Shooting withdrawls

This has been the coldest winter on record with the most accumulated snow fall as well. Since Christmas Eve, the ground has been covered with several inches of snow & the temperature hasn't been above 30 degrees for almost the entire time. Gun store traffic has slowed to a crawl. Shooters can't get out on their own property to shoot, much less any of the outdoor shooting clubs. Losing valuable brass in the snow is a definite deterrent to recreational shooting. I've spoken to several shooters who can't wait to spend their tax refunds on new guns, but they lose motivation when they can't put their new tools right to work on the range or even on their private property. Fingers tend to freeze to cold steel when the windchill is in the teens.

Fortunately, the end of winter is near. Manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Walther and Springfield Armory are rolling out new incentive programs for free gear and/or rebates on their most popular guns. They need to clear the warehouses to make room for new models from their 2010 catalogs. Visit your local gun store often and ask about these new incentive programs. When the shooting weather is the worse and the majority of the hunting seasons are a few months out into the future, the best deals on the best gear become available. Now is the time to shop for those new guns, scopes and accessories. Manufacturers will normally only release the news of these incentive programs through their dealer and distributor networks, so don't expect to see any announcements on their websites. Get out to your local dealer. Remember, even if it costs a few dollars more to get something at your local dealer, you need to spend your money there or you won't have a local dealer down the road. Don't let the cold weather keep you at home or your buddies will be getting the great deals and you'll have to listen to their stories all year long.