Our friend Dennis Santiago has done dry-fire training using a SCATT sensing device. This electro-optical unit shows a trace of barrel/muzzle movement on a computer screen, allowing a shooter to improve his hold and aiming. With practice, you get steadier, and learn to break the shot more perfectly. Top position shooters worldwide use this system. Dennis tells us: “This is my dry fire practice set up. I’m working on my approaches to the target today. You need the SCATT’s traces to see the feedback of what’s going on.” Here is one trace from Santiago’s morning training session:
Dennis trains indoors at his house: “The set-up is in a room with the target about 15 feet away mounted on a scope stand at eye height and aligned. This morning, it’s focus and trigger control. My offhand form is gonna get there bit by bit. There are many details to turn into instincts.”
SCATT MX-02 Training System
The SCATT MX-02 is an electronic shooter training system that is capable of operating outdoors with live, centerfire ammunition, at distances from 25 yards to 600 yards. Tony Chow tested this product for AccurateShooter.com. As fitted to his AR-15 Service Rifle, Tony concludes this is a very useful tool that can help High Power competitors refine their technique and shoot higher scores. FULL REVIEW HERE.
CLICK HERE for MX-02 product info page. Current MX-02 price is $1649.00. NOTE: There is now another more high-tech wireless model, the SCATT MX-W2 priced at $1999.00.
How the SCATT MX-02 Works
The SCATT sensor mounted on the end of the barrel has a digital camera that recognizes the black bullseye in the target, even in broad daylight outdoors. Using the bullseye as a reference, the SCATT software tracks the movement of the muzzle relative to the center of the target. The unit can plot these movements as a continuous trace, which appears on a monitor as a squiggly, colored line. By sensing the exact moment of shot release, the SCATT can also interpolate relative shot placement (for a single shot or series of shots) — but this is not the same as an electronic target which actually records the exact shot impact location on the target.
Pro shooter Kirsten Joy Weiss demonstrates the SCATT MX-02 electronic training system:
The system traces and records valuable information such as hold pattern, shot hold duration, follow-through, recoil pattern, and much more. The latest SCATT MX-02 systems can be used both indoors and outdoors up to 300 meters (and possibly more). READ FULL SCATT MX-02 TEST HERE.
SCATT traces reveal muzzle movements during the aiming process.
We like air rifles both for fun shooting and for competition. However, so many options are now available that is easy to get overwhelmed with the choices. Thankfully, there is a good book that helps air rifle shooters make informed decisions about air guns and accessories. Steve Markwith’s comprehensive resource, Air Rifles: A Buyer’s and Shooter’s Guide offers a wealth of useful information. This 154-page book is now available for $14.48 (paperback) or $9.95 (Kindle)..
“This is a very informative book explaining the ins and outs of air rifles, their capabilities and limitations. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering purchasing an air rifle for marksmanship practice or small game hunting.” – L. Stanek, Verified Amazon Reviewer
Read Free Sample Chapters Online
If you go to Amazon.com and look right below the book cover photo, you’ll see a “READ SAMPLE” button. Click that to view a FREE preview with extensive samples from many chapters. The book covers all the most important types of air rifle systems, both pre-charged pneumatics and other self-charging guns. Markwith reviews the wide variety of pellets available, offering suggestions for particular applications. You’ll also find a useful discussion of Airgun Power, Range, and Accuracy. This will help you pick the right air rifle.
Markwith explains the many attractions of airguns. They are not considered firearms (in most jurisdictions) so they can be purchased at local shops or mail-order outlets without FFL fees or background checks. You’ll find a huge online selection of airguns at PyramydAir.com that can ship direct to you — no FFL required. Air rifles are also quiet and very inexpensive to shoot. While .177 and .22 caliber air rifles are most common, there are also larger-caliber airguns offered for hunting or special applications.
Pyramyd Air has dozens of helpful videos about air rifles and air pistols.
In our Shooters’ Forum, there was an discussion about a range that was threatened with closure because rifle over-shoots were hitting a farm building over two miles from the firing line. One reader was skeptical of this, asking “how’s that possible — were these guys aiming at the stars?” Actually, you may be surprised. It doesn’t take much up-angle on a rifle to have a bullet land miles down-range. That’s why it’s so important that hunters and target shooters always orient their barrels in a safe direction (and angle). Shooters may not realize how much a small tilt of the barrel (above horizontal) can alter a bullet’s trajectory.
