When the targets rose for the 1000-yard relay at the Berger Southwest Nationals on Thursday, there was a surprise in store for two talented young lady shooters, Riley J. and Samantha Huhtala. Both juniors were celebrating a birthday on Thursday, and match directors had something special cooked up for the two girls.
On each the two girls’ targets (#60 and #62), a dozen or so brightly-covered balloons were attached. As the two birthday girls looked downrange — at first they didn’t know what to think. Samantha Huhtala, who had just reached the ripe old age of 18, turned to a fellow shooter and said “what’s that stuff on my target”? He replied: “Oh that’s chromatic aberration Samantha”. But she knew better — she broke out into a big smile realizing that she had been given a very special birthday surprise.
This little diversion from an otherwise serious event was cooked up by Michelle Gallagher, Bryan Litz, and some other folks from Berger. By the way, the balloon birthday surprise may have brought good luck for Samantha (it certainly didn’t break her concentration). Sam finished as the high-scoring shooter (447-10X) for the 4-member Michigan F-TR team than may have established a new F-TR record for the 800/900/1000 yard Palma Course of Fire. The team total was 1764 – 63X. Match directors are now trying to confirm that Samantha and her Michigan team-mates have set a new team record. Stay tuned.
The wind gods smiled on the shooters at the Berger Southwest Nationals on Thursday. For most of the day, the wind flags were hanging straight down or barely moving. Many shooters managed to go through the 800-yard stage without dropping a point. Conditions got tougher for the 900-yard and 1000-yard stages but it was still a day of low winds and high scores.
Team Grizzly made the most of the good conditions in the F-Open Division. Coached by Trudie Fay, and anchored by 2013 World Champion Kenny Adams, the four-person team shot brilliantly, scoring 1786 with 104 Xs. That beats the existing 800/900/1000 Palma course National record by five (5) points and ten Xs. The previous record, 1781-94X, was set by Team Berger in 2008.
During the match we had a chance to chat with Shiraz Balolia as he was getting his .300 WSM ready for the 1000-yard stage. Since stepping down as the captain of the USA F-Open Team, Shiraz had told us that he planned to shift his priorities, and devote more time to non-shooting activities. But here he was, back in the thick of competition. Shiraz smiled and said “You’re right, I was planning to get away from shooting a bit. But I just couldn’t miss this match … I guess I have the bug”. When a man’s this good at long-range shooting, you can’t keep him away from the firing line for long. Shiraz serves as Captain of Team Grizzly.
If you’re a fan of fine rifles, and functional shooting accessories, you’d have to be impressed with the hardware on display at the Berger Southwest Nationals (SWN). At this popular match, sling-shooters compete alongside F-Classers, so you get to see a wide variety of rifles — iron sights, and optical sights, traditional wood-stocked Palma rifles and modern metal tube-guns. And the F-TR class showcased a bevy of bipods, with numerous different designs. Here are some of the interesting guns and gear we saw at the Berger Southwest Nationals on Thursday February 6, 2013.
Here’s a nice spotting scope and front rest/rear bag set-up for F-Open. Can you name all the accessory items on display?
The rifle is battle-scarred, but the marksman’s form is good. And that’s what counts.
Team Grizzly had an impressive Kowa “Big Eyes” rig — Size Counts in the optics game.
There were quite a few Tubeguns and Tubb 2000s on the firing line. We took notice of this Tubb-gunner’s nice hold and his HBN-coated ammo.
How do you transport an F-TR rifle with a wide-track bipod? Here’s one clever solution — a rolling cart with vertical rifle-holder.
Somewhere under all that head-gear is a human being. This is one way to “tune out” visual distractions.
Here’s a good view of the Pohlabel “Flex” Bipod. Click to see a full-screen version.
Here’s an interesting, modular F-Open rig from Wayne Young. The forearm can be adjusted to 5″ or 6″ width for shooting benchrest.
CLICK HERE for a full write-up on the Wayne Young stock design.
The Berger Southwest Nationals (SWN) have kicked off at the Ben Avery Range in Phoenix, Arizona. Overall attendance has been impressive for this important shooting event. Approximately 275 shooters have registered. On Wednesday (February 5th) roughly 200 shooters competed in a 600-yard Mid-Range event, with three 20-shot matches. The wind clinic on Tuesday the 4th was also well-attended with 130 or so participants.
In addition to the rifle competition (continuing through Sunday), there will be other fun events. On Friday, after the 1000-yard match, there will be a SWAP meet.On Saturday, there will be a Banquet dinner at the Ben Avery Indoor Range.
The Mid-Range match was tightly fought. We don’t have official results yet, but we’re told that Jim Murphy was at the top in F-TR, followed by Lige Harris, Gerry Wiens, Grant Ubl, and Eric Stecker.
