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March 11th, 2011
This weekend, Georgia’s Columbus State University will host the 2011 NCAA Rifle Championships. On Friday, March 11, the Smallbore competition will take place at Ft. Benning, GA and the match will conclude on Saturday, March 12, with the Air Rifle competition at Columbus State University.
Watch Live Match Video
On the NCAA.com website, you can watch live video of the 2011 Rifle Championships, together with select video feature stories. Live video of the NCAA Championships will begin at 8:00AM (EST) on Friday and Saturday at http://www.ncaa.com/sports/rifle/d1. CLICK HERE for current live webcast schedule.
CLICK HERE to watch LIVE VIDEO of shooting Championship.
 View Targets in Real Time
Technology is amazing. Because the NCAA competitors are shooting at electronically-scored targets, the scored target images can be exported to the web in real time. So, you can see the scored targets of the competitors, as soon as they have been shot. Each competitor’s shots are plotted and scored (see example, right). The CMP has created a webpage that hosts Match Results and Live Target Images for each Relay.
CLICK HERE to see live target images (also available in through linked page below)
March 10th, 2011
The USA Shooting Men’s Skeet Team, comprised of Vincent Hancock, Jon Michael McGrath, and Frank Thompson, tied the World Record in Men’s Skeet while capturing the gold medal at the ISSF World Cup recently held in Concepcion, Chile. Hancock is the reigning Olympic Gold Medalist in Skeet and Jon Michael McGrath is the 2010 World Champion in Men’s Junior Skeet. Out of a possible 125 targets (per shooter), Thompson nailed 123, Hancock hit 122, and McGrath shot 121 — for a combined team score of 366/375. That equaled the world record set by Team USA at the 2009 World Championship in Slovenia.
Jan Sychra Wins Individual Skeet Gold Medal with Perfect Score
At the same World Cup match in Chile, Jan Sychra (Czech Republic) won the Men’s Skeet event, scoring a perfect 150 hits out of 150 targets in the final, equaling a world record. The Czech shooter also secured an Olympic Quota Place, a qualification spot at the 2012 London Games.
“I did not believe the 150 record was possible!”, the Czech shooter said after the award ceremony. The record was first set in 2007 by American Vincent Hancock. Hancock’s record had subsequently been tied twice by Norway’s Tore Brovold. So Sychra is now the third man ever to shoot 150/150 in a skeet finals.
The USA team finished just short of individual medals. The USA Shooting Team has the youngest men’s team competing in the ISSF World Cup Series and at the World Clay Target Championships in Belgrade, Serbia later this year.
Next Stop — Sydney, Australia
The USA Team returns home for a few days before traveling to the next stop in the ISSF World Cup series March 22 – April 1, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney World Cup has 64 nations represented with 721 competitors in the Olympic sports of rifle, pistol and shotgun.
March 7th, 2011
 When Olympian Matt Emmons wasn’t on the firing line at the 2010 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final in October, the shooting community took note. Emmons was in New York battling thyroid cancer and recovering from a surgery that removed his entire thyroid. After his surgery, Emmons competed in the 2010 USA Shooting Winter Airgun Championship and reached the podium each day in Men’s 10m Air Rifle.
In February, Emmons won the 2011 Rocky Mountain Rifle Overall Championships. With that gutsy performance, Emmons served notice that he is back, and he’s the man to beat. Emmons set a new USA Shooting National Record with 1188 points in Men’s 50m Rifle 3P qualifier. Moreover, Emmons finished the three-position match with a 19.6 point margin over the silver medalist. His final score was 1188 points in day one, 1179 points in day two and 101.6 points in the final for a total of 2468.6 points. He also topped the competition in Men’s 50m Rifle Prone with 1303.6 total points. Emmons also took gold in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle event with 1295.3 total points.
Emmons was named the match’s Overall Champion after winning all three events in the Rocky Mountain Rifle Championships and finishing an impressive 27 points ahead of the next competitor. National Rifle Coach Major Dave Johnson said, “Emmons continues to build towards the spring World Cups; he’s had an incredible tournament and has worked very hard in recovery.” Performances such as Emmons’ deserve to be recognized, which is why Matt Emmons is the ELEY/USA Shooting Athlete of the Month. We congratulate Emmons and wish him continued success as he prepares for his first ISSF World Cup of the season in Sydney, Australia, March 21 to 30.