How many degrees of muzzle elevation do you think it would take to hit a barn at 3000 yards? Ten Degrees? Twenty Degrees? Actually the answer is much less — for a typical hunting cartridge, five to seven degrees of up-angle on the rifle is enough to create a trajectory that will have your bullet impacting at 3000 yards — that’s 1.7 miles away!
Five degrees isn’t much at all. Look at the diagram above. The angle actually displayed for the up-tilted rifle is a true 5.07 degrees (above horizontal). Using JBM Ballistics, we calculated 5.07° as the angle that would produce a 3000-yard impact with a 185gr .30-caliber bullet launched at 2850 fps MV. That would be a moderate “book load” for a .300 Win Mag deer rifle.
Here’s how we derived the angle value. Using Litz-derived BCs for a 185gr Berger Hunting VLD launched at 2850 fps, the drop at 3000 yards is 304.1 MOA (Minutes of Angle), assuming a 100-yard zero. This was calculated using a G7 BC with the JBM Ballistics Program. There are 60 MOA for each 1 degree of Angle. Thus, 304.1 MOA equals 5.068 degrees. So, that means that if you tilt up your muzzle just slightly over five degrees, your 185gr bullet (2850 fps MV) will impact 3000 yards down-range.
Figuring Trajectories with Different Bullets and MVs
If the bullet travels slower, or if you shoot a bullet with a lower BC, the angle elevation required for a 3000-yard impact goes up, but the principle is the same. Let’s say you have a 168gr HPBT MatchKing launched at 2750 fps MV from a .308 Winchester. (That’s a typical tactical load.) With a 100-yard zero, the total drop is 440.1 MOA, or 7.335 degrees. That’s more up-tilt than our example above, but seven degrees is still not that much, when you consider how a rifle might be handled during a negligent discharge.
Think about a hunter getting into position for a prone shot. If careless, he could easily touch off the trigger with a muzzle up-angle of 10 degrees or more. Even when shooting from the bench, there is the possibility of discharging a rifle before the gun is leveled, sending the shot over the berm and, potentially, thousands of yards down-range.
Hopefully this article has shown folks that a very small amount of barrel elevation can make a huge difference in your bullet’s trajectory, and where it eventually lands. Nobody wants to put holes in a distant neighbor’s house, or worse yet, have the shot cause injury.
Let’s go back to our original example of a 185gr bullet with a MV of 2850 fps. According to JBM, this projectile will still be traveling 687 fps at 3000 yards, with 193.7 ft/lbs of retained energy at that distance. That’s more than enough energy to be deadly.
Today Shooting USA TV features the annual President’s Rifle Match at Camp Perry, Ohio. Also known as the “President’s 100″, this major Service Rifle match attracts nearly one thousand competitors to the historic ranges of Camp Perry each summer. This is a challenging, multi-stage modern service rifle competition that is a tough test of marksmanship skills. In the President’s 100 match, competitors shoot at 200, 300, and 600 yards from standing and prone. NOTE: This week’s TV episode also features the M1 Garand rifle in a History’s Guns segment.
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
This video is from a previous Shooting USA episode about the President’s 100 Match.
Looking downrange at the 600-yard targets. Camp Perry photos courtesy Dennis Santiago.
The historic National President’s 100 Match is a huge event. In recent years, there have been over 1000 ranked competitors from throughout the nation, making this one of the biggest rifle events of the year. The top 100 competitors overall in the President’s Rifle Match are designated as the President’s 100. They receive President’s 100 medallions and certificates.
The President’s 100 Rifle Match is richly steeped in history. This unique match was first held in 1878. Here’s the view from the line at 600 yards:
President’s 100 Course of Fire
There is a three-yardage, four-stage Course of Fire for the President’s Rifle Match Course of Fire. Firing is done on the SR target at 200 and 300 yards and the MR target at 600 yards. Scores in stages 1-3 determine the President’s 100 and the final rankings of competitors in 21st place and below. Scores in stages 1-4 determine the match winner and the final rankings in places 1-20. If there is a tie for first place (equal total and X-count), the tied shooters will continue to fire one-shot-at-a-time until the tie is broken. No sighters are permitted in National Trophy Rifle Matches.
