USA Shooting’s Olympic Medalists Featured on Tonight’s Episode of “Sons of Guns”
OutdoorHub 05.17.13
USA Shooting Olympic medalists Jamie Gray (Lebanon, Pa.), Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.),Matt Emmons (Browns Mills, N.J.), and Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Ga.) will be featured on Discovery Channel’s “Sons of Guns” tonight at 9 and 11 ET/PT. Check your local listing for details.
“Sons of Guns” features Will Hayden and his team of gunsmiths at Baton Rouge-based Red Jacket Firearms who are hired to do the impossible; like make an extremely rare Civil War cannon fire, 150 years after it last saw action.
Tonight’s episode entitled “Cutbacks” will feature the athletes helping the Red Jacket Firearms team develop a commemorative gun.
“It was so much fun to hang with the crew from ‘Sons of Guns’ and film with them,” said Gray, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist. “I think being on ‘Sons of Guns’ will grow awareness of shooting as an Olympic sport to viewers whom may not have ever known what USA Shooting is about. It is always a good time when we get to shoot with new people and different guns. It was an enjoyable trip to Baton Rouge to film and great to have Red Jacket recognize our success in the Olympic Games.”
Gray has been traveling the country to industry events to promote USA Shooting while her and Emmons take time to recover after the Olympic year and nursing back ailments that have plagued them in recent years. Emmons, a three-time Olympic medalist, was most recently the graduation speaker for his alma mater, the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
“I had a really great time filming the show with everyone at ‘Sons of Guns,'” said Emmons. “I was really impressed with the folks I met, had a great time talking to everyone there, and just had fun! My favorite memory was when we were out at the range having our little competition. Near the end of the day, Joe got the chance to shoot my rifle that I used in London. He was a three- position shooter when he was younger and he was blown away by the chance to shoot my gun. I love opportunities to make someone’s day and seeing the smile on his face was simply priceless.”
“It was a real blast and something so different from my normal everyday training. One thing that I took away is that I’ll definitely be shooting a lot more semi-automatic rifles in the future,” said Rhode, a five-time Olympic medal winner.
“The only thing about shooting a semi-automatic rifle is that you run out of ammo! After doing the show with Red Jacket, it really opens up your eyes to all the great facets of the shooting sports. How much fun can one girl have? Thank you Red Jacket!”
Rhode gave birth to her first child, Carter Charles Harryman, earlier this week.
Hancock, a two-time defending Olympic gold medalist has been busy on the competition circuit, most recently winning USA Shooting’s Spring Selection Match and a gold medal at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Acapulco, Mexico.
“I think ‘Sons of Guns’ and USA Shooting can work together to promote the shooting sports and help build an amazing network of athletes, recreational shooters, and gun enthusiasts around the world,” he said. “SOG brought us into a new realm with the show and it made a lasting impression.”
