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August 19th, 2009
 USAMU shotgun ace SPC Vincent Hancock won the gold medal in men’s skeet at the 2009 International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Championships held in Maribor, Slovenia August 6-12. Hancock’s victory came exactly one year to the day after Hancock won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The world and Olympic record-holder hit 149 out of a possible 150 targets in the qualification round and scored a perfect 25 in the finals.
Hancock and Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Dulohery, along with U.S. teammate Frank Thompson, made up the gold medal-winning men’s team, setting a new world record with a score of 366 out of 375. Overall, the Americans did well in the team events, securing seven team medals — three gold, three silver and one bronze — out of the possible nine team events at the World Championships.
File photo shows Vincent Hancock at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
August 18th, 2009
Jessie Abbate of McDonough, Georgia is widely considered the best female action pistol shooter in the world. And yet she seems to get better and faster each season. This year she truly “raised the bar” at the 2009 Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championships held August 12-16 in Piru, California. Breaking records left and right, Jessie dominated the women’s field, earning the coveted Ladies Steel Master title.
 Abbate, a Team Glock member, set five new world records on her way to scoring a hat trick at the Steel Challenge, where she won the Ladies Open Rimfire Pistol, Limited Pistol, and Open Pistol titles. In addition to collecting top honors in three divisions, Jessie claimed the Ladies Steel Master title which is for the best combined time of the three events.
Abbate held off the defending ladies champion and Team Smith & Wesson member Kay Miculek who stalked Abbate through the match taking second place in all three events. Miculek has won the Steel Challenge an amazing seven times and held seven women’s world records, four of which Abbate broke.
“Jessie really put on a clinic and her outstanding shooting through the entire Steel Challenge demonstrates how far she has come in the shooting sports. Hers is the standout performance of the match,” observed Michael Voigt of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association. This is the second time Abbate has taken top honors at the Steel Challenge. Her first win came in 2007.
World’s Best Shooters at the Steel Challenge
Jessie Abbate, of course, wasn’t the only story at the 2009 Steel Challenge. As usual, this event drew many of the world’s top pistoleros, including the legendary Jerry Miculek and the defending Open Class Champion, the USAMU’s young hotshot, K.C. Eusebio. This year Max Michel claimed the Open Class title with a blazing 82.09 total time, followed by B.J. Norris (2nd place, 84.42), and K.C. Eusebio (3rd place, 86.07). As expected, Jerry Miculek won the Optical Sight Revolver class by a wide margin. Rob Leatham won Production Class with a remarkable 97.07 time, beating runner-up Julie Golob by more than 19 seconds. Simon “JJ” Racaza turned in a fine 92.78 to win Limited Class against stiff competition, while Taran Butler (109.07) took the enhanced Service Pistol title, with an impressive winning margin of nearly 13 seconds.
CLICK HERE for Complete Results from 2009 Steel Challenge World Championships.
Top photo courtesy Tactical Solutions, maker of rimfire barrels, suppressors and other products.
August 17th, 2009
The NRA Long Range High Power Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio, will be ending soon and it looks like the match will go down to the wire. Sherri Gallager is leading by four points, with a half-dozen shooters, including former LR Champion John Whidden, well within striking distance. The championship could eventually be decided by X-count, or even with a shoot-off. Gallagher already went through one shoot-off with David Tubb in the Coast Artillery Trophy Match. Both shot perfect 100s, but Tubb shot 8 Xs to edge Gallagher by one X. Here are current standings in the Long-Range Championship:
Sherri Gallagher – 799-37X
Jon Howell – 795-41X
Justin Skaret – 795-37X
Lance Dement – 793-42X
Tyrel Cooper – 793-42X
John Whidden – 793-35X
Here is video shot from the Long Range Competition over the weekend:
LATE-BREAKING NEWS: The Roumanian Team Trophy was won by the USAMU Praslick Team, with a four-person score of 793-42X. The team is coached by Emil Praslick, and the shooters are SGT Tyrel Cooper (198-10X), SFC Lance Dement (199-12X), SPC Sherri Gallager (198-9X), and SGT Brandon Green (198-11X). John Whidden’s Southeast Rifle Club, coached by Carl Kovalchik, finished second with a 782-29X team score. Congrats to all shooters, and especially the victorious USAMU squad.
