From BB guns and .22 rifles, to shotguns and bows, hands-on fun awaits
PHOENIX — If you’re interested in firearms but don’t know where to start, or just want to take a few shots with the latest firearms from some of the biggest manufacturers, then don’t miss the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2019 Outdoor Expo.
For two days – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 30, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 31 – Arizona’s largest free outdoor recreation expo will take over the Ben Avery Shooting Facility and provide all kinds of fun, hands-on activities and demonstrations, including opportunities to watch, learn and sample everything “shooting.”
The best way to get started would be to head over to “Introduction to Shooting,” located in Area 1 (Family Adventure), where after a brief safety presentation adults and children 9 and older can do some target shooting using .22 rifles. Adults with children 8 and older are encouraged to give BB gun shooting a try in Area 2 (Main Area).
If shooting with a bow and arrow sounds like fun, learn all about it at “Family Archery” in Area 1 (Family Adventure). This activity is geared for families with children 8 and older.
Other shooting opportunities will include steel target, air gun, practical pistol, clay target, benchrest, cowboy action and an archery field course with 3D targets. While most of the shooting opportunities are free, some require a nominal fee for ammunition.
A few of the organizations that will be sponsoring shooting opportunities include Christian Hunters of America, Honeywell Sportsman Club, Shoot Right, Arizona Cowboy Shooters Association, Shooter’s World, Cactus Match League and Umarex Airguns.
Expo-goers also can test firearms (for a nominal fee for ammunition) or check out displays from some of the biggest names in the firearms industry, like Daniel Defense, Shooter’s World, Ruger & Co., Glock, Walther Arms, Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF), Robar Companies, Sig Sauer, Dillon Aero and Precision, Bond Arms, Apex Tactical Specialties, Tombstone Tactical, Springfield Armory and True Shot Gun Club.
If sitting back and watching accomplished shooters in action is more your speed, be sure to catch the cowboy mounted shooting competitions Saturday and Sunday (main matches begin at 9 a.m., with finals in the afternoon) at the Royce W. Anderson Family Arena in Area 3 (Outdoor Recreation, Shotgun Area), as well periodic fast draw demonstrations both days at the “Cowboy Action Shooting” venue in Area 2 (Main Area).
For the fifth straight year, the presenting
sponsor of this year’s expo is Shikar Safari Club International.
Gold sponsors are OneAZ Credit Union and Sig Sauer.
Game
and Fish conducts the expo to promote wildlife-related and other
outdoor recreation activities. The public’s participation in these
activities supports the department’s mission and funding. The
department receives no Arizona tax dollars, and no tax dollars are
used in conducting the expo.
For more information about the expo, visit https://www.azgfd.com/expo/.
