I'm Rick Jennings. I've been shooting for more than 50 years. I'm a Benefactor Member of the NRA and support or am a member of Gun Owners of America (GOA), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO), U.S. Practical Shooting Asso./International Practical Shooting Confederation (USPSA/IPSC), International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Asso. (IHMSA), the Izaac Walton League of America (IWLA), The American Gunsmithing Association (AGA), The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Single-Action Shooting Society (S.A.S.S.), United States Concealed Carry Assn. (USCCA) and the North American Hunting Club (NAHC).
I began competing in IHMSA silhouette in 1981 and NRA Hunter Pistol and NRA Silhouette Rifle (rimfire) shortly thereafter. In addition to several state records and titles in each discipline, my primary "claim to fame" was setting two international records (IHMSA Field Pistol - Scope) in 1987. One of those (59x60) held until 2002 when Bill Robinson of Pennsylvania shot a perfect 60x60. In 1987, as well, I became the first Maryland silhouette shooter to be awarded an NRA "Grand Slam" award and also won both gold medals offered for silhouette pistol in the Maryland State Games. In 1991, I was the first (and only) Maryland NRA Hunters Pistol and NRA Smallbore Hunters Pistol competitor to win the title of "Maryland State Champion" in all four firearms categories ("Open-sight" and "Scoped," centerfire and rimfire). I shoot "Unlimited Class" IHMSA and "Master Class" NRA Hunter Pistol. I reload almost all the cartridges I shoot except, of course, the rimfires. I enjoy hunting as well, preferring my scope-equipped Ruger Super Redhawk or T/C Contender for Whitetail deer.
I also participate in archery competitions and bow-hunt as time permits. I am a member of the National Field Archery Asso., Inc.
August 2007 update: A year ago, I found I had lost the central vision in my right (dominant) eye. Despite two surgeries, I can no longer aim my rifles or my bows. I'm working at using my hunting pistols with an isoceles stance rather than a modified Weaver. Using that stance, I can use my left eye for aligning the sights. For IHMSA and NRA scoped silhouette pistol, using the "taco hold" seems it may work with the scope turned clockwise 45° to permit alignment with my left eye. Of course, range changes require windage adjustments in addition to vertical adjustments.
I am certified by the NRA to teach Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearm Safety, Personal Protection, Metallic Cartridge Reloading and Shotshell Reloading. I am certified, as well, as an NRA Range Safety Officer (RSO) and am certified to teach "Refuse To Be A Victim" seminars as well as being certified as a Pennsylvania Hunter-Education Instructor. Prior to moving from Maryland, I was certified as a Pistol Instructor by the Maryland State Police. I provide individual and group instruction in south-central Pennsylvania and across the Mason-Dixon line to Baltimore, MD and its western and northern suburbs.
I have worked in retail firearms sales for over fifteen years and provide legal service as a firearms consultant and "expert witness" as well as offering firearm appraisal services.
I am a licensed amateur radio operator holding station license K3TSX and am an ex-private pilot (single-engine, VFR). I am a US Navy veteran and a member of the American Legion as well as being a Freemason.
I began "The Gun Guy" website in June, 1997, as a service to my fellow shooters. If you have a particular firearms question, and I will try to answer. If I don't know the answer or cannot find it in one of my reference books, I have a couple of knowledgeable friends.....
