Chances are, if you’re a fan of firearms or sport shooting you’ve spent some time on the couch watching Shooting USA. Hosted by father and son duo Jim and John Scoutten, the show has been called “America’s most watched firearms program.” Featuring product reviews, event coverage, tips, and insight into the sport of shooting make this show a must see for any enthusiast.
John Scoutten has literally spent his entire life around the broadcasting industry, eventually becoming a director and an Emmy nominated journalist. Now a competitive shooter himself, John co-hosts the show along with his dad Jim. In this week’s post, John was incredibly gracious enough to do an interview with us here at Gears, Guns, and Grub! I hope you enjoy the interview – be sure to scroll to the bottom for more links about Shooting USA, The Outdoor Channel, as well as both John and Jim. Enjoy!
interview :
- I’m a huge fan of your television program Shooting USA, but for the readers that are less familiar, can you tell us a little about yourself?
-I have been working behind the scenes of the firearms television program from the beginning in 1993 when it was called American Shooter and ran Saturday mornings on ESPN. In 2004 we created our company and the show became Shooting USA. Our show has evolved into the only one hour program dedicated to coverage of National and World level firearms competition of all disciplines with new product and professional instruction related to those disciplines along with historical firearms and general interest stories. We are entering our twenty fourth year of reporting on the shooting sports. In 2006 I started appearing on Shooting USA, these old episodes for me are hard to watch, I was very stiff and unpolished on camera.
- What is it like hosting alongside of your dad?
– Jim is one of kind, and at 72 years young he has his way of doing things. We have a solid working relationship.
- Of all the shows that you’ve filmed to this point, is there a particular segment that sticks out in your mind the most?
– I have been so blessed over the years to see and do so many unique things in producing the Shooting USA series. There are several moments that stand out. Touring the Beretta castle in Northern Italy, Touring the Sconce at Gunsite, the home of Col. And Janelle Cooper. Seeing the inner workings of Independent Studio Services, the largest Hollywood prop house and armory.
- So tell us about your experience in competitive shooting? (How long have you been competing, what types of events, etc?)
– The idea of getting started in competitive shooting was an idea that I came up with to show our audience that everyone can shoot the competitions we show you on the show. Of course we will bring you the top one percent of competitors battling for national and world titles, the rest of that match is made up of shooters at all skill levels and if I can fit in there somewhere so can you. So with that in mind I have shot the steel challenge, the Bianchi Cup, several USPSA matches including their Multi-gun Nationals, but my latest obsession is Precision Rifle Series Competition.
- If you had to choose one firearm from your personal safe, that would be the only firearm you would have for the rest of your life, what would it be?
– Easy, my GAP 6.5 Creedmoor bolt gun in its PDC custom Chassis with Bushnell Elite Tactical XRS. I have solid data on this gun to 1150 yards.
- In terms of a concealed carry handgun, what would be your firearm of choice?
– I have a couple of carry set ups, which one I choose depends on the time of year and what I am wearing. I have a Smith and Wesson 442 hammerless J frame revolver, that’s the fall or spring choice, appendix carry in pants with a belt. I have a G30 that was completely tricked out by Salient Arms International, that’s the choice for cold weather under a jacket kind outfit. And for summer, in shorts I have a Smith and Wesson Bodyguard.380 with a Techna-clip, I showed this combination on the show a couple of seasons ago after using it for a while and it’s top notch for in the pocket carry. It takes some practice to be quick with it, but in terms of concealment it’s as good as it gets.
- Shooting USA allows you to handle and or review some amazing firearms. Tell us- what is the #1 firearm on your wish list right now?
-Number one on my wish list is actually a suppressor I am waiting on the stamp for, it’s a Templar Tactical Arch Angel that is going on my GAP 6.5 bolt gun, that will be the next level. Second to that, I am getting more and more interested in pistol caliber carbines. The USPSA has opened up a new division and will be putting on a national for PCC, I have a couple of options for the division on order.
- Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect from Shooting USA going forward? Any surprises?
– We have some groundbreaking news coming in 2017, I can’t go into to much detail here, but lets just say there will be more ways than just cable to see our show.
for more information on John, Jim, Shooting USA, or the Outdoor Channel, please check out the following links!:
Official Site: http://shootingusa.com/
Facebook (Jim Scoutten/ShootingUSA): https://www.facebook.com/JimScoutten.ShootingUSA/
Facebook (John Scoutten): https://www.facebook.com/JohnScouttenShootingUSA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootingusa/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shootingusa
Pinterest: https://twitter.com/shootingusa