Next up is a 4-person Team match (800, 900, 1000 yards) starting bright and early on Thursday. AccurateShooter.com will be reporting directly from the match. Watch the Daily Bulletin for photos from the match and interviews with the shooters.
To learn more about the Berger Southwest Nationals, watch this video featuring footage from the 2013 event. Helpful interviews with last year’s competitors provide useful insights into conditions at Ben Avery. One regular shooter at Ben Avery told us: “On a typical day, when the wind builds it is pretty gradual and progressive. But when it starts to die, it can drop off quickly, with a pretty big change from shot to shot.”
Watch Berger SW Nationals Preview Video
Berger SWN Events Schedule (Thursday – Sunday)
The remaining action starts at 9:00 am each morning, Thursday through Sunday.
Thursday, 6 February 2014, 9:00 AM 4-Man Palma Team Match: 15 shots for record at 800, 900 and 1000 yards.
(Divisions – Palma, F-Open, F-TR)
Practice available to those not shooting with a team.
Friday, 7 February 2014, 9:00 AM – Start of Grand Agg Individual Palma Match: 15 shots for record at 800, 900 and 1000 yards.
(Divisions – Palma, F-Open, F-TR)
Swap Meet – after conclusion of fire at 1000-yard line.
Saturday, 8 February 2014, 9:00 AM Individual 1000 Yard Matches: Two 20-shot matches at 1000 yards. Any Rifle-Iron Sight (Any sight for F-Class shooters). (Divisions – Palma, Any Rifle-Iron Sight, F-Open, F-TR) 4 Man Team Match: 20 shots at 1000 yards. Any Rifle-Iron Sight (Any sight for F-Class shooters). (Divisions – Palma, Any Rifle-Iron Sight, F-Open, F-TR
Sunday, 9 February 2014, 9:00 AM Individual 1000 Yard Matches: Two 20 shots matches at 1000 yards. Any Rifle-Any Sight (Any sight for F-Class shooters). (Divisions – Palma, Any Rifle-Any Sight, F-Open, F-TR)
The Berger Southwest Nationals, one of the biggest shooting events west of the Mississippi, kicks off next week at the Ben Avery Range near Phoenix, Arizona. The event begins with a Shooting Clinic on Tuesday, February 4, and concludes with 1000-yard Matches on Sunday the 9th. The host Desert Sharpshooters Club, and the staff at Berger Bullets, are working very hard to make this the best SW Nationals ever. And if you are interested, there is still time to register. Berger tells us: “It’s not too late to sign up for the 2014 Southwest Nationals! The match runs from Feb. 4-9 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. We have a great schedule and prizes.” The weather will be good (it was 74° in Phoenix yesterday), and there will be thousands of dollars of gear on the Prize Table. If you want to join the fun, download the entry form below, and, as soon as you can, send an email to michelle.gallagher [at] bergerbullets.com.
The Berger Southwest Long Range Nationals are held every February at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility just north of Phoenix, Arizona. Berger has partnered with the Desert Sharpshooters Rifle Club and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, resulting in a “must attend” event for long range shooters around the world.
Ben Avery is a truly world-class facility, with 98 firing points, carefully maintained firing lines and plenty of wind flags. As the match sponsor, Berger provides the “extras” – ice chests full of drinks on the firing line, a banquet on Saturday night and awards to the winners, including over $3,500 in cash prizes and over 30,000 bullets in awards.
Shoot like a girl? That’s a source of pride at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Nebraska Huskers womens’ shooting team, Nebraska Rifle, has a strong tradition of excellence. Led by Coach Stacy Underwood, the Huskers are ranked among the top teams in the country. In the past 10 years, the Huskers have earned four Top-5 finishes in the NCAA Championships, and Nebraska has had over 30 All-American selections, as well as individual national champions.
This video spotlights some of the current members of 2013-14 Nebraska Rifle Team: Alexandrea Lorentz, ReAnn Wilson, Magdalena Mical, Lauren Phillips, Rachel Martin, Denise Martin, Sunny Russell, Marissa Major, Jaycee Carter, and Kelsey Hansen.
Nebraska Rifle Team Member Kelsey Hansen
The 2014 season is going well for the Nebraska Team. Just this past weekend the No. 8-ranked Huskers completed a sweep of two matches against Air Force, scoring a 4,679-4,671 win over the Falcons. Follow the team via the Nebraska Rifle News Page
Here is a more detailed video that shows the Nebraska Training Range, complete with electronic targets. This is one of the most advanced collegiate shooting facilities in the nation.
Getting to Know Coach Stacy Underwood
Q: What is your coaching philosophy?
