Handgun Grip & Stance for Marksmanship

June 2, 2015 - posted by Mike Vause

Long before James Bond drew a gun, pointed it, and shot the bad guy squarely in the chest…

He had to develop his form.

Grip and stance are the most important things to know about with any type of gun. Your grip keeps you safe and on-target. Your stance keeps you firmly planted and able to repeat a shot – and even move if necessary.

Maybe you love target practice, or maybe you are interested in getting into shooting competitions. Maybe you’re interested in improving your accuracy for personal defense situations. Or – maybe you haven’t actually gone to the gun range yet!

I made this video for you so that no matter your skill or experience level, you’ll feel confident and EXCITED to head to the range!

Watch the Essentials of Handgun Grip & Stance

In the video, I gave you some good pointers:

Hold the gun in your dominant hand with the whole hand high in the grip but under the slide
Keep your thumbs next to each other on the other side of the gun
Hold your nondominant hand as a support, keeping the gun steady so you can repeat your shot
Try to keep both eyes open so you can see your target, and what you shot, better
Keep an athletic stance, with your knees bent
Lean in toward the gun, not backing away from it

With these tips you can head to the range, even as a beginner, and have a great time!

What do you want to know about marksmanship?

Want more marksmanship tips? Leave a comment with what you want to see, and I can make a more advanced video to address more in-depth marksmanship tips, now that we’ve covered the basics.

Enter to win a FREE Gun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yep – you could win one of 2 FREE handguns that we’re giving away leading up to Range Day. Enter with your email address or Facebook account to enter to win!

In addition to what I showed you about form, every shooter, new or experienced, should know the 4 rules of gun safety.

The Four Rules of Gun Safety

Treat every gun as if it’s loaded. Guns require a heavy level of respect. Don’t make the news: always assume the gun is loaded.
Before you clean your gun or hand it to someone to use, check there’s no ammunition. Eject the magazine, check the chamber visually and with your finger. Even when cleaning or handling a gun you know is empty, follow the following three rules.
Never point a gun at anything you’re not willing to destroy. A gun always has to point at something. Make sure it’s a wall, a table, or the ground. At the Range, it’s good practice to always keep the gun pointing down range, at the targets.
Always know what your target is – and what’s BEYOND it. This is important for home defense more than at the range: if you fire your gun, what will the bullet hit behind your target?
Keep your finger off the trigger until you are aimed at the target & ready to fire.
In the movies you see good guys and bad guys running around with their finger on the trigger. In real life, that’s an easy way to get hurt in a hurry. It’s easy to get startled or twitch, and the first thing that’s going to happen is pulling the trigger. It’s just instinct. So as Blaine showed in the video, keep your finger on the frame of the gun until you’re in place and ready to shoot.

I’ll see you at Range Day! Every lane at Range Day will have a gun for you to shoot as well as a Smith & Edwards or manufacturer representative to help you load the gun and shoot it safely. We’re here to help you have a good time!

Get your Ammo Pass here or at the Gun Counter at Smith & Edwards.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel, and join our email list here.

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Personalize Your Garden with Utah Original Art

May 30, 2015 - posted by Rebecca Adams

Spring is all about getting out and enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Smith and Edwards has fresh flowers, planters, and garden accessories that will help you create that perfect outdoor haven.

You can find the perfect way to organize your beautiful garden with Burnett Metal Art garden markers – made right here in Utah!

An amazing line of garden markers!

Burnett Metal Art is a Utah based company out of Garland. The Burnetts have found that being a Utah-based company has brought in a lot of business because the people are great to work with, and Utah is a great state for small businesses. The Burnett family has owned and operated this welding and fabrication business for over 100 years!

After purchasing their CNC plasma table in 2011, Brody and Weston Burnett, two of the sons, and their wives, Kara and Trista, started Burnett Metal Art. Daughter Tristin (Burnett) Lindsay is head designer for product development. I had the pleasure of talking to Tristin and ask her a few questions about the company.

The Burnett Family

Q. What inspired your family to create this business?

A. One of our big inspirations came from our mother, Susan. She has collected all varieties of nativity scenes throughout her life. She wanted us to design and cut her one from metal. She has helped us design a few of our nativities as well. We now have about 13-15 nativities designed and we have plans to have 50 designed and available in the next 2 years.

