Young Yank Wins Honors at Canadian Fullbore Championships
Kelly Bachand, a 22-year-old electrical engineering student at the Univ. of Washington, recently ventured to the Canadian Fullbore Rifle Championships held August 13-22 at the Connaught Ranges in Ottawa. He arrived an unknown, relatively untested in international competition. By the end of the week, every shooter in Ottawa knew this young man’s name.
Kelly turned in a performance of historic proportions, out-shooting 300 other marksman to win many of the event’s most prestigious matches, including the Open Target Rifle Championship with a score of 1045-105V (the “V” is the Canadian equivalent of an “X” in the USA). Kelly also won the multi-day 21st Century Aggregate (1344-140V), the Harrison Aggregate, the MacDonald Stewart Aggregate (824-80V), the Polar Bear Aggregate, and he shot on the winning USA Young Eagles team in the Under 25 international team matches.
Among the various matches at the Canadian Championships, Kelly had eight (8) first place finishes, and twenty other Top 10 finishes. As you can see at right, Kelly harvested enough trophies to fill a truck. And to top that off, just after returning from Canada, Kelly won the 2009 Northwest Int’l Prone Championship. He did that all with his new Barnard-actioned .308 Palma rifle provided by MT Guns.
Years of Preparation Lead to Success
Though he’s only 22, Kelly has been shooting for over 16 years. He told us: “I began shooting when I got a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas when I was 6. I shot air rifle in high school and enjoyed it immensely. After graduating in 2005, I joined a Washington-based high power rifle team, the Bad Apples, which went on to win National Junior team titles. I began shooting long range with a Palma rifle towards the end of 2005 and was then the high junior at Camp Perry in the Leech Cup in 2006 and the Andrus in 2007 (both times shooting a borrowed Palma rifle). While I had been high junior and placed first in my classification a number of times, it was not until the weekend before the Canadian Championships that I earned my first overall match win — in a small local event with no more than 20 shooters. This match was, however, a huge success for me mentally; I did not crumble under pressure on my last string at 600 yards and ended the match with a perfect score, not dropping a single point.”
Special Challenge of Pair Shooting in Canada
Kelly reports: “The biggest differences about shooting in Canada are the 5-point V centered targets which are black and white (not buff) and the fact that shooting is done in pairs. I had been to the range in Connaught before in 2007 as a firing member of the World Champion Under 21 USA Young Eagles. The range there is beautiful and studded with flags between the firing line and the target bay. Unfortunately the flags were brand new this year and were unresponsive to wind for the first few days of shooting. It was sunny, cloudy, there was thunder, and there was rain so thick that the targets literally disappeared and shooting had to be paused. I had to be ready for anything.
After a few days of shooting I noticed my name was towards the top in a few Aggregates, but I focused my energy to avoid thinking about anything more than the next shot I needed to take. At one point I shot a perfect score but with a very low V count, and a friend asked me about it, I jokingly replied “it doesn’t matter how many Vs I shoot if I keep shooting cleans.” And that’s how I steadily moved up after each day of shooting. Beginning the final day in first place, I was paired with the second place Canadian shooter, who was just a point behind me, for the final 15 shots at 900m. I have never felt more pressure than when I was shooting side by side with my competition. Each shot I knew what I needed to do. Throughout the entire 15-shot string, that knowledge increased my heart rate but also my desire to win.”
MT Guns Provides Winning Match Rifle
As a “starving student”, a new Palma rifle was out of reach financially for Kelly … until MT Guns came to the rescue. Kelly explains: “When I was no longer able to borrow the match rifle I had used as a junior, I needed a new gun. As a college student paying for school with a part-time job, I couldn’t afford a competitive Palma rifle. Seeking sponsorship, I contacted Mac Tilton of MT Guns and asked if he could help me out. Mac generously offered to provide me with a complete rifle, and his crew at MT Guns produced an absolute tack-driver. My new MT Guns .308 Palma rifle features a Barnard 3-lug action, 32” True-Flight barrel, a Mastin Anschütz-style stock, Warner rear sight, and Riles 22mm front sight. This rifle fits me well and is a pleasure to shoot. The gun groups better than any other rifle I have shot. My load is 46+ grains of Varget pushing Sierra 155gr #2156 MKs with CCI BR-2 primers in Lapua brass. I have shot this load exclusively in every competition whether it was a Palma match or an any/iron match.” Interestingly, Kellly shot the entire Canadian Championship without cleaning his New Zealand-made True-Flite barrel. According to Kelly, he put “nothing but bullets through the barrel in Canada — well over 300 rounds including sighters and team matches”.
