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Eye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns

Eye on the Target - TARGETHING - Talking Guns

Written by: Radio@targething.com (Rob Campbell & Amanda Suffecool)
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Live over the airwaves Salem Radio that is a Q&A related to personal protection, the 2nd amendment, guns, the shooting sports industry. Recorded live on SALEM at 5:00 pm est. Listen to the Podcasts, catch us live, or email in your questions to be covered on the next show. Radio@Targething.com. Our discussions include guns, pepper spray, defensive techniques, concealed carry, NRA, firearms, safety and a variety of others as the show is led by the originating topic and the questions asked by our listeners. Amanda Suffecool, Rob Campbell work to make the show lively and topical. Enjoy - Amanda2022
Episodes
  • 101126 hr2

    101126 hr2
    Oct 12 2026
    In this episode of Eye on the Target Radio, Amanda Suffecool and Rob Campbell discuss competitive shotgun shooting, practical firearms equipment, fundraising events, machine guns, and the history of .22-caliber rifles. The episode combines news about shooting competitions with the hosts' personal experiences and their broader reflections on firearms training, reliability, and the importance of finding equipment that works well for the individual. The show opens with a discussion of the IPSC Shotgun World Shoot taking place in Greece. Amanda has been following friends and teammates competing internationally and reports that the United States has earned 10 gold medals and 19 medals overall, according to the information she has seen. She explains that some competitors receive sponsorships to cover travel and competition expenses, while others pay their own way. Making the team requires competing in qualifying matches around the country. Amanda is particularly interested in the physical preparation involved, including videos of competitors walking on treadmills while practicing shotgun loading techniques. Rob describes watching skilled competitors Lena and Kay work together during a match. Kay had undergone surgery that prevented her from shouldering her shotgun normally, but she continued competing. At one point, Lena loaded Kay's firearm in a smooth, coordinated movement, allowing Kay to resume shooting without losing much time. Their performance demonstrates how much practice and teamwork can be involved in high-level competition. That discussion leads to a conversation about equipment accessibility and the challenges some people face when operating firearms. Amanda and Rob consider whether technology might eventually make it easier for people with limited hand strength to operate certain firearms. They discuss alternatives that instructors sometimes suggest, including revolvers or techniques for manipulating a slide against a firm surface. Their broader point is that a firearm intended for regular use should be practical and functional for its owner, rather than simply attractive or collectible. They distinguish between a gun kept primarily for its appearance and one carried or used regularly. A concealed-carry firearm will naturally develop cosmetic wear from contact with a holster, clothing, and everyday objects. The hosts argue that scratches and worn finishes are not necessarily a problem, but internal condition and reliable operation matter. They recommend periodically inspecting and maintaining a firearm, repairing actual mechanical problems, and ensuring that it continues to function properly at the range. They also joke about unusually neglected firearms, including a story about a police officer whose pistol reportedly emerged from its holster with a French fry in the barrel. Amanda and Rob then discuss their busy travel schedules and the fundraising events they attend for firearms-related organizations. These banquets often feature auctions for firearms, hunting trips, safaris, and unusual collectibles. They explain that people bid for different reasons: some genuinely want the item, some hope to get a good deal, and others are primarily trying to support the organization's fundraising efforts. They recount stories of people impulsively committing to expensive African safaris and describe how auction enthusiasm can lead to purchases that seem less sensible once the excitement wears off. Amanda recalls bidding on an enormous longhorn steer head decorated with quartz crystals, even though its elaborate, Texas-inspired appearance would not have suited her home. The story illustrates what they call "auction fever," when the excitement of bidding makes an item seem irresistible. They also discuss the importance of setting a budget, understanding exactly what a package includes, and remembering that the event's purpose is to raise money. Amanda and Rob joke that they sometimes need to coordinate their bidding so they do not accidentally drive up the price against each other. Another major subject is the growing interest in machine-gun shooting events. Amanda asks whether changes in the regulatory environment surrounding the National Firearms Act, or NFA, might affect the popularity of events where participants can shoot historic automatic firearms. Rob predicts that interest could increase, partly because of discussions about forced-reset triggers and possible changes to firearms regulations. This is his speculation during the conversation, not a confirmed outcome. The hosts describe the appeal of hearing and experiencing automatic firearms, while also considering the cost of purchasing and operating them. They compare visually impressive firearms such as the Thompson submachine gun with utilitarian designs such as the M3 "Grease Gun" and British Sten gun. Rob explains that many wartime firearms were designed to be manufactured quickly and inexpensively rather than to have polished finishes or ...
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    54 mins
  • 101126 hr1