Q. What drives you in your business?

A. Our motivation comes from when our customers get excited about new products we design and produce. We get satisfaction out of seeing our products displayed in yards when we drive down roads and even go out of our small town and see our products in yards or on houses in other areas!

Our motivation also comes from being able to design things that we would like in our own homes and yards and being able to use them ourselves. We are also motivated and determined to make Burnett Metal Art as successful as our welding business has been.

Q. How big is your company? Have you or are you thinking about growing across America?

A. We currently have 8 employees. The company started with just a few products and now has nearly 100 products and is sold in over 12 locations in Utah, as well as online.

We have the desire and a plan in place to start Burnett Metal Art spreading across America. We are working with different retail outlets to expand our reach outside of Utah.

Q. What are your most popular items? Any customer favorites?

A. Our most popular items are our yard art and garden markers. We also sell a lot of our nativity scenes as well. Our customer favorites are our garden markers and yard art as well. We are hoping that our Holiday line will be just as big with our customer base.

Q. Why do customers love your garden markers?

A. Our products are built to last. We make each one durable and long lasting. They are a unique product to enhance your home or garden. We can also customize any product to make it unique and specific to your taste.

Q. What makes Burnett Metal Art unique?

A. Our company is unique because it is a family owned business. It started with our father working at the welding shop, then going to owner, and now 4 siblings are working here as well.

Q. Is there any history or background that makes your company what it is?

A. The business was originally a blacksmith shop that started over 100 years ago and has progressed to a Welding and Fabrication Shop. Now we have added the Metal Art business as well!

Q. What is your favorite product to sell – or is there a product in the future that you are going to add to your already creative collection?

A. We love selling our garden stuff the most. We have plans of adding decorative metal furniture to our collection.

It was amazing to be able to talk and find out more about these garden and yard markers that are made right here in the U.S.A. – thanks, Tristin! Smith & Edwards loves featuring small businesses like Burnett Metal Art – especially family-owned businesses based in Utah, just like us. These fun metal garden markers make great additions to your garden and outdoor decorations!

You can find these cute garden markers by clicking here.

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Springfield Dueling Tree Competition – GoPro Video

May 28, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

Mike Vause challenged me to a duel the other day….

He’d already bought the ammo, so I said OK!

We went to the Perry Three Mile Creek Range and squared off at the dueling tree.

(You’ll get to try your marksmanship skills at the Dueling Tree on Range Day!)

Watch the Competition from a First-Person Perspective

I didn’t know Mike would show up wearing a GoPro… you’ve got to take a look at it from his perspective!

About the Dueling Tree

The dueling tree’s designed for two shooters to swing the targets to the other side. If you’ve hit all of yours, your opponent can swing them back to you!

(We would have started out with equal gongs on a side… but we didn’t bring our waders)

Best of all, the Dueling Tree’s made out of good steel so it’s not just restricted to rimfire. Wahooo!

What we Shot

Both of us shot Springfield guns. I gotta tell you, I love these guns – I’m 5’2 with not a lot of grip strength, and I can rack the slide very easily. I also like the grip safety, it makes sure I’ve got a good proper grip on the gun and makes me feel more secure on it.

I shot the Springfield XDM 9mm in 5.25. Mike shot the Springfield XDM 45 in 4.5 with TFX TrueGlo Night Sights.

Your Turn!

Come try your hand at the dueling tree on Range Day, June 12th 2015, at the Perry Range. See you then!

Want more videos? Make sure and subscribe to our Youtube Channel, as well as join our email list for videos, tips, & savings :)

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Talking About What’s COOL at Springfield Right Now

May 23, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

Sporting Goods managers Mike Vause and Chris Jacobson took me out to the Perry Three Mile Creek gun range this month so we could check out some of the Springfields that will be available to shoot at Range Day 2015 on June 12, 2015.

Take a look:

Just wait til next week, you’ll get to see Mike and me going head-to-head shooting Springfields, from a very unique perspective…

Get your ammo pass today for Range Day 2015 at the Sporting Goods counter, or online!

(You’ve already got your vacation day booked, right?)

You’re already on our email list, right? Look at how awesome you are!

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A Sweet Teacher’s Gift Idea

May 22, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

Teachers don’t get enough credit! And as we reach the end of the school year, we want to do something for them…. that isn’t ANOTHER apple-decorated knick-knack.

Sara here at Smith & Edwards came up with the sweetest idea for her son & daughter’s teachers.

