcement including, city, county, state, tribal and federal agencies, along with private sector safety professionals. The association promotes professionalism within the law enforcement and private security professions, provides training for Oklahoma’s law enforcement and private security personnel, and promotes the highest of ethical and moral standards in the law enforcement and private security professions.
Team Rise Focuses on 2019
Coming off a solid 2018 season, Team Rise is banking on its successful year as it looks toward the 2019 competition season.
In 2018, the team logged several major match wins and top 10 finishes throughout the country in multiple shooting disciplines. The highlight of the year was Dillen Easley and Garrett Grover's team win at the Vortex Extreme match in August. This was a long-range, rifle-only endurance match in the mountains outside Douglas, Wyoming.
As individuals, Easley and Grover enjoyed an excellent year. Easley competed in more than 15 major-level 3-gun events and logged multiple first- and second-place finishes. Grover competed in more than two dozen events as well, resulting in several top 10 finishes and regional victories behind his Rise Armament rifle.
“We are very proud of the Rise Armament Team following a successful 2018 season,” said Matt Torres, president of Rise Armament. “Our team is extremely talented and dedicated to the sport. We look forward to many more strong events in 2019.”
Dustin Pluth competed in multiple national-level matches and was the match director for the Rise Armament 2-gun series in St. Louis. Michelle Waldran, Jennifer Blake, Pansy Steele, and Rebecca King competed in numerous national-level matches as well, tallying impressive finishes throughout the year. Andrew Hyder won the industry/staff shoot at the Hornady Zombie Match in Nebraska.
During the season, Rise Armament added Jaime Langworthy, who quickly recorded multiple high finishes at major matches under the RISE Armament banner.
New team members for 2019 include Kyle Sole, Rick Peeler, Cody Allenbaugh, Jon Wiedell, and Vinny Berile. Rise shooters will compete in 3-gun, multigun, 2-gun, USPSA, IDPA, steel challenge, carbine, PRS, and endurance long-range matches throughout the year.
