August is National Shooting Sports Month

24 million Americans are interested in trying target shooting, says NSSF.

August is National Shooting Sports Month, a time to celebrate one of America’s great pastimes — target shooting — a safe, fun activity enjoyed by millions of people across the country, with millions more wanting to take their first shots.

Research by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) shows that 24 million Americans are very interested in learning about the shooting sports, making National Shooting Sports Month the perfect time for someone to give target shooting a try. There are dozens of sports from which to choose, from hitting steel targets with handguns and rifles to breaking clay targets in the shotgun sports of trap, skeet and sporting clays.

“The shooting sports truly offer something for everyone,” said Steve Sanetti, NSSF President and CEO. “A day at the range gives people an opportunity to tune out distractions, learn a new skill, socialize and share their experiences.”

LetsGoShooting.org, a new website developed by NSSF, is the place to find information about National Shooting Sports Month and the many target shooting sports available. At LetsGoShooting.org, you can also find a shooting range or firearms retailer near you, learn about shooting and sales events, print targets, watch instructional videos and learn how to safely handle and store firearms.

And don’t forget the Trigger Time Sweepstakes, which is a big part of National Shooting Sports Month. You’ll be able to enter the sweepstakes at LetsGoShooting.org for a chance to win great prizes totaling more than $35,000 in weekly drawings.

NSSF, the trade association for the firearms industry, launched National Shooting Sports Month last year to great success. During that time, recent shooting sports trends, such as more women taking up target shooting and more first-time participants, were obvious at ranges and firearms retailers across the country.

“One of the many people interested in trying target shooting may well be in your family — a daughter, son or spouse — or a friend just waiting for you to ask them to spend a day at the range,” said NSSF’s Zach Snow, Director of Shooting Range Services. “Extend that invitation — you’ll be glad you did.”

Don’t have a mentor? No problem. Shooting ranges work with newcomers all the time and can help you get started with safe, supervised instruction.

Snow encourages the use of the hashtag #LetsGoShooting on social media. “Tell us about your experience on our Facebook page, share your Instagram and Twitter posts,” he said. “It’s going to be fun month, and we want to know how everyone is celebrating.”

Spend a day at the range. Learn more about National Shooting Sports Month and target shooting at LetsGoShooting.org.

13 Responses to August is National Shooting Sports Month

  • Pingback: Win a FREE Ruger 10/22 Shooting Package from Gunz and GunLink | GunLink Blog

  • mark dale says:

    cool rifle

  • Matthew Lauer says:

    Most of the guys in my family were in law enforcement, and they started my cousins and I at a young age so I was shooting about and long as I can remember.

  • Robert Puchalski says:

    My great-grandfather would take me hunting with him when I was 3 – 5 years old. He carried me most of the way. He was a large man, retired from the coal mines and known for his strength. I was small for my age by any standard; except for pygmies. When he was getting ready to shoot he would motion for me to put my fingers in my ears. He would then raise the double-barrel shotgun and shoot. I don’t remember getting many rabbits, squirrels or other small game when we hunted together. But, the experience has lasted me throughout my lifetime. In turn, I have taken my own children and other new hunters to the woods for a chance to learn to shoot and hunt wisely.

  • Stubster1970 says:

    I was always into guns but never got a chance to shoot until I joined the Marines. I loved shooting so much on machine gun shoots other Marines always thought I was an armorer in the unit because I was always helping them shoot properly, instead of the “buttah, buttah, jam” they were doing. Anyone who has shot a SAW or M60 knows what I’m talking about, if you don’t let the weapon cycle long enough it tends to jam on you.

  • george ashmore says:

    I used to read all the ads in the American Rifleman pre1968 ban and drooled over them. My father knew of my interest and one day we were at a dept store that sold firearms. I started to walk away and he asked me ” Didn’t I want that .22 rifle I was looking at? I did.

  • Ryan says:

    My dad. Grew up in the West, got first gun at 5.

  • Kenneth Peppers says:

    Nice

  • Kyle Kolanowski says:

    Fun stuff. I hope I win the rifle! I definitely would like to give target shooting a shot

  • RuthD says:

    Grew up in the country. Everybody knew how to shoot 22lr

  • Mitchell D says:

    Started shooting in my big back yard as a kid

  • Mark Wagner says:

    I got interested in firearms at the age of 2 initially as a way to provide personal protection as I was running a downtown tavern that stayed open until 4 am. 6 out of 7 days a week I was the person who closed the bar and dealt with the cash receipts. I quickly realized the importance of training with my firearm. 26 years later and I have a range in my backyard

  • Buddy Garrett says:

    I grew up in a family of hunters. All of my friends were into hunting. I have a lot of friends in law enforcement.

Partners
Categories
Archives
R.K.B.A

Join NRA Save $10


GunLink is a proud member of NSSF