August 16th, 2009
The folks at the NRABlog have done a superb job covering the NRA National Rifle Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio. Now that the National High Power Championship has been decided (congrats to 2009 Champion Norm Houle!), attention shifts to the long-range events, including the Leech Cup, Mustin Trophy, Porter Trophy, and Andrus Trophy competitions, along with the Roumanian Trophy Team Match.
The NRA Blog has talented photographers on scene who’ve done a great job capturing the matches from a shooter’s perspective on the firing line. Go to the NRA Blog to view some excellent slide shows from the long-range events. This will also click to web galleries where you can view all the photos at your own pace. Below is a collection of some of our favorite photos from the NRABlog’s recent slide shows.
All photos are © 2009 NRABlog.com, All Rights Reserved, used with permission.
August 16th, 2009
Can you outshoot the 2008 National High Power Champion — with an air rifle? That was the challenge facing over 220 competitors at the inaugural Carl Bernosky Challenge at Camp Perry. Two able shooters proved up to the task, Paul Kerr and USAMU marksman SGT Brandon Green. This popular event introduced shooters to the new Creedmoor-Anschütz NMAR air rifle. The Bernosky Challenge, with $1000.00 in prize money up for grabs, attracted a large crowd, including ‘Gunny’ R. Lee Ermey, the retired Marine who hosts the new Lock N’ Load TV Series on the History Channel.
With over 220 entries, Paul Kerr out-shot all of the competitors to win the Bernosky Challenge event with a 197-8X score. USAMU shooter Brandon Green finished a close second, scoring 197-3X. Nine-time NRA High-Power Champion Carl Bernosky was just one point behind, scoring 196-4X.
CLICK HERE to view the Bernosky Challenge Finals PHOTO GALLERY.
The new National Match Air Rifle discipline was developed by the CMP to simulate High Power rifle across-the-course shooting and provide adults with an air rifle discipline that builds on the popular junior three-position air rifle program. This NMAR discipline is ideal for High Power competitors looking for indoor or off-season shooting opportunities. NMAR targets are scaled down High Power SR and MR targets. Courses of fire simulate High Power matches, but at shorter distances.
Thirty-five (35) Creedmoor Sports NMAR rifles were available for competitors to use during this competition. To learn more about the NMAR air rifle, visit CreedmoorSports.com.
August 15th, 2009
 Norman Houle of West Warwick, Rhode Island, is the 2009 NRA National High Power Champion. Congrats to Norm! His come-from-behind, one-point victory marked his third High Power National Championship. His previous wins coming in 2004 and 2006, Norman was unable to shoot in last year’s competition.
The National Champion is the person with the highest aggregate of scores fired in the Vandenberg Cup, Nevada Trophy and Clarke Trophy Matches, and they receive the Mumma Trophy, a footed sterling silver urn with an ornate top, side handles and spout.
Houle scored 2387-124X, just one point more than last year’s champion Carl Bernosky (2386-125X). David Tubb finished third with 2385-133X. This year was the closest point differential Norman could recall. High Woman Shooter, and the early leader in the competition, was SPC Sherri Gallagher. Sherri, who finished with a 2382-148X score, has the highest X-Count total among all competitors — by a wide margin.
 Houle, Tubb, and Gallagher are all teammates, along with Ronald Zerr, on Team Creedmoor, coached by Dennis DeMille of Creedmoor Sports. Team Creedmoor won the 2009 RNDC Team match, one of four team events that is part of the championships. Two other events, The Enlisted Men’s Trophy (for military teams of four firing members) and The Rumbold Trophy (for civilian teams whose members belong to the same club or state association), are fired concurrent with the RNDC. The fourth event, The Whistler Boy Trophy (for teams of two, junior-category firing members who represent a state association), is fired during a separate day of competition.
