In Memoriam: Jack Neary, Benchrest Hall of Famer, Has Passed
We are sad to annouce that Benchrest Hall-of-Fame shooter Jack Neary passed away on September 25, 2026. Jack was a great shooter who set records and won many matches during his shooting career. Jack was a world-class benchrest competitor and Team USA member who shared his knowledge with other shooters through live seminars and excellent online videos. May of our Forum members credited Jack for sharing his vast knowledge of reloading and shooting sports. CLICK HERE to access a 12-segment “Reloading Class” series of video Jack hosted for the Vihtavuori YouTube Channel.
Capstone Precision Group, Jack’s employer, released this statement:
Benchrest Shooting Hall of Fame member, firearms industry executive, Team Lapua member and respected friend to many throughout the shooting sports community, John “Jack” Neary passed away on the morning of September 25, just hours before he was scheduled to compete in his next match.
Jack Neary is interviewed by Erik Cortina in this 2025 Video.Neary’s competitive shooting career spanned more than three decades and was a dominant force in benchrest competition, he captured numerous Regional, National, and World Championship titles throughout his career. He served as President of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association (NBRSA) and was inducted into the prestigious Benchrest Shooting Hall of Fame.
Among his many achievements, Neary earned a World Championship gold medal as a member of the four-man team in 2019, set the Light Varmint 200-yard single-group world record of .160″ in 2011, beat that remarkable feat again in 2019 with a .110″ group (see below), and recently recorded a pending world record 10-shot target measuring just 0.085″. [Editor: By any standards, Jack was one of the greatest Benchrest shooters who ever lived].
Beyond his own competitive success, Neary dedicated countless hours to growing competitive shooting sports. He hosted clinics and seminars across the country, teaching newcomers how to get started in competitive shooting, precision handloading with Lapua and Vihtavuori components, custom bullet making, reading wind conditions, and numerous other aspects of precision shooting. Committed to sharing his knowledge and experience, he launched the YouTube channel All Things Benchrest with Friends, creating a lasting educational resource for shooters of all skill levels[.]
Neary joined Capstone Precision Group in May 2009 as Sales and Marketing Manager, where he combined his passion for shooting with his extensive business and industry expertise. Throughout his tenure, he became a trusted voice within the firearms industry and a valued ambassador for the brands he represented.
As news of this tremendous loss spread throughout the shooting community, tributes poured in from competitors, customers, and friends alike. Many shared stories of how Neary helped them get started not only in benchrest shooting, but across a variety of shooting disciplines. “A true gentleman,” “generous with his knowledge,” and “an inspiration to everyone around him” were among the many sentiments expressed by those fortunate enough to know him.
While his competitive achievements are remarkable, Neary will be remembered most for his unwavering faith in God, his devotion to family, his generosity toward others, and the passion and competitive spirit he brought to the range every time he stepped behind a rifle.
The shooting sports community has lost one of its greatest ambassadors, but Jack Neary’s legacy will continue through the countless shooters he mentored, the records he set, and the friendships he forged throughout a lifetime dedicated to the sport and industry.
World Record 200-Yard 5-Shot Group by Jack Neary
No, that’s not two shots — it is FIVE shots, with basically four in one hole and a fifth very slightly over. If that’s not impressive enough, consider this stunning 0.110″ group was shot at TWO HUNDRED yards — the length of two football fields. This amazing group was shot by Jack Neary at the 2019 World Benchrest Championship (WBC) held in Calgary, Alberta.
