SideXSide Action - March 2008 - (Page 36) > TEST TESTER GUN RACKS For our gun rack shoot-out we wanted to get a reader opinion of the products that we would be testing. This way we were not biased and we could get a true “in the field test.” When we originally planned the shoot-out we knew that we would need someone with an extensive gun handling background, since most of us on the editorial staff have had only mediocre hunting experiences, all of which were not in a SXS. Our minds immediately turned to a mutual friend who has been around guns and hunting his entire life, and is someone who has fashioned his own gun racks for his favorite hunting vehicle, a 2005 Ranger XP 700. Background: RON OWEN LOCATION: RIVERSIDE, CA > NRA MEMBER TROPHIES Pig Buffalo Elk Ron Owen is not only a hunting aficionado, but is also a big time advocate on gun safety. Ron has lived in Riverside County, California now for over 19 years and has been with California Fish & Game for over nine years as a hunting instructor. Along with his work for the Fish & Game Department, Ron is also an active member of the NRA and, for the last nine years has been a certified range safety officer. Ron has been a professional hunting guide in California, as well as in Utah. Now retired, Ron spends his free time teaching safety and survival in a class he calls the “TOMS” class (Tracking, Orienteering, Mapping, Survival). Ron teaches his class 3-4 times a year with many of his classes exceeding over 50 people. While gun safety and instructing has always been a big part of Ron’s life, he is still very much in love with the sport of hunting. Much of his hunting has been purely sport, although he did have a stint of competition in Mesquite, NV where he competed in shooting sporting clay. Ron’s favorite type of hunting is larger game, such as elk or buffalo. He also likes to get his feet wet with some offshore and lake fishing. While he may have the larger animals on the wall, his wife Suzan takes home the prize of largest fish on the wall. GUNS (From brisket to top of the horns is 7’ 6”). *Field dressed 512 lbs. 2,100 lbs. *846 lbs. Remington 223 bolt action rifle (squirrels, prairie dogs) Whetherbee 243 Rifle (varmint, light deer) Whetherbee Win 300 mag (big game) Beretta 12 gauge Two- Ruger 77 22 magnum 17 caliber. (like a 22 magnum on steroids) Remington 12 gauge TESTING THE GOODS We tested all the gun racks on a 2007 Yamaha Rhino 660 and a 2005 Polaris Ranger XP 700. Many of the gun racks were similar but came with different mounting styles or were different brands. The gun racks have been reviewed on installation along with the overall useability of the rack. Ron Ownen and I (Cody Fletcher) both reviewed the racks, this way we could achieve a broad spectrum of the racks user base. The racks were tested with both rifles and shotguns to get a true carrying capacity. For more information on the racks featured in this shoot-out, please contact the manufacturers. IDE X SIDE ACTION SHOOT-OUT 36 SIDE X SIDE ACTION MAGAZINE SIDE X SIDE ACTION SHOOT-OUT SIDE X SIDE ACTION SHOOT-OUT SIDE X SIDE ACTION SHOOT-OUT SIDE X
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