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The May 2015 Mentor Initiative from NRA Publications, in conjunction with SIG Sauer and Magpul Industries, was an outstanding success. Approximately 21,000 NRA members pledged to mentor new shooters and signed up for the NRA Mentor Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes prizes totaling $12,000 in value and ranging from Bass Pro Shops and NRA Store gift cards to Life memberships were awarded, and 500 limited-edition NRA Mentor pins were delivered. NRA Publications circulated thousands of copies of the initiative’s “NRA Guide For New Shooters” at the NRA Annual Meetings in Nashville and to clubs and instructors around the country. This year’s initiative inspired several thousand new members to join NRA. NRA Publications Executive Director Doug Hamlin said, “I would like to thank SIG Sauer, Magpul and the 20,000-plus NRA members who stepped up to mentor a new shooter in 2015. The success of the NRA going forward depends on individual members introducing new prospective members to the recreational shooting sports.” NRA Publications will repeat this Mentor Initiative in 2016—stay tuned.
The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.
The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?
CZ's 527 action was long a popular option scaled around compact cartridges like the .223 Remington and the 7.62x39 mm. Now, the new CZ 600+ Carbine brings that same concept to the company's new CZ 600 series.
In our latest "I Carry" setup, we're featuring the Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard in an ANR Design holster, and we've got a Streamlight EDC flashlight to round out our kit.