    101126 hr1
    Oct 12 2026
    In this episode of Eye on the Target Radio, Amanda Suffecool and Rob Campbell discuss their trip to Gunsite in Arizona for the school's alumni shoot and 50th anniversary celebration. Gunsite, with its thousands of acres and 27 different ranges, offers training in a wide variety of firearms skills. The event brought together approximately 350–400 participants, including highly experienced shooters who demonstrated remarkable speed and accuracy. Amanda and Rob describe watching competitors move rapidly between targets while maintaining accuracy, and they reflect on how impressive the skill level was. Although neither expected to finish near the top of the competition, they enjoyed participating and viewed the experience as an opportunity to learn. Their main takeaway reflects Gunsite's philosophy of continually improving: the goal is to become a little better than you were the day before. Amanda and Rob explain that the alumni shoot was different from many of the training events they had attended previously. Some stages provided very little preparation time, requiring competitors to respond quickly after receiving instructions. Amanda found that a two-second time limit was not enough for her to draw and get a shot off, and Rob also struggled to complete some stages before the timer ran out. They discuss the variety of firearms used by competitors, particularly the many 1911-style pistols, which seemed appropriate given the anniversary and Colonel Jeff Cooper's association with the school. They also explain Gunsite's requirement that everyone complete its 250 basic pistol course before participating in more advanced training or alumni events. Even NRA executive vice president Doug Hamlin was told he would need to complete the introductory course before qualifying as a Gunsite alumnus. Amanda and Rob recall their own experience taking the 250 class, including nighttime shooting and practical exercises involving movement, target identification, and shoot/no-shoot decisions. A significant part of the program focuses on the anxiety many people experience before attending firearms training. Amanda openly describes how nervous she was before her first Gunsite class. After winning the tuition in a raffle, she traveled to Arizona by herself, rented a car, drove to the school, and checked into her hotel. The following morning, she seriously considered abandoning the trip and returning home before the class even began. However, she pushed through her apprehension and finished the course feeling proud of herself. Rob explains that classes bring together people with a wide range of experience, from relatively new gun owners to people who have been shooting for decades. He says Gunsite instructors work as a team, providing additional assistance to students who need help without embarrassing them or making them feel inadequate. Fellow students also encourage one another, share advice, and celebrate improvements. Amanda and Rob encourage listeners who have been considering additional training to take the step rather than assuming everyone else is more skilled or that they will not fit in. The hosts also discuss the value of repeating training courses. Amanda explains that she aims to attend at least one, and preferably two, firearms training classes each year, whether locally or somewhere that requires travel. Rob describes meeting a student who retakes Gunsite's basic 250 course every five years because instructors, course content, and individual learning needs change over time. Repeating a class can reinforce fundamentals and reveal skills that have weakened or habits that need adjustment. Training also creates lasting friendships and connections with people from around the country. Amanda and Rob note that attending with a friend can make the experience less intimidating and allows both people to compare notes afterward, since different students often remember different details from the same instruction. Another major topic is firearms safety and the practical lessons they learned during the event. Amanda recounts how Gunsite operations manager Ken Campbell led hundreds of participants in repeating Colonel Cooper's four fundamental firearm safety rules: treat every gun as loaded, never allow the muzzle to cover anything you are unwilling to destroy, keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, and know your target and what lies beyond it. The large crowd reciting the rules together made a strong impression on the hosts. They also discuss the importance of maintaining awareness of the environment during practical exercises. Shooting in a dry ravine, for example, presents challenges beyond those of a prepared shoot house because participants must watch their footing, negotiate rocks and uneven ground, and remain aware of their surroundings while making decisions about targets. The alumni shoot also gave Amanda and Rob unexpected lessons about equipment reliability. Both discovered that their pistols would ...
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    54 mins
  • 10426 hr2

    10426 hr2
    Oct 5 2026

    The episode focuses on several current Second Amendment and firearms-policy issues, beginning with New York's proposed restrictions on BB guns, pellet guns, and air rifles. The hosts Amanda Suffecool and Rob Campbell criticize Senate Bill 9215 for redefining these devices as "imitation weapons," raising the purchase age, and requiring bright colors and barrel plugs, arguing that the requirements could effectively make many air guns unusable. They then discuss Benson v. United States in Washington, D.C., involving magazine restrictions and licensing and registration requirements. The case is being reheard by the full D.C. Court of Appeals after a three-judge panel found portions of the regulations unconstitutional, and the hosts believe a disagreement among courts could eventually bring the issues before the Supreme Court. They similarly discuss an Eighth Circuit ruling concerning whether machine guns receive Second Amendment protection, contrasting it with a Kansas decision that reached the opposite conclusion.

    The conversation then turns to Virginia, where lawmakers are debating legislation restricting commonly owned semiautomatic firearms and magazines holding 15 or more rounds. The hosts discuss Governor Abigail Spanberger's effort to expand the legislation to include firearms with detachable magazines and speculate that delays in the legislative process could be giving Second Amendment organizations time to prepare lawsuits and seek injunctions. They also discuss Virginia's redistricting controversy and express concerns about the potential impact of the state's changing political environment on gun rights and concealed-carry reciprocity.

    Another major topic is the federal government's treatment of firearms regulations from the Biden administration. The hosts discuss a letter signed by 33 House members urging President Trump to select an attorney general who would end enforcement of regulations involving pistol braces, so-called "ghost guns," and the definition of being "engaged in the business" of firearms dealing. They explain their concern that vague rules could create uncertainty for private gun owners who occasionally sell firearms, particularly those selling inherited firearms or portions of personal collections. The hosts argue that inconsistent enforcement can create fear among ordinary gun owners while more obvious commercial activity at gun shows may receive less attention.

    The program also discusses marijuana and gun ownership. The hosts explain that marijuana's reported move from Schedule I to Schedule III could affect the federal firearms background-check questionnaire, particularly the question concerning unlawful drug use or addiction. They focus on the Supreme Court case United States v. Hemani, which they believe could challenge the federal prohibition on firearm possession by unlawful users of controlled substances. They speculate that a favorable ruling, combined with the change in marijuana's federal classification, could lead to revisions of the ATF Form 4473 and potentially change how marijuana users are treated under federal firearms law.

    Finally, the hosts warn listeners about possible ammunition shortages and price increases stemming from a strike at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. They explain that the government owns the facility but contracts its operation to private companies, with Winchester Olin currently operating it. According to the discussion, union workers have objected to long-term mandatory overtime requirements and are remaining on strike despite the company's claim that operations continue. The hosts believe a prolonged shutdown could affect the supply of .223 and 5.56 ammunition and potentially force the government to reconsider the plant's operating contract. The episode closes by again describing the mission of the Realize Firearms Awareness Coalition, emphasizing constitutional education, responsible gun ownership, firearms education, and educational events.
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    54 mins
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