How to Make this Sweet Teacher’s Gift

You only need 3 items to make this sweet gift that your child’s teacher will surely appreciate:

Tulle
StemGem Strawberry Huller
A carton of strawberries!

Strawberry teacher gifts for the ender of the year

What a sweet teacher’s gift idea!

So simple, but so thoughtful. When you get to the end of the school year, it’s all about keeping it simple. And your teacher will love it.

Love the tags Sara used? She turned them into a free printable that you can download!

Click here to download the printable (299kb). It has 4 tags & directions. Thanks, Sara!

Love it? Pin it!

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The Story Behind Cowboys Unlimited

May 15, 2015 - posted by Regan Taylor

It all started with two risk-taking brothers and one shot-in-the-dark idea; to create a self-owned T-shirt company! The Moss Brothers ( Matt and Calvin Cahoon) have owned their own business since 1996 and are based out of Payson, UT.

And although the company has come a long way from where it started, they still keep it going strong the same way they built it; with each other! Matt and Calvin do everything themselves, from design and artwork to the shipping of the shirts!

The Making of a Commendable Company

Matt and Calvin Cahoon grew up in California, moving to Utah sometime after high school. Matt attended BYU and recieved an MBA and degree in engineering. Calvin, on the other hand, studied at University of Utah, played lacrosse, and got a degree in exercise science. He was working at a local country store and decided that their products weren’t all that special; so he decided “why not?”

While interviewing Calvin, he told me about how he’s always been attracted to the country way of life, saying ” a deal is as good as a handshake when it comes to people from the country. People always seem to be in a hurry to get no where, but not country people. They become family”.

It wasn’t hard to decide who they wanted their target market to be, so they came up with 4 clothing lines specified to the tastes of country folk:

1. Cowboys Unlimited: Traditional Cowboy T-Shirts – a VERY popular line!

Shop for you own Cowboys Unlimited get-up here.

2. Cowgirls Unlimited: Traditional T-Shirts for those one-of-a-kind cowgirls.

Janet rocking her Cowgirls Unlimited shirt

Get Janet’s “Cowgirls rule. We’ve got it, cowboys want it, and we know it” tee by clicking here.

3. No-Bull: Matt and Calvin’s more “risque” line that has funny quotes and sayings! ( Calvin told me they come up with these quotes from experiences and memories of funny moments where someone did or said something noteworthy ).

“Due to the rising cost of ammunition, I am no longer able to provide warning shots. Sorry for the inconvenience” – Tyler repping the No-Bull line.

4. Horses Unlimited: Made specifically for all the horse lovers.

When they opened in fall of 1996, I don’t know if the Moss brothers really knew how well it was going to do. They had sold their shirts to 11 stores just before Christmas, and by the time the Christmas season was over all 11 stores had sold EVERY ONE of their shirts!

They then traveled to Kansas and teamed up with a company that put their shirts into 27 stores across the nation. After that, Matt and Calvin attended a spring trade show in Dallas, and gained another 15 stores to put their unique shirts into! They were then granted another whopping 48 stores.

How Far Have They Come Today?

Today, the Moss brothers have around 2500 locations carrying their clothing line. The company now has about 125 designs, and not only sell T-shirt’s but now also sell hoodies, kids clothing, window decals, housewares and BBQ sets. (Wow!)

“Don’t flatter yourself cowboy, I was looking at your horse!” – Popular shirt from Cowgirls Unlimited

Know a cowgirl who would love this tee? Get it online.

The team make an awesome duo – Matt does most of the artwork and does quite well on the business end of things, while Calvin can be referred to as the carefree salesman. They work together to create the best possible team for their company. Products are always stocked in full to avoid any type of lag, even though it’s just the two of them doing all the work.

They continue to shine every year and who better to depend on than your own brother, right?

Why We Think It’s So Awesome

Smith and Edwards is also a company that came about from an idea two men had back in 1947, so of course we have support for two brothers doing the same thing. It’s always inspiring to see two people taking an idea and making it into a successful business.

I asked Calvin at the end of our interview “If you had one minute to tell a kid the secret of owning his own business, what would you tell him?” He paused and then told me, “You could have the Cadillac of all Cadillacs of products, but if you can’t sell it, you’re still broke.” In other words, make a product you know will be of interest to your customers, and PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE!