March 7th, 2011
In our Shooters’ Forum one member asked for an explanation of the free recoil shooting method. This style, or some variant thereof, is used by many successful short-range (100/200 yard) benchrest shooters. However, we must point out that there is a difference between “pure free recoil” and what you may actually see on the firing line of a registered benchest match. Different shooters may employ a slightly different style — perhaps shouldering the gun a bit, or maybe laying a thumb lightly behind the tang. Technically speaking, that’s no longer free recoil. Remember, there is no “best” technique for every caliber and every gun. And to shoot with a “pure” free recoil method, i.e. touching only the trigger, and not contacting the stock in any way, requires a well-balanced rifle and a highly optimized set-up of front rest and rear bag.
Tony Boyer Video
In the video below you’ll see Hall of Fame shooter Tony Boyer shooting his gun at the Shamrock tournament in 2009. Tony only touches the trigger, but he does index his right hand on the side of the stock. Note: there are some audio problems with this video when you view it at 360p resolution and the playback speed seems slowed down slightly. If the audio cut-outs bother you, try viewing at 720p (HD), or just turn down the volume and focus on Tony’s technique. The slight “slow-motion” effect actually makes it easier to see what Tony is doing. The video does seem to run best at 720p, if you have a high-speed connection.
Introduction to Benchrest Video
 In this second video, Birgir Runar Saemundsson of Iceland demonstrates free recoil technique near the start of the video. If you watch carefully you’ll see that only Birgir’s index finger touches the trigger. The rifle’s butt is not contacting Birgir’s shoulder when he pulls the trigger. This 11-minute video is part of an introduction to benchrest shooting that Saemundsson offers through his BRS Custom Rifles website. Birgir is a skilled shooter who set a 10-shot 200-yard IBS world record at the Kelbly Range in 1988. At right is Birgir’s 10-shot record target.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9194636798795391569
March 6th, 2011
 The NRA Intercollegiate Pistol Championships will be hosted March 15-19 by the USAMU in Ft. Benning, Georgia. The event will determine the National Collegiate Individual and Team Champions for 2011 in the categories of Free Pistol, Standard Pistol, Open Air Pistol, Women’s Air Pistol and Women’s Sport Pistol. ROTC teams participating are invited only for Standard Pistol disciplines. To receive invitations to the Championships, shooters had to achieve qualifying scores in the annual NRA Intercollegiate Pistol Sectionals held throughout the U.S. in January and February. Visit the NRA Intercollegiate Pistol Championships website to learn more about the 2011 Championships.
 Steel Challenge Demonstration at Ft. Benning
Prior to the Championships, on March 11-12, the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) will conduct a free Scholastic Steel Challenge demonstration at Ft. Benning. This is the second demonstration event that the USAMU has hosted for the youth shooting program. The demonstration will feature two Steel Challenge stages: Smoke & Hope and Roundabout. The free shooting demonstration will take place from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12 on the Parks Range at Ft. Benning. Handguns and ammunition will be provided.
March 3rd, 2011
 The complete events schedule for the 2012 London Olympics has been released. Shooting events will take place at the Royal Artillery Barracks near Woolwich. Shooting competition starts with 10m Air Pistol on July 28 and finishes with the Mens 3-Position Finals and Trap Finals on August 6.
Olympic tickets (for all sports) go on sale starting March 15, 2011. Don’t delay if you want to grab tickets for the Shooting Finals. U.S. residents can purchase tickets through CoSport.com, while UK residents can get tickets from the London2012.com official website.
Download 2012 Olympic Shooting Schedule (with ticket prices) PDF
March 2nd, 2011
A new NRA rule now permits shooters with scope-equipped M1, M1A, and AR-platform rifles to compete in Service Rifle matches at the National Championships. As of January 1, 2011, under NRA Rule 3.1(f), as amended, scoped service rifles are allowed: “Same as Service Rifle Rule 3.1 (a) through (d) except there is no restriction as to sights”. This gives you a chance to compete with your AR or M1A in the largest rifle match in America, even if you don’t shoot iron sights. Scoped service rifles, presumably, will be scored in a separate classification. We have learned that the scoped ARs will be placed in a subcategory for Tactical Match Rifles with Optics.
Starting this year at the High Power Rifle Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio, Service Rifle competitors who wish to use optical sights can now compete in a Special Award Category within Match 401. For those using an AR platform rifle, you’ll be part of the Tactical Match Rifle with Optical Sights Special Awards Category within Match 402.
“Our hope is to get more people out to local ranges and the National Championships with their scope-equipped ARs”, said Competitive Shooting Division Director Mike Krei. “More than two million AR platforms have been sold and we would like to see these gun owners come out and compete.” It is unclear how this rule change will affect local or regional High Power matches. Some folks have suggested that most local High Power Service Rifle matches will still be limited to iron-sights rifles unless the course of fire expressly allows for optical sights.