Origins of the President’s Match The National Rifle Association’s President’s Match was instituted in 1878, as the American Military Rifle Championship Match. In 1884, the name was changed to the President’s Match for the Military Rifle Championship of the United States. It was fired at Creedmoor, New York until 1891. In 1895, it was reintroduced at Sea Girt, New Jersey. Today, the match is held at Camp Perry, Ohio.
The President’s Match was patterned after the Queen’s Match for British Volunteers. That British competition was started in 1860 by Queen Victoria and the NRA of Great Britain to increase the ability of Britain’s marksmen following the Crimean War.
The tradition of making a letter from the President of the United States the first prize began in 1904 when President Theodore Roosevelt personally wrote a letter of congratulations to the winner, Private Howard Gensch of the New Jersey National Guard.
After a hiatus in the 1930s and 1940s, The President’s Match was reinstated in 1957 at the National Matches as “The President’s Hundred.” The 100 top-scoring competitors in the President’s Match were singled out for special recognition.
At the 2018 National Matches, SFC Brandon Green (then with the USAMU) shot a 400-20X score to win the President’s 100 match. That set a new national record for the prestigious President’s 100 Match. No other competitor had ever achieved a perfect 400 score — not dropping a point in 40 shots — in the President’s 100 match since the event began (in its current form) in 1894.
E-Targets at 2025 National Matches — Rimfire and Centerfire
After years of testing, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will make full use of eTargets at the 2025 National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, which run July 20 through August 9, 2025. The advanced Kongsberg eTargets will be used at all Highpower rifle matches, National Trophy Rifle competitions, and Rifle Games events. In addition the eTargets will be used for the Rimfire Sporter Match on July 20 and the National Mid/Long Range Matches in August. The use of eTargets eliminates the need for pit duty, drastically cutting down the duration of each match. CLICK HERE to learn more about Camp Perry eTargets.
These matches are conducted by the CMP and Ohio National Guard. Since their inception, the National Matches have become a huge, national shooting sports event with over 4,500 annual participants.
Here is gunsmith Richard King, with his updated Martini Mark III smallbore rifle.
This is the kind of family-friendly, “feel-good” story we like. A few years back, Texan Richard King created a rimfire benchrest rifle using a classic Martini Mark III smallbore action. He fitted the gun with a new flat, wide forearm and a new buttstock, allowing the gun to sit steady on the bags and track smoothly. The narrow action was also fitted with a cantilevered top rail to hold a high-magnification scope.
Here is Vicki King, with Martini Mark III and her trophy.
But here’s the best part. A decade ago, back in 2014, Richard provided this updated classic to his wife Vicki, who proceeded to win a rimfire benchrest match (Vintage class) with the old Martini. Richard reports: “Here is my lovely wife with her High Overall Vintage trophy. That is a Martini Mark III that I re-stocked in walnut for 50-yard, .22-caliber benchrest matches. It’s great to have her shooting with me again.”
Bravo Richard — kudos to you AND to your lovely bride. It’s great to see a couple shooting together. It’s also great to see a classic rifle brought back to the winner’s circle with some inspired stock-work, new optics mount, and other smart upgrades. Old rifles never die… at least if they find their way to a great smith like Richard King.
2025 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championship
The 2025 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championship was held at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. This included a three-position event as well as a prone event. The 3P match involved Prone, Kneeling, and Standing positions. Michael O’Connor won the 3P Championship with a score of 2352-126X. Finishing second was Cameron Zwart (2330-116X) and Denise Loring finished third (2325-100X).
Notably, along with winning the 2025 Three-Position title, O’Conner secured the 2025 NRA Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy, awarded for the highest combined score across both Smallbore Rifle National championships — Three-Position and Prone.
The NRA Smallbore Championship at the Cardinal Center ran July 20-29, with the Three-Position Championship concluding on July 29. This was the first year the NRA has hosted the Smallbore Nationals — both Conventional Prone and Three-Position — at the Cardinal Shooting Center. Participants say the event proved quite successful. CLICK HERE for Shooting Sports USA Match Report.