In other Camp Perry Results, SFC Grant Singley (2385-102X) won the NRA National Service Rifle Championship, convincingly over USAMU teammate SGT Brandon Green (2370-90X). Dennis DeMille was High Civilian, posting a 2359-99X. Though she missed out on the big prize, SPC Sherri Gallagher won the Army Cup Match, the Crowell Trophy Match, the Centenary Trophy (Agg), and the Vandenburg Cup. Her 800-53X score in the Vandenburg Cup broke a National Record.
Complete NRA National High Power Championship RESULTS.
August 12th, 2009
 U.S. Army SPC Sherri Gallagher just set a new national record (and National Matches record) of 800-53x in an 800 point match for the Vandenburg Cup. She broke the old record set by Troy Lawton by 15 Xs. Way to go girl! Remarkably, in 2009, Gallagher has set six (6) national records. In June, Gallagher broke the oldest record in High Power shooting: the 1000-point Aggregate. Gallagher shot a 999-66x to win the Remington-Bushmaster Open, breaking Eric England’s 41-year-old record of a 998-45x.
In other Camp Perry news, here are scores from today’s Army Cup, Navy Cup, and Coast Guard Trophy Matches. Note Sherri Gallagher also won the Army Cup with an impressive 200-18X.
Army Cup: 20 shots at 600 yd, slow fire, prone
Sherri Gallagher – 200-18x
Stephen Culpepper – 200-16x
Ronald Zerr – 200-13x
Hugo Adelson – 200-13x
Navy Cup: 20 shots at 200 yd, slow fire, standing
Carl Bernosky – 199-6x
Lance Hopper – 198-9x
Stephen Culpepper – 196-5x
Troy Lawton – 196-5x
Coast Guard Trophy: 20 shots at 200 yd, rapid fire, sitting/kneeling
Dennis Demille – 200-17x
David Tubb – 200-16x
Joel Micholick – 200-16x
Kevin Trickett – 200-16x
Report Courtesy the NRABlog.com.
August 10th, 2009
The NRA National High Power Championships has commenced at Camp Perry. Among the early events was the M1A Match. Relatively new, the M1A match was organized in 2007 by the NRA and Springfield Armory to encourage use of the M1A, an M14 derivative that was the weapon of choice for rifle competition for a number of years. With competitors lured by substantial cash prizes plus Springfield Armory gun give-aways, the M1A Match has proved hugely popular, attracting hundreds of shooters, including many of the nation’s top marksmen.
Any configuration of the M1A is allowed in the Match, with the course of fire being 50 shots at 300 yards on the MR-65F as follows: 5 sighters; 20 shots slow-fire, prone; 10 shots rapid-fire, prone; 10 shots rapid-fire, kneeling or sitting; 10 shots slow-fire, standing.
Winner of the 2009 M1A Match was Thomas Rider, whose 484-15x score beat runner-up and 1st Place Civilian Nick Till (482-17X) by two points. Rider earned $2000.00 in prize money for his victory. Fritz Hemplemann (478-16x) was second place Civilian, while Creedmoor Sports General Manager Dennis DeMille was third place Civilian (476-21x). Emily Windmassinger of the USMC earned the High Service Award with an impressive 480-20X. In the video below you can see M1A competitors, including DeMille (0:13, 0:30, 0:42 second marks), in the standing stage.
CLICK HERE for complete M1A Match Results | This report courtesy the NRABlog.com.
August 10th, 2009
Report by LARRY BANEY
The 2009 Williamsport World Open, held in mid-July, enjoyed a record turnout. The club welcomed 164 shooters from nine states all over the eastern half of the country, and from as far away as 1000 miles (Georgia). Even with new rules being applied for 2009, the match ran smoothly and was a great success.
New, Less-Restrictive Rules Attract More Shooters
The new rules in the Heavy-Gun class, which now allow muzzle brakes and have fewer restrictions, seemed to encourage more shooters to participate in both classes. The few remaining limits prohibit “return to battery guns” and rifle/rest features that obstruct upward or rearward movement. Restrictions were eased in the 17-lb Light Gun class as well. Now there are no limits on stock shape or attachments. This may have also encouraged shooters from other clubs to attend, resulting in the largest field of shooters in World Open history.