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Way to go!
That’s an impressive performance. I know what you’re talking about regarding the pressure of finishing a match with a very minor lead. You described exactly the approach I’ve settled on: close out the big picture, and focus on one shot at a time. I’m always worried about messing up a whole string, but have complete confidence in executing individual shots so that’s what I think about.
Our equipment is almost identical too. Love those Barnard actions and Mastin stocks.
Kelly, I look forward to meeting and competing with you in the future.
Favor center,
-Bryan
Kelly is a rising star on our U25 team where many shine brightly. I had a brief chance to meet Kelly at Camp Perry a couple of years ago and I was very impressed by his performance and maturity around seasoned shooters. Now he is one of them!
Hats off to Mac Tilton of MTGuns for supporting the U.S. Team and its individual shooters. Without the support and sponsorship of the shooting community, we would not have Juniors coming up through the ranks to support the USA in international competitions.
Congrats again Kelly!
Jim Hardy
Thanks Brian.
I have found that once I begin thinking about the whole string of 20 shots, the whole competition, or anything besides the shot I’m currently taking everything just goes down hill. It is hard to discipline my thoughts like this, but every time I am able the results are well worth the effort.
You too have had some very impressive performances this year both at the Midwest Palma and then again at the Spirit of America; that’s some awesome shooting!
Bryan, it will be a pleasure to meet and compete with you in the future.
Regards,
Kelly
As Kelly’s coach since the beginning of his shooting career I was a little surprised with some of the details in this story. One point I think needs to be corrected is that Kelly’s competitive shooting has been sponsered by Washington State Rifle and Pistol Association since day one. His borrowed rifle was no more borrowed then his currrent rifle from Mac Tilton, it was a sponsored rifle from WSRPA. Also his church never has had a rifle team, however WSRPA did and does, It was a group of boys from our church along with many others who formed what became the Bad Apples team.
Were very proud of Kelly (and all of his Bad Apple and Young Eagle teammates).
Hello everybody,
I made a huge mistake and failed to mention many of the people and organizations that have helped me so much along the way.
When I first began shooting high power it was as a member of the WA State Bad Apples which was initially funded and founded by Ken Littlefield. This team started as a church team before it grew into the national champion and record setting state association team it now is. Along with Ken there are many who have donated time, resources, experience, and everything else I needed to succeed as a shooter. I couldn’t possibly mention all of you who have provided so generously for me but as far as I am concerned anything I have won is as much yours as it is mine. Thanks so much to all of you and my most sincere apologies for not making sure this was the first paragraph in the above article. You are all amazing and the shooting sports simply would cease to exist if not for such generous and knowledgeable individuals as yourselves. I am extremely lucky to be shooting in a state and country so rich with such people.
My sincere thanks,
Kelly
Thanks Ken, I had some details wrong about the origins of our team that I wasn’t even aware of. Church team or not, shooting with the Bad Apples has always been righteously fun
Rock on, Kelly! We’re all very proud!
Hey Kelly, We are very proud of you! All of the Eubank folk here in Virginia, your Aunt Jackie and I, and your cousins are busting buttons over your continued success. I’m sure the Army Special Forces and Marine Seal recruiters will be banging down your door. Make sure you check all your options and get any promises in your written contract! The Army has been great for me for 23+ years, and I love military life. God bless you richly. Much love, Uncle Don, US Army Chaplain, Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, VA.