Field Gear

Unless you’re packing for a trip abroad, the hunting seasons are all but over now. You can keep your shooting eye sharp, however, by hitting the range. New developments in eyewear, clothing and specialty products have caught my eye, so to speak. Here are four to consider.

Galco Sporting Clays Shell Pouch

Products made from wool, canvas and leather always have held special appeal for me. There’s something about the smell, feel and promise of durable, long use that attracts me to a sweater of Merino wool, a heavy canvas duck decoy bag, or a new belt of top-quality leather. So when my order for a new Sporting Clays Shell Pouch arrived from Galco Gunleather, I tore into the package like a kid at Christmas. Knowing what was inside did nothing to lessen my enthusiasm. I also confess to a decided fondness for certain Rhone Valley red wines that hint of chewy leather (think Gigondas or Chateauneuf-du-Pape). And there it was—that wonderful aroma—followed by the soft, buttery feel and glowing patina of hand-glazed leather. I wondered, How in hell am I supposed to test this gorgeous shooting bag without scuffing it up? Maybe it belongs in the gun cabinet.

No, it belongs on the range along with a host of other great accessories from the 40-year-old company that began life in Chicago as the Original Jackass Leather Co. specializing in horsehide pistol holders. Renamed and reorganized in Phoenix, Galco International sells thousands of holsters each year around the world to military personnel and private gun owners. The company also offers a Sporting Collection that includes leather utility bags for shooters, toe pads, gun cases, belts, slings, recoil pads, barrel guards and eyeglass cases. Sporting Clays Shell Pouches are available in canvas or leather and come in 25- and 50-shell sizes.

The leather model I tested holds 50 shells in an expandable split pouch, plus four more cartridges in a top band of adjustable loops. Dimensions of the bag are roughly 10" (h) x 10" (w) x 5" (d), but this is not a shapeless, bulky container. Rather it has a tapered, sculpted look with a fetching front gusset that retains its shape once shells are removed. The company uses what it calls “Latigo leather from range-toughened western cattle.” All shooting accessories in the Sporting Collection are made by hand. The color is what I would call “warm chestnut.” Price is $189.

Incidentally, you’ll need a sturdy belt on which to wear the shell pouch. Galco offers a handsome, matching adjustable mod-el for $98.95. The 11/2"-wide belt features a solid-brass, two-piece buckle with the Galco logo. It’s available in Medium (32" to 38"), Large (38" to 44") and Extra Large (44" to 50"). Order a larger size if you plan to wear it as an overbelt or over bulky clothing.
Galco International, 800-US-GALCO (874-2526); www.usgalco.com.

Super Huntsman Trap from Promatic

Whether you shoot clays competitively or for fun, it’s likely you’ve shot targets thrown by a Promatic automatic trap. During the past 20 years, the UK-based company has sold more than 60,000 machines, most of which are still in service. The 60-model Promatic lineup ranges from single-stack personal-use traps to commercial machines with up to four throwing arms powered by a bank of five 12-volt batteries. Prices start at $799 and climb to $14,200.

Continuous product development has helped Promatic become a market leader in sporting clays, FITASC, 5 Stand, ATA trap, skeet and Olympic trap. But even though its traps are sold throughout the world to gun clubs and commercial shooting ranges, the company’s key customers are actually individual shooters. According to Jim Moses, CEO of North American operations, “Which Promatic trap you choose depends on the size of your backyard.”

Recently, I had the chance to shoot at Island Lake Recreation Area in southern Michigan, where champion shooter/instructor Pat Lieske runs the 60-acre shooting concession for the state-owned property. Three years ago Lieske began adding Promatic traps to the 80 automatic throwers he oversees. “I’ve been to shooting ranges everywhere,” he said. “Promatics are the most versatile traps made, and they never seem to fail.”

In 2006 Promatic unveiled its new Huntsman series, designed to simulate gamebird shooting. Some UK clubs credit the Huntsman with saving their operations in years when red grouse numbers have been low. The trailer-mounted Huntsman, now available in four models, can be towed behind an ATV and set up just about anywhere to simulate incoming ducks, crossing grouse, a covey rise of quail, high driven pheasants or darting doves.

The entry-level Hunter ($7,000) is a single trap designed for one or two shooters. The two-trap Fieldsman ($10,000) and three-trap Huntsman ($12,800) can accommodate small parties of shooters. At Island Lake two of us tested the top-of-the-line Super Huntsman ($14,200), which can handle six Guns at once because it features a rear-mounted fourth carousel that oscillates up and down (the other three move horizontally), thus permitting a naturally flowing spread of “birds” over a wide pattern. Wireless remote controls allow singles, doubles and flurries of 20, 40 and even 60 birds within 60 seconds. The total magazine capacity is 800 targets, and the operator can set the machine for regular or midi clays. A speed dial permits manual or delayed release, and cocking springs are easily adjusted for target speed. A radio mast permits accurate communication between the transmitter and receiver, even when the line of sight is interrupted by trees or hills.