The weather was not typical for a Williamsport World Open weekend and had its share of very nice and very tough shooting conditions. Saturday was nearly totally overcast with no mirage and moderate temps that topped out at about 74 degrees. Wind was light at times and gusty at times, but definitely more cooperative in the afternoon for the Heavy Gun match. That is rare for a match at Williamsport. It often looked like we were going to get rained on, but it held off just long enough to get the match finished.
 Sunday was a much more typical Williamsport match day. It was sunny and topped out in the low 80s with a few passing clouds and low humidity. Mirage conditions were much worse than Saturday but did settle down for the last few relays of the day. The wind was a bit trickier on Sunday and hit some relays pretty hard.
Mark King Crowned 2-Gun Champion
The 17-lb Light Gun (LG) class had 153 shooters, while the Heavy Gun (HG) class had 147. Of those shooters, we had 13 women and 5 juniors. Pennsylvania Gunsmith Mark King shot great to earn “Top Gun” honors as the 2009 World Open Two-Gun Combined Champion. Mark shot a 6mm Dasher in both classes. Kathy Salt won the HG Overall, while Tilden Kuhns won the LG Overall. Matt Dienes finished first in HG Group, while Joe Salt topped HG Score. In LG, Paul Chackan won Group and Tilden Kuhns had the best overall Score.
Superlatives of Note
Even though there were some nice conditions at times, only two perfect ‘100’ scores were fired all weekend: Dan Stonebraker did it with a 6.5-284 in LG and Ed Nazy nailed a ‘100’ in HG class. The ten shots that scored Nazy’s 100 pointer also proved to be the smallest HG group at 4.355 inches. The smallest group in LG class, measuring 4.803 inches, was fired by Lacy Baney with a straight 6mmBR. Even with the weather, 6mm chamberings accounted for the smallest LG groups. The top 10 LG scores were also dominated by 6mms, with a 30 Cal and 6.5 Cal thrown in. The big 30 Cals produced most of the smallest HG groups and top HG scores, with a couple 6mms and a 6.5mms in the mix. Mark King, the Two-Gun Overall Champion, won “all the marbles” shooting the small 6mm Dasher in both LG and HG.
August 9th, 2009
The National Trophy Rifle Matches are a series of competitions held at Camp Perry between the Smallbore Championships and the High Power Championships. Trophy matches include Team Competition, Individual Matches, Junior Events, Vintage Military Rifle Matches, Garand matches, and the prestigious President’s Rifle Trophy Match.
In what may be the biggest single rifle event in the United States, Mark Laramie out-shot 1262 service rifle competitors to win the historic President’s Trophy Match with a 390-13X Aggregate score. Tucson (AZ) teen sensation Tyler Rico finished a close second, just two points behind, scoring 388-15X. Only 15 years old, Rico is the youngest shooter in the history of the President’s Trophy match to place second. He is also the youngest-ever recipient of the Distinguished Rifle Badge, which he received at the 2007 National Matches.
Traditionally, the top finisher in the President’s Trophy Match receives a letter of congratulations from the President of the United States. The tradition began with Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, a renowned advocate of rifle training, who wrote a congratulatory letter to that year’s trophy winner. The cut-off for this year’s President 100 was a 283-4X. The “President’s 100” will also receive President’s 100 medallions and certificates.
The President’s Trophy Match current format, adopted in the 2007, pits the top 20 competitors from the 30-shot qualification round in a shoulder-to-shoulder contest at the end of the match. The qualifiers fire an additional 10-shots in prone at 600 yards, and this final score is added to their qualification score to determine the winner. Shooters faced blustery wind conditions all day, and a change from sunshine to overcast skies in the middle of the final. Despite the conditions, Laramie outlasted second-place finisher Tyler Rico and perennial challenger U.S. Army SFC Grant Singley, who finished third. Entering the final, Laramie was in the lead with a 296-10X qualifying score, and went on to shoot a 94-3X to win by two points over Rico and SFC Grant Singley. Both Rico and SFC Singley shot higher scores in the final than Laramie, but could not overcome Laramie’s early lead.
Complete National Trophy Match Ranked Results | National Trophy Match Photos.
This report courtesy The First Shot, the CMP Online Magazine
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