Rio 2016 World Cup Photo Courtesy ISSF and Team USA
Would you like to try smallbore position shooting? Here are some tips from one of the best 3P shooters on the planet, Olympian Matt Emmons.
Matt Emmons competed in the Three-Position Event at the Rio Olympics, his fourth Olympic appearance. Matt has competed on the U.S. National Team since 1997, medaling in three Olympic games: Gold in 2004 in Men’s 50m Prone; Silver in 2008 in Men’s 50m Prone; and Bronze in 2012 in Men’s 50m 3X40. Although his specialty is Men’s 3-Position rifle, Emmons’ World Championship and Olympic Gold are in Men’s 50m Prone. He usually shoots an Anschütz or Bleiker .22LR rifle, with Eley Tenex ammo.
In this video, Matt explains 50m 3-Position Shooting For Smallbore and Air Rifles.
Here are shooting tips from Matt, courtesy Anschütz. Click image below to launch a full-screen PDF file.
CLICK Photo to Load Large PDF File
Here Matt Shows the Kneeling Position. The other two positions are Standing and Prone.
Three Sets of Hardware for Three Positions
You may be surprised to find that Matt often totes three complete sets of rifle parts to important matches — three buttplates, three cheekpieces, and three Centra sights with adjustable irises. Matt told Shooting Sports USA that he travels with “three sets for three positions. Our final is so fast that I need three sets of everything to allow a fast change-over between positions.” Matt carries his gear in an an Anschütz sport bag: “It’s similar to the big Ogio duffels with wheels, but lighter. I’ve worked with AHG/Anschütz for many years and I like their bag because all of my junk fits in it.”
Brandon Green has established himself as one of the greatest marksmen on the planet with an historic victory at the Bisley Range in the United Kingdom last week. Brandon, U.S. Army veteran and past USAMU shooter, won the HM King’s Prize match, the first American in history to do so. Shooting Sports USA declared that: “Nothing comes close to the prestige of the King’s Prize at Bisley — and this year, it has a new champion: Brandon Green, the first American ever to win the event in its 156-year history.”
Brandon Green, a multi-time U.S. National Highpower and Long Range Champion, shows his form at Bisley.
Brandon won the King’s Prize on “V-Count”, the equivalent of “X-Count” in the USA. It was a remarkable come-from-behind victory. With 100 shooters in the final day of the King’s match, Brandon worked his way from 30th to First Place, finishing (as champion) with 299-41V. In second was Britain’s P.D. Sykes who finished with 299-37V. Sykes only dropped one point in this entire match and that was on his last and final shot! That one lost point at 1000 yards gave Brandon the win.
Shooting Sports USA explains: “It all came down to the final shot from Sykes, who had a chance to seal the win with a perfect score. But, after he fired a four just outside the five-ring, it meant the title would belong to Green.” READ Shooting Sports USA King’s Match Report.
Shooting Sports USA reports: “The format of the King’s Prize ensures no lead is safe: scores from the Second Stage carry over into the Final, while the First Stage is dropped. A dozen shooters entered the final round with a perfect 150, but high winds and mounting pressure began to thin the field almost immediately. Green methodically climbed the leaderboard — 13th by the halfway point at 900 yards, then fourth after a flawless 75-11V string. By 1000 yards, only one shooter, Britain’s P.D. Sykes, remained clean. The stage was set for a dramatic finish — and Green didn’t flinch. The final string of fire saw Green shoot another perfect 75-10V at 1,000 yards — something only two competitors in history had previously achieved in the King’s Final.”
We had a chance to talk to Brandon after his return to the USA. He told us that the match was really a transformation from disappointment to celebration. Days before in the Bisley Corporation match he finished in the bottom half, only scoring 39 out of 50 possible points. But he used that experience to learn about the range conditions, flag movement, and weather. He took that knowledge to the King’s Match, dropping only one point in three days, and shooting perfectly at 900 and 1000 yards on the Stickledown range on the final day. That performance secured his historic victory.
Brandon Green Rifle Components
Here are the key components of Brandon Green’s King’s Match-winning rifle:
Barrel: Krieger Barrels 32″, 1:12″-twist stainless barrel.
