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Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence
2008 AWARD ENTRIES
The Award
From the Industry
For the Industry

Honoring Outstanding Achievement
Since 1992

Sponsored by Shooting Industry Magazine


Accessory of the Year
(Firearm related products: cases, cleaning products, holsters, fixed sights, frames,
mounts, reloading equipment and tools, safes, etc.)

    Brownells Professional Magna Tip Tool Set
    Butler Creek LULA Strip Speed Loader
    Galco International            Kodiak Hunter Shoulder Holster
    Gunslick Snap-n-Pull Quick Barrel Cleaning System
    LaserLyte Shotgun Tri-Rail Mounting System
    MTM Case-Guard SH100 Shotgun Hunter Case
    Nosler, Inc Reloading Guide #6
    RCBS RASS Portable Shooting Bench
    Safariland ALS 6377/6378 Concealment Holster
    Shield Technologies Envelop Gun Case
    SureFire X300 WeaponLight
    Swarovski Optik Ballistic Turret for Riflescopes
    Tom Gresham Tom Gresham HuntSavR
    Uncle Mike's Law Enforcment EVO3 Triple Retention Duty Holster
       
Specialty Product of the Year
(Air guns, archery equipment, clothing, outdoor equipment, etc.)

    Ameristep Team Realtree Skyscraper Ladder Stand
    Birchwood Casey            Dirty Bird Mulit-Color Splattering Targets
    Browning Transitions Series Outdoor Clothing
    First Light USA Liberator ST Tactical Light
    Insight Tech-Gear SSL-1 Tactical Illuminator
    Leupold & Stevens MX Modular Flashlight System
    New Archery Products Hell Razor Contact Broadhead
    Nikon Sport Optics Recon Optics Back-Pack
    Safariland RLS Rapid Light System
    Scent Blocker Dream Season Boots
    Streamlight Sidewinder Flashlight
    SureFire E1B Backup Flashlight
    Swarovksi Optik Snap Shot Adapter Binocular/Digital Camera Link
    TenPoint Crossbows Phantom Xtra CLS Crossbow
    TruckVault BackCountry Extreme TruckVault
    TruGlo RAZOR Archery Sight
High-Tech Product of the Year
(Radios, rangefinders, laser sights, software, etc.)

    Aimpoint, Inc            CEU Concealed Engagement Unit Aiming Device
    Bushnell Outdoor Products Scout 1000 Rangefinder with Angle Range Compensation
    Crimson Trace Model LG-660 Lasergrips
    Federal Premium Ammo Interactive Rifle Ammunition Authority In-Store Ammunition Selector
    Hodgdon Powder Co. Reloading Data Center Web-Site
    LaserMax Uni-Green Laser
    Leupold & Stevens RX-IV Boone & Crockett Edition Digital Rangefinder
    Midland Radio X-TRA TALK Waterproof 2-Way Radios w/NOAA & Animal Call Alerts
    Minox USA Digital Eyepiece Camera (DEC) DIgiscoping System
    Nikon Sport Optics New Archer’s Choice Rangefinder
    SPOT Inc SPOT Satellite Messenger
    Trisquare Communications TSX 300 Radio
    Viridian Green Lasers Viridian WP22 Laser Sight
    Zeiss LotuTec Premium Hydrophobic Lens Coating
Optic of the Year
(Scopes, and binoculars)

    Aimpoint, Inc            Micro Series Red-Dot Sights
    Burris Company SpeedBead Optical Shotgun Sight
    Bushnell Outdoor Products Elite 6500 Riflescope
    Carson Optical 10x50mm XM-HD Binoculars
    Leupold & Stevens Prismatic Shotgun/Muzzleloader/Rifle Scope
    Minox USA BD Binoculars
    Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40 Riflescope, Mil-Dot Crosshair with Amber Dot
    Zeiss Victory Diarange 2.5- 10x50 T* Riflescope with Rapid-Z Reticle
Ammunition of the Year
(Bullets, cartridges, shot shells, powders)

    Black Hills .243 Winchester 62-Grain Grenade
    CORBON/Glaser .45 ACP Thunder Ranch Defensive Ammunition
    Hodgdon Powder Co. Hodgon Hybrid 100V Powder
    Federal Ammunition Black Cloud FS Steel Shotshell
    Hornady Manufacturing Ruger Compact Magnum Cartridge (RCMs)
    Nosler, Inc 280 Ackley Improved Ammunition
    Remington Premier AccuTip Bonded Sabot Slug
    Winchester Ammunition E-Tip Lead-Free Bullet
Handgun of the Year
    Charter Arms .38 Southpaw Left-Handed Revolver
    Glock Model 30 SF .45 ACP Short Frame
    Kimber Ultra RCP II .45 ACP
    Para Ordnance Carry 9 Micro-Compact 9mm
    Ruger LCP .380
    Sig Sauer Sig Sauer P250 9mm
    Smith & Wesson Model 327 Night Guard Revolver .357 Mag
    Taurus International The Judge .45Colt/.410
Rifle of the Year
    Beretta USA Corp Sako A7 Bolt-Action Hunting Rifle
    Browning            X-Bolt Rifle
    DPMS Firearms Panther LR-338L
    Magnum Research MLRS 17 HMR Semi-Auto
    Marlin XL7 Bolt Action
    Nosler, Inc Custom Model 48 Bolt Action
    O.F. Mossberg & Sons 464 Lever Action
    Remington Model R-15 VTR
    Rock River Arms .458 SOCOM
    Ruger M77 Ruger Compact Magnums
    Sabre Defence M5 Tactical Rifle
    Savage Arms Model 25 Lightweight Varminter
    Sig Sauer Sig 556 SWAT
    Tradition Firearms Pursuit XLT Extreme
    Winchester Repeating Arms Model 70 Reintroduction
Shotgun of the Year
    Benelli Ultra Light 20 Gauge
    Browning Citori 625 Over/Under
    Connecticut Shotgun Mfg RBL-28 Side-by-Side
    Franchi I-12 Upland Hunter 12 Gauge
    H&R 1871 Ultra Slug Hunter Thumbhole 12 Gauge
    Remington Model 870 SPS ShurShot Synthetic Turkey
    Smith & Wesson Elite Silver Side-by-Side
    Winchester Repeating Arms Speed Pump 12 Gauge
Knife of the Year
(Knives and multi-purpose tools)