A: Rifle is the only NCAA sport where you compete against yourself without awareness of how your fellow competitors are doing, until you’re finished. Only then are scores compared. So my athletes have to be totally self-contained — in motivation, discipline, and focus.
Even more, my athletes have to be supremely calm. A minute waver of even hundredths of a millimeter at the rifle barrel end can throw a shot way off a center target that’s the size of a pin head at 10 meters away. Very slight differences in breathing, heart rate, pulse strength, and muscle twitch amplify that waver.
Finally, rifle is a sport of slight differences. A perfect individual match score is 1200 points. A perfect team score is 4800 points. Perform at 96 percent of perfection and you’ll be marginally competitive. Perform at 98 percent of perfection and you’ll be setting NCAA records. It’s in that two percentage point spread that you find greatness in rifle.
So, given these rigors, I’ve organized my coaching philosophy around the idea of “just 1 percent more”. I’m asking each team member to give just 1 percent more in all areas- academics, personal development and performance.
Sounds simple, but think about what’s involved. Every team member has to deliver. To deliver, they’ll have to organize all the areas of their lives so they’re always ready mentally and physically. Any issues that come up can be referenced by “what will get us just 1 percent more”. They can learn from each other what works. Their lives – mind and body – will be in sync and at peace. That will give them calm. So my efforts will focus on helping each one achieve their goal. I expect great individual surprises, and from that, a great team result.
Who is the Best of the Best? That question will be answered this coming September at the first-ever Trijicon/NRA World Shooting Championship at the Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, WV. The overall objective of this match is to assemble the top 400 shooters from around the world — including existing and previous champion shooters from virtually every organized shooting sport. One of these 400 marksmen will be crowned as the undisputed “World Shooting Champion”, a distinction never before bestowed upon any shooter. That lucky (and talented) shooter will win $50,000.
Watch Teaser Video for Trijicon/NRA World Shooting Championships:
This match, perhaps the largest event of its kind ever held, will test competitors’ abilities with a wide variety of firearms and shooting disciplines. The match combines pistol shooting (action and bullseye), rifle shooting (action, smallbore, high-power, and F-Class), and Shotgun (Sporting Clays/trap/tactical). All guns and ammo are provided! The winner gets $50,000 and there is a $150,000 Prize Table. This new match carries “multi-gun” competition to a whole new level, with big money at stake:
Prize Money Awards at World Championships
First Place Overall: $50,000
Lady Champion: $5,000
Pistol Segment Winner: $5,000
Rifle Segment Winner: $5,000
Shotgun Segment Winner: $5,000
Second Place Overall: $3,000
Third Place Overall: $2,000
Fourth Place Overall: $1,000
Stage Winner $2,000
Side Match Winner: $1,000
How You Can Compete
In early February, invitations will be sent to champion shooters (from various disciplines) around the world. Later in February, open registration will be available. A total of 400 entries will be accepted for the match. For more info or to seek an invitation, visit the World Shooting Championship webpage, call 304-229-GUNS, or send email to: info [at] peacemakernational.com .
Preview the Peacemaker National Training Center Facilities
All shooters will compete over four days (September 10-13, 2014) in twelve, equally-weighted disciplines from various shooting sports. All firearms and ammunition will be provided for each event. This levels the playing field and obviates the need for competitors to purchase more equipment. Moreover, competitors will not have to worry about bringing guns and ammo through airports or clearing customs inspections, making the travel experience much easier.
Two new 50m rimfire 40-shot group size records were set last week at the Eley test range in Fellbach (Stuttgart), Germany. This range employs an electronic target system that automatically calculates shot placement with great precision. The rifles are secured in clamping fixtures during testing. On January 21st, a new 13.2 mm record was set, follow by an even-better 12.4 mm record (that’s 0.488″). The previous record was 13.3 mm set in 2007.
Before we go further, we need to explain how these 40-shot records are determined. The record is not 40 shots fired in one single, continuous string at a single target. Instead the record is based on the software-calculated “consolidated” group size of four, separate 10-shot groups. Software at the Eley test range is capable of over-laying four, 10-shot groups so they appear as one large “consolidated” group. These “consolidated” 40-shot group overlays have been recognized as new records.
Here are the target images. The first row shows four separate targets. The second rows shows the consolidated overlay of 40 shots, along with consolidated score numbers.
Record 1, 13.2 mm Consolidated Group (Score 426.7)
Michael Baumann, Bleiker Rifle, Eley lot 1014–01002
Record 2, 12.4 mm Consolidated Group (Score 427.7)
Michael Baumann, Bleiker Rifle, Eley lot 1014–06005
The first record was a 40-shot, 13.2 mm group (Score 426.7), which broke the previous record by 0.1 mm. The second record (using the same equipment) was a fantastic group size of 12.4 mm (Score 427.7), breaking the new record by 0.8 mm. Both records were set with Eley rimfire ammo produced in 2014 just 10 days before the test.