Action: Kelbly Kodiak Single Shot Action, aluminum with Picatinny rail.
Trigger: Bix’N Andy 2-Stage Competition modified with custom spring links to comply with 1.5 kg (3.3-lb) Imperial Meeting Bisley rules.
Rear Sight: Mudcats Precision Machine Mechanical Sight, 1/8-MOA click Elevation, 1/4-MOA click Windage.
Stock: Foundation Stocks custom special single shot version based on Foundation Exodus stock. Brandon installed a 3-way adjustable buttstock, and modified the cheek-piece with an offset plate to move the cheek-piece forward.
Rifle Load and Ammunition
Brandon was shooting a .308 Win rifle with GGG 155gr .308 Win (7.62×51) ammo supplied by the match organizers. GGG, short for Giraitės Ginkluotės Gamykla, is the sole ammunition manufacturer in the Baltic states, and is the official ammo supplier to the NRA UK for the Bisley competitions. The bullets were believed to be Sierra 155-grain HPBT MatchKings. Brandon affirmed this was very good ammo — he opined that it is probably capable of 0.5 MOA accuracy at 100 yards. The powder used by GGG is not known, but some shooters observed it performed very much like Winchester StaBALL.
This competition was originally the “Queen’s Prize”, as it was first awarded in 1860 by Queen Victoria. Now that Charles III reigns over the United Kingdom, this championship is called the King’s Prize. The match was moved from Wimbledon Common to Bisley in 1890 and has drawn the best marksmen in the world ever since. The competition involves multiple days of .308 Win (Fullbore) target rifle shooting, a discipline demanding great “hard-holding” skills, an ultra-accurate rifle, and world-class wind-reading.
This is a match using .308 Win-chambered, iron-sighted rifles, shooting at multiple ranges out to 1000 yards. This year was challenging, with switchy wind conditions on the final day at the Bisley Stickeldown Range. Stickledown was “unforgiving” last week, but Brandon Green nailed an impressive 299-41V, dropping just one point overall to take the King’s Prize.
The internet was buzzing with praise for Brandon, and his fellow U.S. National Rifle Team members congratulated him. On his Facebook page, Brandon thanked his fans and team-mates: “Thanks guys, I really appreciate the kind words. I was talking to the 2015 world champion Ben Emms before we started and he said that all you have to do is keep yourself in it to the end and it will all sort itself out. That was the absolute best piece of advice that I could have gotten yesterday. Thanks again buddy!” In an interview on PrecisionRifleBlog.com, Brandon added: “Focus on shooting your match — don’t get wrapped up in what everyone else is freaking out about.”
NRA of the UK — 156th Imperial Meeting
This year’s 156th Imperial Meeting included a number of individual and team competitions. The individual events and overall match concluded with ceremonies for the King’s Prize winner, Brandon Green. After he was announced the King’s Prize winner, Brandon was carried from the range by chair, lifted by his competitors, accompanied by the marching band, Range Officers, fellow competitors and spectators.
Brandon’s superb performance made him the first American marksman to win the King’s Prize (and ride the chair) in the 156‑year history of the event. The NRA UK posted: “Precision, poise, and proof that hard work pays off. Congrats, Brandon!”
Do you enjoy shooting pistols for sport, or perhaps you carry a handgun for self-defense? If you’re like most of us, you might benefit from a “refresher course” on the fundamentals of handgun shooting. The NRA has created a useful Infographic that covers important basics of handgun marksmanship — key things such as Sight Alignment, Trigger Control, and Handgun Hold.
Here are the first two (2) lessons. Click the link below to see all SIX (6) training topics: Sight Alignment, Sight Focus, Trigger Control, Breath Control, Hold Control, and Follow-Through.
Video Shows Sight Alignment, Grip, Stance, Trigger Control and More
In this USAMU video, SGT Shane Coley talks about the basics of sight alignment and trigger control. But then SGT Coley talks about other important control factors such as grip, arm position, and body stance. For rapid-fire shooting, you need to have a good arm and body positioning to control recoil and get back on target quickly. This video is a valuable complement to the NRA Infographic because it demonstrates all the important pistol fundamentals during live fire, at the range.
