500-yard Records Set at Ben Avery

April 28 was a day for the record-books at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, AZ. Multiple new NRA records were set at the Desert Sharpshooters Rifle Club Registered 500-yard prone match (pending NRA certification).

Berger Bullets’ Michelle Gallagher topped the field with a 200-17X in Stage 1, shooting a .308 Win. That mark sets three new records–Open, Civilian, and Women. Not far behind was Middleton Tompkins with a 199-12x, a new Grand Senior mark for shooters 70 years and older. (Mid reportedly was shooting the new 6.5×47 Lapua). Young Nate Silverman steered his .223 Remington to a 191-4X, which is a new NRA Junior class record.

German Salazar reports: “We had very hot and windy conditions on the 28th at Ben Avery for the 500-Yard Prone match. Temperature into the 90s and wind speed of 20 mph with some gusts above that. The wind was often from 6 o’clock and fishtailing fast, but you could keep up with it with some attention to detail.” Given those challenging conditions, the setting of new records is even more impressive. Congratulations to Michelle, Middleton, and Nate for their impressive performances in the desert heat.