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Final Shots: Kolar’s Don Mainland Passes

We are saddened to report the passing of Don Mainland, the man who established Kolar Arms as one of the leading manufacturers of clay target shotguns since the 1990’s. Mainland acquired the company founded by Larry Kolar in the 1980’s, moving the tube-set business to his machine shop in Wisconsin. After producing trap guns for Remington, Mainland then began production of Kolar-branded shotguns made in the USA. The company is currently in its third generation of Mainland operation, with Don’s son Jeff and grandson Sean now managing the business.

In addition to the Kolar gun business, Don started Letsch Manufacturing, Pioneer Products, and Racine Air. He was known as a true visionary and naturally gifted and driven leader. He had many passions, including clay target shooting, cycling, riding horses, and golf. Don was an accomplished bike racer who raced in Japan’s Kierin circuit in the early 1950’s and held the U.S. coast-to-coast cross-country record, which stood for 11 years. Don was also a proud United States Marine. Above all, Don was known as a loving and proud family man. He was married to Ruth for 71 years, and together they had four children: Michael, Mary, Jeffrey, and Lisa, as well as 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Under Don’s leadership, Kolar Arms grew from a personal passion to a leader in the firearms community, synonymous with excellence and commitment to quality — a reflection of Don’s own integrity. His contributions have been recognized by multiple shooting organizations, including being honored by NSSA in 2011, along with Larry Kolar, Claude Purbaugh, and Jess Briley, for revolutionizing the game of skeet with their development and advancement of sub-gauge tubes. He was inducted into the Wisconsin State Trapshooting Association and honored by other professional organizations for his contributions.

As we mourn his absence, we also celebrate his life — a life richly lived and generously shared. A funeral service will be held on November 9 in Racine, Wisconsin. NSSA-NSCA extends it sympathies to the Mainland family, Don’s Kolar Arms family, and his many friends. See Don’s full obituary.

 

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Win VIP Package with Purchase of 2 Raffle Tickets

NSSA-NSCA has two big gun raffles underway, and buying a ticket for each can net you a huge reward! If you purchase both a Kolar shotgun raffle ticket and a Krieghoff K-80 raffle ticket, you will not only be entered to win both of these shotguns, but you’ll also be entered to win your choice of either a 2024 World Skeet Championships VIP Package or 2024 National Sporting Clays Championship VIP Package. Buying multiple pairs of tickets will get your name entered for each pair. If you have previously purchased the pair of tickets, your name will be automatically entered for the event VIP package.

If you select the 2024 National Championship VIP Package, as the winner you would receive the following prizes for next year’s Nationals:

  • Free Main Event Entry (options not included)
  • Free K-Kup Entry (options not included)
  • 100 Practice Sporting Clays Targets
  • VIP Parking Spot
  • 2 NSCA Hall of Fame Banquet Tickets
  • Shotgun Storage for Two Guns for the Duration of the Event
  • 1 National Championship Shirt and 1 National Championship Cap

If you select the 2024 World Skeet Championships VIP Package, you would receive the following for next year’s World Shoot:

  • Mini World Event Entry, All Guns (no options)
  • Main World Entry, All Guns (no options)
  • VIP Parking Spot
  • 10 Rounds of Skeet Practice
  • Shotgun Storage for Two Guns for Duration of the Event
  • 2 NSSA Hall of Fame Banquet Tickets
  • 1 World Championships Shirt and 1 World Championships Cap

Here are the two shotguns you can win in the raffles:

Kolar 12-gauge over/under shotgun valued at $30,000. All proceeds of this raffle will go to the NSSA-NSCA Endowment Fund. The gun is a Regal Extra model with cloisonne pheasant inlaid on the receiver. It has a 32-inch flat-rib barrel. Only 600 tickets will be sold at $100 each, and the drawing will be held on October 5 during the 2023 World Skeet Championships. The raffle is open to NSSA-NSCA members and non-members who are U.S. residents. 

Krieghoff K-80 over/under shotgun valued at $22,745. This is the annual Krieghoff K-80 shotgun raffle benefiting the USA Sporting Clays Team and the Krieghoff All-American programs for both NSCA and NSSA. The drawing will be held during the National Sporting Clays Championship. The prize gun is a K-80 Pro Sporter Parcours Special III with 30-inch O/U Pro Sporter barrels with adjustable rib. It will have an engraved nickel finish and #3FRA/#7 forend Pro Sporter stock of Cat003 wood.

To purchase tickets for both raffles, call Glynne Moseley at 210-688-3371 ext. 270 or Sheri Giles at 210-688-3371 ext. 212. Both gun drawings will be held on October 27 during the National Sporting Clays Championship.
 

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A Changing of the Guard at Kolar

John Ramagli
John Ramagli
After 27 years establishing the brand and directing the sales, financial, and administrative aspects of Kolar Arms, John P. Ramagli is stepping away from the daily management of the Racine, Wisconsin firearms manufacturer. Ramagli, widely recognized as “Rags,” will continue in the role of a consultant and remain active in various aspects of Kolar’s continued business development. Ramagli, 73, cited recent open-heart surgery as a major contributing factor in his decision.

Jeff Mainland is now Chief Executive Officer and President of both Kolar and U.S. Competition Arms, the manufacturer of Kolar’s Max shotgun line. Jeff is the son of Don Mainland, who advanced the company as a leading-edge manufacturer in the firearms industry over 38 years ago.

Third-generation Sean Mainland, Jeff’s son and Director of Operations, Sales & Marketing, will manage the ongoing daily business activities of the company.

“Kolar’s manufacturing and continued growth is in good hands with Jeff and Sean at the helm. It’s been an honor and a great experience being involved with the Mainland family, Kolar, our loyal customers and all the friends I’ve been privileged to meet and serve over the past 27 years,” stated Ramagli. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter for Kolar and for me personally.”

Ramagli established Kolar as one of NSSA-NSCA’s most devoted supporters and sponsors. Under his direction, Kolar has sponsored countless events, been a constant presence among advertisers in our publications, and stepped up to support virtually any venture our membership was engaged in. Kolar’s most distinctive sponsorship is its annual presentation of championship rings at the World Skeet Championships and National Sporting Clays Championship. Ramagli recently committed Kolar to a five-year title sponsorship of the NSSA U.S. Open.

NSSA-NSCA expresses our deep appreciation to John Ramagli for his personal devotion to the associations and his unending support that has made many events, activities and awards possible for our membership. We wish him well in his next chapter!