Story based on report by Lars Dalseide, Courtesy the NRA Blog.
February 28th, 2011
 The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is seeking college-age counselors for its highly popular Three-Position Air Rifle Summer Camps for high school athletes. Camp Counselor positions are open to collegians who have completed at least one year of college and are members of an NCAA or college club rifle team.
Applicants must be available to work and travel from 24 May through 29 July 2011. Selection will be based on academic performance, shooting experience, coaching and youth leadership experience, and references.
CMP Summer Camp Counselor Announcement | CMP Summer Camp Counselor Application
DEADLINE: Applications must be received by 18 March 2011.
Counselors are paid $400-$500 per week (depending on seniority) plus $30 daily per diem. All travel and lodging costs are covered by the CMP once the camps begin, though the counselors must provide their own transport to the training location (Anniston, AL) and back home at the end of the summer. Job duties primarily consist of working with groups of five or more high school athletes at five-day summer camps, following a camp curriculum designed by DCM Emeritus Gary Anderson.
Interested candidates may download an Application from the link below and send it to Sommer Wood, CMP Summer Rifle Camps, P. O. Box 576, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452. Forms may be faxed to Sommer Wood at: (419) 635-2573. Email questions to swood@odcmp.com. Applications must be received by 18 March 2011. Applicant notification will be mailed by 4 April 2011.
CLICK HERE for CMP Summer Camp Counselor Application Form.
Employment will begin on 24 May with a training session at CMP South Headquarters in Anniston, AL. The 2011 camp schedule includes five full-length, three-position air rifle camps, one advanced standing position camp, providing support staff at the Three-Position National Junior Olympics and a three-day air rifle clinic. The staff will have the week of 9-16 July off to compete in the USA Shooting National Championships. A complete 2011 camp schedule is provided below:
February 24th, 2011
Both the North Carolina 1000-Yard Benchrest Shooters Assn. and the Montana NW 1000-Yard Benchrest Club have released their 2011 match schedules. You can access the schedules via the links below:
| NC 1000-Yard BRSA Schedule
2011 Matches
Match | Date
1 & 2: 4-9-11
3 & 4: 4-30-11
5 & 6: 5-14-11
7 & 8: 6-4-11
Makeup: 7-16-11*
9 & 10: 9-10-11
Makeup: 10-8-11*
*Shot only if regularly scheduled matches are postponed due to inclement weather. |
Montana NW 1000-Yard BR Club Schedule
2011 Match Dates
March 26-27
April 23-24
May 14-15
June 11-12
July 9-10.
August 12-14 Championship Shoot
Extra practice days are: March 13th, April 10th, March 26-27, April 23-24, May 14-15, June 11-12, July 9-10.
The 1000 Yard Range is available for practice on Mondays and Fridays, March 1st to August 31st, from 8:00 AM until Noon. We will have the range all day on Friday before each shoot. |
February 23rd, 2011
 Tonight, Feb. 23, at 8:00 pm on the Outdoor Channel, Shooting USA features End of Trail, the Cowboy Action World Championship. Hosted annually at the SASS Founders Ranch in New Mexico, End of Trail attracts over 1,000 shooters, hailing from 50 states and many foreign countries. SASS, the Single Action Shooting Society, is one of the most popular shooting organizations on the planet, having issued over 90,000 member badges. For SASS members, End of Trail represents the Superbowl and World Series combined.
If you like multi-gun competition, you’ll enjoy watching Cowboy Action Matches. The top male and female shooters are experts with three kinds of firearms: Lever Rifle, Single-Action Revolver, and Shotgun (which can be a double-barrel side-by-side, or a pump, or even an 1887 lever-action). The guns must be originals or reproductions made prior to 1898 to be used in competition. A typical stage will require 5 shots from each of two six guns, ten rounds from the rifle, chambered in a pistol caliber, and 6 to 8 shotgun rounds.
24 Rounds from Four Guns in under 13 Seconds
To give you an idea of the action you can see tonight on Shooting USA, here is a video of past world Champion Spencer Hogland, aka “Lead Dispencer”. In this video, Spencer fires 24 rounds, with four guns, in just 12.81 seconds (look at the timer in lower right corner). Spencer shows blazing speed with his lever gun and note how quickly he loads his shotgun. Fast loading is key to a successful stage run. Unlike modern multi-gun comps, normally Cowboy Action Shooters must start with empty shotguns.
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