Rottweil, an ammunition division of the European munitions conglomerate RUAG, has picked up the design formerly used by Hastings for its Laser slug and the new Alpha I slug will be available probably shortly after the first of the year. Based on Rich Knoster's non-discarding Sabot Technologies design, the ounce-plus slug will be made in 2 3/4ths (both normal and low recoil) and 3-inch 12 gauge and a 2 3/4ths-inch 20 gauge. The 3.5-inch 20 gauge slug that was proprietary to Hastings will not be produced. Jay Menefee's Polywad facility in Georgia will do the loading, using the same Cheddite hulls and primers as were used by Hastings. Elsewhere, I can honestly say that the Savage 220 bolt gun is everything that the industry is saying it is -- extremely accurate out to 200 yards, efficient (redesigned bolt, removable magazine, Accu-Trigger), etc. Real deal at less than $500. Most accurate commercial slug gun I've ever shot, right out of the box. Waiting to see the updated 210, the 12-gauge version that is supposed to feature the same new features. Announced at the NRA show in the spring, it was still in pre-production phase when I wrote this in August. Expect to hunt deer in Texas, and possibly pronghorns in Wyoming with Lightfield's 3-inch Magnum 20-gauge slug. Using Burris Eliminator scope and either Savage 220 or Tar-Hunt Mountaineer slug gun. Anxious to see how they blend. Killed two Merriam's gobblers in Arizona (30th state in which I've hunted) last spring with the Remington 887 while hunting with the White Mountain band of the Apaches on their reservation. Great experience and the gun acquitted itself flawlessly, as it did when I hunted sea ducks with it in Maine two years ago. I'll be doing all four of the Target Communications shows again in 2011 (Lansing, MI; Peoria, IL; Columbus, OH; Madison, WI), plus possibly another winter show, and plan a full schedule of NRA handgun instructional classes at home. My last two books, "Shotgunning for Deer" and "Modern Shotgunning", which went out of print when Stoeger Publishing went out of business two years ago, are being reprinted by Skyhorse Publishing, a division of Lyons Press. Looking at proposals for other books. Magazine work is very slow, given the failing economy's effect on advertising, severely limiting my free lance submissions. Many magazines that I worked with regarding hunting guns now use only features on tactical guns and pistols. Some "American Hunter" plus regular work with "Buckmasters" and "Deer & Deer Hunting" in 2010 and carrying over to 2011. Still a member of the Shooting Advisory Board for North American Hunter magazine. Doing quite a bit of work on 870s (accurizing, Timney Trigger fixes, etc.) although demand for the custom Ruger 10-22s has decreased quite a bit.