Take risks, make your mark, and share your product with the world because you never know where it may lead! You can support Utah’s own Moss Brothers by buying their T-shirts online or coming into Smith and Edwards today.

“You can get more accomplished with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.”

Get Tyler’s No-Bull Tee today! Shop online.

Here are some more of our favorites:

You could rock this Cowgirls Unlimited “Gunpowder and Lead” Tee too! Shop here.

Get Tyler’s “Just Another Small Town” tee here, and his “One Nation Under God” tee here.

I wanted to give a special thank you to Janet from customer service and Tyler from the gun counter for modeling these awesome T-Shirts for us!

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Range Day 2015 is just a month away…

May 14, 2015 - posted by Mike Vause

I am EXCITED! See how excited I am in this video and the HUGE range of calibers available for you to shoot:

Thanks to our sponsors! Thanks to them, we will have a gun on every lane of the Perry City Three Mile Creek Range. We’ll have a dueling tree and I’ll tell you about a little COMPETITION we’ll have going when we get closer to the event.

How does it work at Range Day? Buy an ammo punch-pass for $20. (Available week of May 18) Then, shoot any caliber you like!

This event will run 11-7pm on Friday, June 12th. We’ll have the entire range to ourselves, with support from the Three Mile Creek rangemasters.

We’ll have 22s for you to shoot, on up to a 338 Lapua

Our 2015 Sponsors: Browning – Charter Arms – Colt – Crimson Trace – CZ USA – Desert Tactical – Heckler & Koch – HS Precision – Law – Savage Arms – Sig Sauer – Smith & Wesson – Springfield Armory – Tactical Solutions – Uberti

Plus the Northern Wasatch chapter of The Well Armed Woman will provide refreshments.

Be sure you’re on our email list to get all the details! Visit & bookmark the Official Range Day 2015 page for more videos & details as we get closer to the event.

Click here to see the fun we had at last year’s Range Day…

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Cool in Blue: Fun Women’s Rodeo Outfits

May 6, 2015 - posted by Misti Kosoff

Rodeo season is gearing up! So for both the serious competitor and the die-hard rodeo fan, we have the rodeo apparel you need, to get you noticed.

Kelsey from our Clothing department helped us out by modeling both of these outfits – thanks, Kelsey!

Stay cool in blue with these fun women’s rodeo outfits by rodeo fan favorites: Wrangler, Cowgirl Tuff, and Rock 47.

Rodeo Fan Outfit

This fun Cowgirl Tuff printed tee is perfect for the rodeo or everyday. Top it off with a 6X Seratelli hat!

For cheering in the stands or after the competition, the Cowgirl Tuff cap sleeve v-neck t-shirt is a fun compliment to any jean. I have this one in my closet!

Wrangler Sadie jeans are a great choice for the rodeo!

These Sadie jeans from Wrangler look great – you’re ready to have FUN!

Wrangler’s Booty UP Sadie jeans are everything that any woman wants in one jean. These jeans lift and define the seat – which is flattering, but doesn’t compromise comfort. The right blend of cotton, polyester and spandex make them just downright comfy.

Rodeo Competitor Outfit

Gorgeous cobalt stitching and cobalt & silver sparkles make this shirt stand out.

Gorgeous cobalt stitching and cobalt & silver sparkles make this cotton shirt stand out.

This Rock 47 shirt features black gem-cut snaps on the sleeves and front, with a top button.

This Wrangler Rock 47 embroidered and embellished woven long sleeve cotton top is the perfect combination of style and flash. It features diamond blue stitching on both the front and the back around blue and silver rhinestone spots.

Kelsey at Smith & Edwards models this Rock 47 and Wrangler outfit

Look cool in blue as you do breakaway or barrels with this tough-but-cute outfit. Pair with matching cowboy boots like blue-stitched Ariat Pro Baby Flame boots.

Top it off with a 6X Seratelli hat. Then, accessorize with jewelry & cowboy boots. Kelsey picked the Ariat Pro Baby Flame boots – you can get yours online here!

Share this Women’s Rodeo Outfit!

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Women's Rodeo Outfit from Smith & Edwards

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Up Your Trolling Game This Spring!

May 5, 2015 - posted by Regan Taylor

Chris Jacobson, Smith & Edwards Fishing buyer

Chris has great tips for trolling at Willard Bay.

