As of now, “AoA on the Road” is in full swing. AoA? – that’s Airguns of Arizona, of course!
The first AoA on the Road trip was a 7-10-day sweep through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
The custom AoA on the road van is tricked out as a mobile showroom for Airguns of Arizona and Precision Airgun Distribution, which is the distribution arm of AoA.
Larry Piercy is the regular face of AoA on the road. He says, “In many areas, although airgunning is really growing in popularity, firearms dealers are somewhat reticent to get involved.” AoA President Robert Buchanan accompanied Larry on the first trip as a great opportunity to interface with new and existing AoA customers – both dealers and shooters.
Larry describes the AoA on the Road project having four key goals.
“The first goal is to establish additional dealers in the Precision Airgun Distribution network. The van will be a mobile showcase for adult precision airguns. We’ll have 10 long guns – everything from an HW30 to an Air Wolf – and 2-3 pistols. In this way, we’re taking the latest airguns to potential new AoA dealers,. They will be able to see them, touch them, and, if there are the facilities, shoot them.”
Goal two is to help existing dealerships to be more successful selling airguns.
The third goal will be to interface with the airgunning public. This means that Larry and the van will be visiting the National Field Target Championships, the National Airgun Benchrest Championships, and similar events. The van is equipped with an Omega electric compressor and a Daystate gas-powered compressor for refilling tanks. There’s also a workbench “in case somebody blows an o-ring.”
Larry is out on the road for up to three weeks He then spends a week or two at home, then repeats the process. “When I’m home, I’ll be visiting local ranges in the Phoenix area.” He says. “Already there is one range planning to build an airgun facility. I can help with supervision as well as shooting and safety instruction.”
Larry has a long history with airguns and a great deal of knowledge that he’s eager to pass to others.
“As a kid” he says, I had a Daisy 1894 lookalike. I’ve known Robert Buchanan, President of AoA, for thirty years, but I didn’t really know about adult precision airguns until he and I got involved starting the Airgunners of Arizona field target club.”
“I started field target with a Slavia 631, a seven-foot-pound gun.” Says Larry. “After that, I bought a Beeman R1 in .20 caliber and did much better!”
Larry has been heavily involved with airguns and field target ever since. Currently he is President of the Airgunners of Arizona field target club. He is also an NRA-certified firearms instructor and a Certified Range Officer for the United States Practical Shooting Association.
So how did Larry Piercy come to be involved with this project?
Early in 2015, he retired from Boeing after a career of 26 years. Within a month Robert Buchanan phoned. He wanted to discuss an idea he had been thinking about for some time. The next day Larry and Robert met for breakfast to discuss their visions for the project, and within a couple of days. Larry was on the team. Now AoA is on the road!
Look out for the AoA van in your neighborhood!
You can find out more about AoA on the Road in the Airguns of Arizona blog.
The post AoA On The Road. It’s Coming to Your Town! appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.