Today is the first day of August, the beginning of National Shooting Sports Month (NSSM). Each August, throughout the month, America’s shooters come together to celebrate our sport and get newcomers involved. To help grow the ranks of shooters, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) asks you to bring a new shooter to the range in August. That’s a good mission — adding to the ranks of shooters is the best way to preserve our Second Amendment rights.
This month, newcomers can take their first shots, and experienced shooters can invite someone new to the range or help an older shooter rediscover the fun of target shooting. This month-long event involves all the shooting sports — rifle, pistol, and shotgun.
Find Shooting Sports Events Near You
The NSSF’s ShootingSportsMonth.org website offers a comprehensive, searchable database. This lets you search by state, to find ranges, events, and sales promotions near you. Visit the NSSF online database of NSSM shooting events to find matches, clinics, training sessions, special sales — and much more.
Find Shooting Ranges Throughout the USA
The NSSF offers a directory of shooting ranges online. Visit Wheretoshoot.org to get info on thousands of shooting ranges and facilities around the country. In addition, there is a FREE WheretoShoot Mobile App you can install on your phone. Versions are available for both Android and iOS (Apple) users.
To promote National Shooting Sports Month, the NSSF offers 17 FREE Downloadable Targets. There are regular bullseyes, as well as Darts, Golf, and more. We really like the Billiards target and kids love the Water Balloons target. You can download all 17 targets for free, and then print them out, ideally with a color printer. Below are six of our favorite targets. Click HERE to download these six targets (3.5 mb ZIP).
What Shooters Can Do to Promote National Shooting Sports Month:
The NSSF says: “As shooters, you serve a critical role in the continued growth of gun ownership and shooting sports participation. We urge you to join us this August for National Shooting Sports Month.” There are a variety of ways you can help this August:
— Introduce a family member, friend, or group of friends to the shooting sports by taking them to a local range that’s hosting an event.
— Spread the word to family/friends and encourage them to get out to the range in August.
— Encourage the ranges and retailers near you to host an event this August and add them to the official events calendar at www.ShootingSportsMonth.org.
Shoot Like A Girl is a group that helps introduce women to the shooting sports. The organization offers training clinics and tours the country with a unique semi-trailer rig mobile range.
After a successful trip to Thornton, CO, the Shoot Like A Girl Mobile Range will be at the Bass Pro Shops in Memphis, TN, August 1-3, 2025 (Friday through Sunday). The state-of-the-art mobile range allows participants 18 and older to experience shooting under the guidance of certified female instructors. These instructors will offer a comprehensive intro to firearm safety/handling using a Firearms Training Systems (FATS) by InVeris. This military-grade simulator provides immediate sound, recoil, and impact feedback. Shoot Like A Girl instructors also offer safety talks for youths under 18.
The Shoot Like A Girl experience will be stationed in front of Bass Pro Shops in Memphis, Tennessee on Friday, August 1, Saturday, August 2 and Sunday August 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Women and men of all experience levels are welcome for this free event. All necessary equipment will be provided to guests.
August 29-31, 2025 Professional Bull Riding, Ridgedale, MO
September 27-28, 2025: Bass Pro Shops, Huntsville, AL
October 11-12, 2025: Bass Pro Shops, Mesa, AZ
TBD (5 Days): Bass Pro Shops, Grand Opening, Odessa, TX
Shoot Like A Girl (SLG2 Inc.) was established in 2008 with a mission to grow the number of women who participate in archery and shooting sports. The first five years focused on archery, but in 2013, SLG2 added Firearms Test Shots™ where women can shoot a 9mm pistol, .223 rifle with the use of a military-grade firearms simulation system.
New and experienced shooters are invited to attend this free event. At the range, women gain experience in handling and shooting handguns, long guns and compound bows using state-of-the-art technology.
The Shoot Like A Girl semi-tractor trailer travels to cities all across the USA, giving attendees an opportunity to shoot pistols, rifles, and bows in a fun, safe and comfortable atmosphere. These events utilize the InVeris military grade firearm simulator. The event is free to each guest thanks to Shoot Like A Girl’s generous corporate partners.
Check the ShootLikeAGirl.com Website for Mobile Range 2025 Travel Schedule.