Are you looking to try something new this spring? Have you thought about looking into trolling for fish? Or maybe you’re already troll-savvy and are just wanting to gain knowledge or tips on how-to’s. I talked to Chris, our fishing guy here at Smith and Edwards, to get his TOP tips n’ tricks for trolling!

What Should I Know About Trolling?

The benefits of trolling in a boat vs. fishing from shore are apparent; your fishing range expands, making it easier to find hot spots and catch bigger fish in deeper waters. This can be a great way to get those deep-water Trout and Kokanee.

So what’s the perfect way to troll fish? Well, that may vary depending on your preferences, but here’s what Chris recommends:

1. Speed is Everything: It is very important you monitor how fast you are trolling. Try 1.5-3.5 mph at first and track your results. Different species may be attracted to different trolling speeds.

2. Monitor Speed and Fish with a Fish Finder: This can be a very useful accessory for trolling. It will show you how fast you’re going as well as alert you to fish in the area. A fish finder is a great to scope out schools of fish to drop your trolling line into… they simply won’t be able to resist! One of Chris’s favorites is the Elite Series by Lowrance. Chris’s favorite Elite Series fish finder is sold exclusively in stores, but check out what fish finders we offer online by clicking here.

3. Spice Up Your Trolling Line!: Although trolling lures are made to specifically flash and flutter to attract fish, it can be extremely helpful to use another form of bait or attractant.

Mike’s Lunker Lotion or Berkley Gulp Spray can be a tempting add-on to your set-up. Not only will it give off a “fish friendly” smell, it will also cover up your scent you may have left behind on your lures. If the fish don’t sense a human, there’s nothing stopping them from taking that lure!

A couple family tricks of mine include using old rings or jewelry with your lures and coating them with your favorite fish attracting scent!

4. Try New Spots: Fishing success can be very lake specific. Some of Chris’s favorite trolling spots are Willard Bay and Flaming Gorge. Trying new places can further help you understand which fish take which bait and what time of day they are most likely to bite. (Although most people recommend mornings and late nights).

One of our favorites for trout – the flatfish by Yakima

Chris also recommends:

Squids or Flatfish for Trout
Squids or Kokanee King for Kokanee
Rapala, wedding rings or jewelry, or Warm Harness for Walleye and Wipers

Click here to see the lures you can get delivered to your house here. And you can find even more lures in-store in Chris’s Fishing department at Smith & Edwards!

What Other Fish Trolling Tips Can Help Me?

Chris’s favorite brand of downriggers, Cannon. Model #1901020.

Downriggers, mounts, rod-holders, and different lures or spoons can enhance your trolling experience with versatility and convenience.

Electric vs gas motors are more boat size and water depth specific. Electric downriggers may be more beneficial for deep water fishing areas, where as manual downriggers may be better suited for shallow depths. Chris finds Scotty or Cannon brand downriggers and Okuma Coldwater Reels to be his favorite!

Perfect Coldwater Trolling Reel by Okuma

Have Fun With It!

Try new trolling areas, new lures, and new equipment to find your favorite fish-catchin’ troll setup. The best way to learn is to experiment for yourself!

Remember, if it’s trolling you’re interested in, Smith and Edwards has the knowledgeable crew and the best equipment for the job. Click here to explore the Fishing & Trolling selection online or come in the store today!

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How to Rope a Cowboy Toy

April 23, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

If you’ve ever been dummy ropin’, you know how FUN it is… and you don’t need to be a team roper on a horse to have fun with it.

Stick a steer head on a bale of hay, or hook up a Smarty dummy to your 4-wheeler – it’s as fun as the real thing.

But what about when it’s raining, or it’s dark out? How you gonna rope then?

Here it is: The living room Cowboy Toy. Born in Texas, our customers LOVE these mini steers! They come with their own rope, interchangeable horns, and the legs even move like a real dummy steer, so you can head ‘n heel with the whole family. Craig had to show Curtis with ABC4 Utah how it’s done:

This tabletop roping dummy’s as fun as it looks!

Gotta have one? Get your own Cowboy Ropin’ Toy (and see their big brothers) at SMITHandEDWARDS.com in our Roping Dummy section.

If you haven’t seen someone rope the Shorty ropin’ dummy, you’ve gotta checkout our Dummy Ropin’ we did back on Valentine’s Day! Click here to see some Dummy Ropin’ Pictures.