    Benchmade 950 SBK Rift Folding Knife
    Browning Escalade Model 664 Fixed Blade
    Buck Knives 731 X-Tract LED Multi-Tool
    Cold Steel Large Espada Folding Knife
    Leatherman Tool Group Skeletool Multi-Tool
    Meyerco Tsavo Assisted Opener Folding Knife
    SOG Knives Vulcan Folding Pocket Knife
    SureFire EW08 LEO Law Enforcement Utility Knife
Safety Product of the Year
(Safes, safety devices, eye and ear protection. )

    Blackhawk Hawkhook Rescue Tool
    Bolle Marksman Tactical Glasses
    Revision Eyewear Ltd Hellfly Sunglasses
    Ridgeline, Inc Pro Ears Dimension Gold Series Hearing Protectors
    SureFire EP400 Swat Ears Hearing Protection
   

Waffentechnik Borkott & Eickhorn

SARD (Search and Rescue Device)
Citizenship Award
(A company or dealership that most exemplifies the traits of service to the community through contributions, donations or volunteer hours.)

    Brownells For its contributions to the NRA endowment for youth education programs, support of 4H programs in Iowa, the Progressive Farmer magazine’s youth shooting program, and the Iowa Pheasants Forever Build a Habitat program. For its first-of-a-kind gunsmith’s job fair. For its continued support of the NRA, including a NRA membership drive with 1,000 members signed up in 2007.
    Crimson Trace For providing support to programs enhancing the shooting sports heritage and our firearms freedoms, including support of the NRA, NSSF, HAVA, National Blind and Disabled Hunter Program, Jimmy Fund and ASLET Fallen Officer’s Fund. For being instrumental in changing laws in several states to allow disabled veterans and civilians to use lasers to harvest game animals.
    Ellett Brothers

For continued support of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and support of the NSSF Heritage Fund by hosting a silent auction at its yearly dealer show. For supporting the local Boy Scouts of America council and other local charities such as the Adopt a Family program, in which the company provided Christmas gifts and sponsored Thanksgiving dinners for needy families.

    Hodgdon Powder Co. For commitment to community that transcends the entire organization, including the Hodgon Family Donor Advised Fund, which has supported funding to over 145 charitable organizations. For supporting organizations including the Boy Scouts, 4H, SCI, Pheasants Forever and others financially, with product donations and through volunteer involvement.
    Kimber For generosity to the U.S. Olympic Shooting team through promotion of the team and contributions to USA Shooting. For donations to the NSSF Heritage Fund through promotion of the Kimber Heritage model. For general willingness to utilize the respect for Kimber to bolster the shooting sports industry.
    Taurus For its extraordinary support of the NRA. For offering free one-year NRA memberships with new firearms, resulting in tens of thousands of memberships. For being the only manufacturer to offer this donation.
Manufacturer of the Year
    ATK Ammuntion Systems For establishing a leadership position in the shooting sports industry and for the promotion of conservation and education programs. For implementing a progressive dealer program with Premium Partners. For new product innovation through FLITECONTROL, .338 Federal, .327 Federal Magnum, Fusion, Black Cloud and the RCBS R.A.S.S. Bench. For investing in the future of hunting and the shooting sports through 4-H, NSSF and multiple conservation group royalty programs.
    Blackhawk Products Group For reinvesting its profits in U.S. capabilities by opening three new factories in the U.S. in the past three years, which helps inventory management and quickly responds to customer demands. For rehiring all the American workers when buying the Boise, Id., facility from a competitor, while the competitor shipped jobs overseas.
    Crimson Trace For partnering with dominant firearm manufacturers, which strengthened and expanded the firearm laser sighting markets. For supporting the industry through organizations such as the NRA, NSSF and Honored American Veterans Afield. For rapid growth resulting in a move to a new facility and an increased workforce, with NRA membership for employees. For being 100 percent made in America and introducing more new products than any other laser sight manufacturer.
    DPMS Firearms For the innovative design of the Panther LR Rifle platform and subsequent introduction of 12 rifles chambered for hunting calibers, introducing the hunting market to the AR rifle. For support of the NRA and its Law Enforcement Endowment Fund, the NSSF and sponsorship of multiple shooting competitions and three-gun matches. For 25-percent revenue growth since 2004 and a commitment to positioning the black rifle as a commonplace product in the firearm market.
    Glock, Inc For its worldwide presence in the military, commercial and law enforcement markets since the pistol arrived in the United States in 1986. For more individuals deciding to purchase a Glock handgun each year, due to the fact that over 65 percent of Law Enforcement has decided to trust in the pistol’s reliability.
    Hodgdon Powder Co.<