My test was the most fun I’ve had since shooting Crazy Quail years ago. We shot on a 15-degree day when the preloaded targets were frozen, but the Super Huntsman still performed flawlessly. That’s because Promatic’s patented “knife edge” cutters automatically lift and separate the frozen targets before flinging them 400 feet. What a terrific machine.
Promatic, Inc., 888-767-2529; www.promatic.biz.

Ranger XL Eyewear from Randolph Engineering

Since 1972, Randolph Engineering has made high-quality eyewear. For many years the Randolph Aviator has been standard issue for American military pilots and NASA astronauts, and the company has grown to provide technical eyewear and sunglasses to armed forces throughout the world. About 20 years ago Randolph expanded into the competitive-shooting market with the Randolph Ranger, and more recently it added a line of leisure performance products. Having known about Ranger shooting glasses for some time, I decided to test the new XL 3-Lens System. The verdict: It is a great product that should increase both your margin of safety and your shooting scores.

First, some differences between Ranger and Ranger XL models. The newer XL series has a wider frame from inside temple to inside temple (138mm versus 132mm for the original). Engineers designed a precision-machined nosepiece that permits wearers to raise or lower the frame up to 6mm for a personalized fit. A deeper face form affords 6mm more peripheral coverage and protection. A new cable-temple-curl design provides a more natural and secure fit.

These improvements have added only about $25 to each frame. For example, The Ranger XL frame with single lens is $128.50, compared to $105.60 for the original Ranger. The XL 3-Lens System I ordered (and wore over my prescription glasses) costs $169.95. The XL 12-Lens System is $308.50. All lenses are interchangeable between Ranger and Ranger XL frames.

While dove hunting during a bright day in Indiana, I found the #41 Grey lens to reduce brightness and help me find and focus on speedy targets. The #46 Vermillion lens seemed to “pull” low-flying doves from the all-green background. Later on the skeet range, the Vermillion enhanced orange targets, and the #43 Yellow lens was helpful as well—perhaps because of the late-afternoon light. The only issue I experienced was in actually changing the lenses. It takes practice to do so with ease. Use the microfiber cloth the company provides to wipe away finger smudges.

Nine other lens colors are available, and the colors in each are molded in—rather than tinted—for consistency and long use without fading. The polycarbonate lenses absorb 100 percent of UV rays and, according to the company, can withstand a blast from a 12-gauge gun at 34 feet. Eye sizes are 62mm, 66mm or 68mm; frames come in matte black or matte chrome; and cable temples are either 150mm or 160mm. The scant weight (11/2 oz) was barely noticeable over my regular glasses. If you’re also a fisherman, consider ordering later this year when Randolph plans to add polarizing lenses to the Ranger XL series. Further, Randolph works with several authorized dealers that can fill prescription orders.
Randolph Engineering, Inc., 800-541-1405; www.randolphusa.com.

Browning Santa Fe Pro Shooting Vest

Browning continues to add new offerings to its extensive lineup of shooting garments, including the Pre-Vent Insulated Shooting Jacket and the Windcutter Shooting Jacket for cool and cold weather. The Broken Birds Shooting Vest, Sporter Mesh Shooting Vest (also available in left-hand and junior-size models) and Santa Fe Pro Shooting Vest give clay shooters more new options to consider. I tested the latter and came away impressed with both the garment’s design and function.

This is handsome apparel that, at least in my size (Large), fit perfectly and was really comfortable. Designers have mated leather trim on the cargo pockets and upper-left shoulder area to cotton twill and a polyester mesh body. There is also a full-length, right-hand leather shooting patch. The result is a vest that is lightweight (23 oz) and available in a color combination of oak (brown) and sage.

The zippered vest has features that shooters can appreciate. Left- and right-side cargo pockets are deep and gusseted with extra fabric so they expand. I like how the pockets snap open to supply another two inches of space and how they are split to provide both inside and outside pouches for separating shell types or live ammo from hulls. The tapered design permits easy access, even when wearing gloves. Except for a few inches of cotton yoke, the entire back of the vest—including an ample “game” pouch for toting empties and so on—is mesh. A small inside security pocket on the left side holds car keys or choke tubes.

Browning has built its popular REACTAR (REcoil ACTion ARrestor) pad into the vest beneath the shooting patch. The Beta Gel pad (which also sells separately for $25) reduces recoil by 49 percent, according to the company. The slim shooting pad is 33/4" (w) x 7" (l), and it is 81/2mm (less than one-quarter inch) thick. Because the slim, flexible pad formed to my body, it did not impede my gun mount with my favorite fitted gun.

The Santa Fe Pro Shooting Vest comes with small and seemingly insignificant touches that, to my mind at least, increase the appeal of such specialty clothing. Button tabs to each side allow adjustments for more room (if you wear the vest over a jacket, for example). A small D ring behind the left-side cargo pocket can be used for hanging a shooting bag. And, yes, there is a collar loop to hang the vest on a peg when you take it off. MSRP is $150 in sizes S through 2XL.
Browning, 800-333-3288; www.browning.com.