The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) has created a series of instructional videos about High Power Rifle shooting, Service Rifle shooting, 3-Gun matches, and pistol competition. We’ve linked five of these informative USAMU videos today along with a special profile video on Amanda Elsenboss, who, as a USAMU shooter, has won both the Long Range and High Power National Championships in recent years.
In addition, as a major BONUS, we link twenty (20) informative articles authored by expert USAMU shooters and coaches. Those excellent, detailed articles covering a wide range of topics including rifle positions, wind reading, fitness training, trigger control, nutrition, training plans, and much more.
Amanda Elsenboss — National HP and Long Range Champion
The gifted SSG Amanda Elsenboss won the 2019 NRA Long-Range Championship and the 2021 High Power National Championship. In 2022 Amanda also won the National President’s Rifle Match, the first woman ever to do so. Those accomplishments place Amanda among America’s legendary shooters. Amanda started shooting at age 8 with her father, then began competitive marksmanship at age 13. In 2009, she joined the U.S. Army as part of the USAMU rifle team. She has left full-time service, but is now a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Sight Alignment and Trigger Control
In this USAMU Shooter’s Corner instructional video, SFC Kenneth Rose explains key elements of using sights on a service rifle. Rose also explain how to make the trigger pull at the optimum moment when the sights are perfectly aligned and steady.
How to Set Up Sling and Rifle for Prone Shooting
In this video, the USAMU’s SGT Jonathan Wannemacher explains how to set up a service rifle sling for prone rifle shooting. Wannemacher has earned a number of coveted awards including the the Distinguished Rifleman Badge and President’s Hundred Tab.
Rifle Grip, Stance, and Body Position for 3-Gun Action Matches
SFC Daniel Horner, now with SIG Sauer, is arguably the best 3-Gun action shooter on the planet. Horner has won multiple major 3-Gun Championships, shooting rifle, shotgun, and pistol in timed action matches. Horner’s speed, accuracy, and mobility is without peer. In this video, Horner shows techniques for AR-type rifle shooting in 3-Gun competition.
Amazing Trick Shot with Air Rifle
In this Trick Shot Tuesday video SPC Ivan Roe shoots a pill (at two different angles) off the top of a balloon. Very impressive shooting! Ivan hails from Manhattan, Montana and has been a notable member of the USAMU International Rifle Team.
How to Use Data Books During Matches
Data books can be very valuable tools during marksmanship training. In this video, USAMU shooter SGT Lane Ichord explains Data Book basics and how to log information during practice and matches.
BONUS: 20 Marksmanship Articles from USAMU Experts
USAMU shooters and coaches have written an excellent series of articles on highpower and service rifle shooting. Many of these originally appeared in The First Shot, the CMP’s on-line magazine. Here are twenty notable USAMU expert articles:
If you’re anywhere near Phoenix, head down to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility on May 6-8, 2022. You’ll have a chance to shoot a variety of SIG Sauer pistols and rifles. That’s right, you can test drive nearly 50 new SIG guns at one of America’s best ranges, and SIG Sauer even provides the ammo. There is a fee of $79.95 per day. When you consider the cost of ammo, that’s a good deal.
SIG FREEDOM DAYS
Ben Avery, May 6-8, 2022
The first-ever SIG Sauer Freedom Days fun shooting event will take place May 6- 8, 2022, at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Guests will be able to shoot nearly 50 different SIG SAUER firearms. A $79.95 daily pass let you shoot 10 stages featuring SIG pistols and rifles. Ammunition is provided along with access to professional demonstrations.
— Shoot nearly 50 new and existing SIG Sauer firearms
— Learn from world-class SIG SAUER Academy Instructors
— Shoot Mossberg Shotguns and Xpedition Archery Crossbows
— Shoot the SIG SAUER “Next Generation” Machine Gun (additional fee)
— See stage presentations by pro shooters, industry leaders, and personalities
— Watch live demos by Team SIG pros Max Michel, Dan Horner, Lena Miculek, and Jerry Miculek.
Included in $79.95 per day pass: Access to all activities, expert stage presentations, and the opportunity to shoot up to 10 different stages, featuring SIG pistols and rifles, Mossberg shotguns, and Xpedition Archery Crossbows. Shoot an additional five stages for $29.95 extra. CLICK HERE for more INFO about SIG Freedom Days.
Watch Max Michel Demo Drill (This Guy is Blazing Fast!)