ELEY now offers three Test Ranges located in Birmingham UK, Stuttgart Germany, and Winters, Texas. All three ranges have two 50-meter lanes ideal for testing .22 Rifles and Free Pistols. USA and German ranges also have the ability to test Free Pistols and Rapid Fire Pistols at 25m. For more information on Eley’s customer test ranges, go to: http://www.eley.co.uk/en/test-ranges
Story Tip from EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
Greg Jordan is now $50,000 richer, and he can claim bragging rights as the top 3-Gun shooter in the nation. Jordan defeated ace shooter Taran Butler to claim the title of 3-Gun Nation Champion, taking home $50,000 from Leupold Tactical Optics and NRA Sports. The 3-Gun Nation Championship was held at the Clark County Shooting Sports Complex outside of Las Vegas, on January 15, during SHOT Show week. This final match culminated the 2013-2014 3-Gun Nation Pro Series Tour, where more than 50 of country’s top 3-gunners battled for cash and series points.
Jordan completed what was arguably the most impressive 3GN Shoot-Off run to date, eliminating two past 3GN Shoot-Off winners, including the 2010 3GN Champ, a world champion Steel Challenge shooter, and a multi-time national handgun and 3-gun champion. Jordan navigated a minefield of talent — BJ Norris, Burton Thompson, Daniel Horner, and Taran Butler — to become the fourth competitor to earn the title of 3GN Champion.
Lena Miculek Wins Ladies Championship After Clean Sweep of Season Events
Lena Miculek won the Ladies’ Division in dominating fashion, followed by runner-up Dianna Leidorff of Team MGM. Lena, who earned a $25,000 prize, came into the event as the number one overall seed after sweeping the 2013 3GN Lady Pro Series, winning all four matches during the season. Lena’s back-to-back championships, in only her second season of 3-gun competition, rivals the accomplishments of her mother, Kay, arguably the top female 3-gunner in the sport today.
For more info on the 3GN Final Championship in Las Vegas, visit the 3-Gun Nation News Blog.
Here’a a new twist. Earlier this month a CMP Air Rifle match, the Bass Pro 600, was held inside a shopping mall. This match featured a junior 3×20 match, as well as a 60-shot standing competition. The Tracker Boat section of the Bass Pro Shop of Leeds, Alabama was adapted to hold the CMP’s mobile range, so the young shooters could showcase their air rifle skills indoors. Some 24 electronic targets were set up in the boat garage, between permanent artificial swamp trees that decorate the area. Competitors traveled from several states to shoot in this unique indoor match, held January 4th and 5th. “The Bass Pro 600 is such a unique idea that many competitors travel to shoot in the event just for the novelty of the venue,” said James Hall, CMP program outreach supervisor.
Shoppers at the store could actually watch the young competitors in action. On Saturday, 42 junior competitors fired in a three-position match, while the store’s music played and shoppers stopped by to watch. Spectators were drawn over to the boating area, with 60-inch big-screen TVs displaying the scores in real-time.
Bass Pro patrons were also allowed to try their hand at air rifle shooting using a SCATT electronic training system, right beside competitors on the line. The photo below shows the trace captured by the SCATT machine. This tracks muzzle movement, helping shooters to steady their aim and chose the right moment to break the shot.
This is the second year the Bass Pro Shop in Leeds has opened its boating area for a CMP match. The success of these events have inspired many young shooters to attend the open range nights at the CMP Marksmanship Center in nearby Anniston, Alabama.
The Berger Southwest Long Range Nationals are held every February at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility just north of Phoenix, Arizona. Berger has partnered with the Desert Sharpshooters Rifle Club and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, resulting in a “must attend” event for long range shooters around the world.
A: Rifle is the only NCAA sport where you compete against yourself without awareness of how your fellow competitors are doing, until you’re finished. Only then are scores compared. So my athletes have to be totally self-contained — in motivation, discipline, and focus.
Greg Jordan is now $50,000 richer, and he can claim bragging rights as the top 3-Gun shooter in the nation. Jordan defeated ace shooter Taran Butler to claim the title of 3-Gun Nation Champion, taking home $50,000 from Leupold Tactical Optics and NRA Sports. The 3-Gun Nation Championship was held at the Clark County Shooting Sports Complex outside of Las Vegas, on January 15, during SHOT Show week. This final match culminated the 2013-2014 3-Gun Nation Pro Series Tour, where more than 50 of country’s top 3-gunners battled for cash and series points.
