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KINETIC ENERGY�� Page 5

Text Box: (A feature designed to provide the �Novice� and �Old Hand� with helpful shooting and reloading information). Protecting Your Firearms Investment [Excerpt From The Remington Country Magazine. By Paul Scarlata] (A firearm works only as well as - and lasts only as long - as you care for it and keep it clean.) A firearm is a device designed to propel bullets or shot charges. It is basically a machine that uses moving metallic parts to chamber a cartridge, lock the breech, fire the cartridge, extract and eject the empty case. The shooter�s contribution is to safely hold and aim it and to provide the necessary amount of physical effort - depending on whether it is a single shot, semiautomatic, bolt, lever or pump action - to work the action so that it performs as expected. Webster defines a �machine� as �� an apparatus for doing some kind of work; an engine�� Machines have certain requirements, one of the most important being proper maintenance. Firearms are different from the other machines we use. Unlike an automobile or boat, in general, they do not see a great deal of use and even when they are used, afterward they are most likely stored away. Then there is the matter of longevity. Whereas the useful life of a motor vehicle is measured in years, with a small amount of care a firearm can be used for generations. For this reason, some of us tend to think of them as indestructible and, too often, even that �small amount of care� gets postponed. For the sake of both safety and the longevity of the gun, this is a big mistake. I am amazed at the number of hunters who will lavish attention upon their truck, boat, and ATV and at the same time ignore their guns? At the end of the day they will wipe them down with an oily rag, stick them in the gun safe, and forget them until needed again. Others are even worse and don�t care for their firearm until the end of the season. For those of you needing further encouragement to take care of your guns, just remember that firearm maintenance has its own rewards: Aesthetic - I don�t know about you, but I tend to look suspiciously upon a shooter carrying a beat up, rusty gun. There is a big difference between �old & well used� and �neglected & abused�. As with any good tool - a firearm should be treated with respect. Financial - while not as expensive as big ticket items, quality firearms are not cheap. A bit maintenance will go a long way towards preserving its intrinsic - and resale - value. Performance - a clean, well cared for firearm is going to function smoothly and reliably. While missing a duck because of a jammed shotgun might not be a big deal, would you feel the same way if it was a trophy class buck or the winning shot in a sporting clays tournament? Cleaning the bores of rifles - specifically the removal of copper and lead build up - will not only enhance accuracy but will result in increased barrel life. Safety - accumulated dirt, lubricants and corrosion can result in

Text Box: burst barrels, live rounds stuck in the chamber and especially in cold weather - light firing pin strikes, malfunctioning triggers and mechanical safety devices malfunctioning. �Take care of your guns and they will take care of you!� The best way to maintain your firearms is to have a routine - and stick too it. This routine will vary according to the type of firearm, how often it is used, what it is used for, and the conditions under which it sees use. In other words, a .22 rifle used on an indoor range four times a year will not require the same level of maintenance as the pump shotgun you use all winter for hunting sea ducks! Persons who own a number of firearms might want to consider keeping a maintenance log. It could be a simple sheet of paper taped on the inside of your gunsafe/cabinet door listing the guns and the last time they were cleaned. Every time you opened your gunsafe/cabinet such a log would serve as a reminder to take a few minutes and examine your firearms. And remember, the log will be of little use if it is not kept up to date, because �...the job isn�t complete until the paperwork is finished!� While many of us might hate to admit it, we are not all experts when it comes to our firearms. Because of this, I believe one of the best forms of preventative maintenance is to, periodically, bring your firearms to a qualified gunsmith or factory authorized repair center for detailed disassembly, examination and cleaning. These persons are trained to spot potential problems and whatever minor inconvenience and expense such work entails may end up saving you a lot more in the long run. See page 7 for instructions.

Perpetual Long Gun

Summer 2005 Raffle

By:�� Heather (Edit)

A great benefit of being a member of the Club is the exclusive opportunity to enter the Perpetual Long Gun Raffle which is open to current members of the Lincoln Rifle Club and Junior Division, Inc., who are 21 years of age or older.� The prize will be a:

KIMBER K17 .17 mach II

However, to sweeten the deal, so to speak, a Leupold VXI 3-9 x 40 Matte Scope is mounted in Kimber Rings and Bases on the rifle.

This package can be won by the purchase of one of the 200 $10.00 Raffle Tickets that have been printed for this Raffle.� The drawing will be held when all tickets have been sold.� You need not be present to win!

You can see this Rifle at the Club�s Monthly Business Meetings.

As with all of the Perpetual Long Gun Raffles, the winner must meet with me at a FFL gun shop to perform the transfer of the rifle from myself to the winner.� The winner will have to pay the transfer fees, which normally comes to around $40.00.