#Nra

In Fairfax, VA, tucked away among other unassuming office buildings is the NRA’s headquarters. A twin-towered office building, it doesn’t look like what you’d expect the site of one of the most important collections of small arms in the world to look like. While traveling back home for the holidays, though, I made it a point to head over to the National Firearms Museum there and spend several hours looking at their collection, which is truly impressive. Before we move on, I must admit I am a decided novice at photography. For the NFM this is not so great a vice, since in my opinion one can only really appreciate their collection in person, (and the lighting of many displays, while great for display, was not well-suited to general photography), and because the NRA has high-resolution photos of the Petersen Collection available on their website.

Thanks to arrangements by The Firearm Blog and NRA, the author recieved the pleasure of touring the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, VA with a personal commentary on the collection by the Senior Curator Doug Wicklund. Mr. Wicklund has been with the NRA since 1986 and has a tremendous wealth of knowledge on historical small arms and has put much effort into shaping the museum into what it is today. All wording in italics are from his commentary.

The NRA has teamed up with Natalie Foster and created a tv series focused toward females and shooting. This episode discusses and explains aspects that seem to be concerns for first time female shooters. I think it is a great resource. Any helpful information that can help get more women to the range is great. Back in NY, I volunteered to help with Ladies Day at the Range with my shooting club. I enjoyed teaching women to shoot and get over their nervousness and any hesitation with firearms. Share this video with any women in your life who are still gun shy or taking their first steps into the world of shooting.

I’m a huge proponent of being a student for life. No matter how young or old you may be, there’s always plenty to learn. Even if you’ve already studied content, things change and it’s always a good idea to get a refresher.

Rather than just post up just what I find most interesting, I am going to try something new with our readership: What do YOU want to see covered? Is there a specific product or company that you want TFB to go hands on with? Shout out in the comments below.

Davidson’s is now offering a special edition of the Ruger 10/22 takedown rifle to support the National Rifle Association.  The rifles have a camouflage finish and the NRA logo on the bolt.  The guns also have unique serial numbers to identify them as special edition rifles.

From the Cabot Guns press release, photos courtesy of Cabot Guns:

Ruger is producing a NRA Special Edition of the Ruger LCP. The gun features a Natural Gear Camo frame, NRA Logos on the slide and a special serial number range (NRA000xxx). I absolutely love this camo frame.

Colt and Baron’s Engraving have put together the Friends of NRA 2011 Gun of the Year. It is a beautifully engraved Colt Model 01991Z Government.

When I visited the NRA HQ last week Matt Sharpe took me into the infamous NRA vault where the National Firearms Museum stores all their firearms that are not on display. I was allowed to handle any of the guns (provided I was wearing gloves).

Ed Friedman, Associate Editor of the NRA’s Shooting Illustrated magazine and gun blogger, was kind enough to organize for me a tour of the NRA. I had the pleasure of meeting most the editors for the Shooting Illustrated, American Hunter, American Rifleman and Insight magazines.

The NRA National Firearms Museum (website not working at present) is situated in the same building complex as the NRA Headquarters Fairfax, Virginia. The Assistant Curator, Matt Sharpe, was kind enough to give me a personal tour (exclusive tours can be arranged in advance ) . The exhibits start with the development of the first handheld cannons and continue through history to the present. I cannot speak more highly of the museum – it holds an amazing and diverse collection of guns, many of which you will never see anywhere else,

At the National NRA Foundation Banquet on 14 May, Governer Palin will be presented with a custom AR-15 chambered in the powerful .50 Beowulf cartridge. The Alaskan Hunter, as it is named, was designed by Bob Reynolds of Templar Consulting. Bob was kind enough to email the photos for the rifle and its specs.

Wow! Ruger has finally decided to sell a Mini-14 with a 20 round factory magazine!