In this video, Max drills 18 rounds in just over five seconds with two mag changes. We timed that unofficially at 5.21 seconds.
Some the world’s best action shooters will be on hand to showcase their skills. Meet Jerry Miculek, the world’s revolver shoter. Get tips about carry optics from Team SIG Captain Max Michel. Top 3-Gun ace and former USAMU team member Daniel Horner will also share his expertise about precision shooting.
Rifle Skills for Multi-Gun Competition — Grip, Stance, and Body Position
Location: Ben Avery Shooting Facility, Phoenix, Arizona
Dates: Friday, May 6 – Sunday, May 8, 2022
Times: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cost: $79.95 per person per day (food can also be purchased on-site).
Two guns in one? If you want a PRS rifle that can hunt, or a hunting rifle that can shoot PRS matches, check out the SIG Sauer Cross, a 6.4-lb rig that combines PRS functionality with light overall weight. The new Cross bolt-action rifle is now shipping and will be available in retail stores soon. We must note, however, that serious PRS competitors use rifles that may weigh 20 lbs. with optics and accessories. In the PRS game, weight offers stability and reduced perceived recoil for faster follow-up shots. Still, we like the idea of a rifle that can shoot the occasional PRS/NRL match yet also work for hunting. This rifle recently won a 2020 Industry Choice Award for innovation.
SIG Sauer has released the new Cross Rifle, a “crossover” rifle for hunting, competition, and long-range shooting. The Cross bolt-action rifle, built for precision, will be offered in .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor with .277 SIG Fury Hybrid to follow. The design features a one-piece receiver with free-floating modular handguard and side-folding adjustable stock. Choose Black or First Lite Camo finish.
The Cross has some interesting design features:
— Two-stage Match Trigger adjusts from 2.5-4.5 lbs.
— Interchangeable flattop system that fits 0-MOA or +20-MOA rails.
— 3-Lug Bolt with 60° throw and interchangeable bolt handle. AI Mags.
— Light-weight 16″ barrel .308 Win version weighs just 6.2 pounds.
Factory Product Description
The SIG Cross Precision Bolt-Action Hunting Rifle is a lightweight rifle with a push button, foldable precision stock. The rifle boasts an aluminum M-LOK™ handguard for easy attachment of bipods, rails, night-vision or thermal clip-on optics. The unique folding stock offers tool-less adjustment for easy set-up changes in the field. With folded stock the CROSS measures as short as 25″ allowing it to fit in backcountry backpacks. The receiver boasts familiar AR-15-type controls, ambi-safety, and three-lug bolt design with a 60-degree throw and interchangeable bolt handle. The SIG Cross takes AICS-pattern magazines.
The SIG Cross features a 2-stage match-grade trigger externally adjustable from 2.5 to 4.5 pounds. The precision stock is spring-loaded for one-handed operation and can be fully adjusted in the field for length of pull and comb height with no tools. The rifle has a full-length Picatinny rail that allows for direct optics mounts, 20 MOA, and O MOA. The CROSS is available in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 WIN, and the soon-to-be-released .277 SIG Fury Hybrid.
Available Now in Three Chamberings, starting at $1779 MSRP
The SIG Cross is available in .308 WIN and 6.5 Creedmoor with an 18″ barrel, and the all-new .277 SIG Fury Hybrid cartridge with a 16″ barrel. The SIG Cross rifle retails for $1779.00, so it qualifies for PRS Factory Class. (We expect “street price” to be about $1550). The Cross rifle was designed and built entirely at SIG Sauer’s New Hampshire facilities.
As a member of the USAMU, SFC Daniel Horner established himself as one of the top 3-Gun shooters on the planet. In fact, given his major championship titles, a strong argument can be made that Horner is the most successful Multi-Gun competitor in history — the best of the best. Now a civilian professional, Dan Horner competes as Team SIG Sauer’s 3-Gun ace.
Horner captured yet another prestigious Championship earlier this month, winning the 2020 USPSA National Championship. Horner finished first in the Tactical Division at the 2020 USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals at the Universal Shooting Academy in Frostproof, Florida, June 11-14, 2020. This is Daniel’s 12th victory at the prestigious Multi-Gun Nationals.
At the USPSA Nationals Horner competed through 12 stages with pistol, rifles, and shotgun. For pistol competition, Horner used a SIG Sauer P320 X5 LEGION pistol with iron sights. For the long-range competition, Horner used his SIG Sauer M400 rifle with a SIG Sauer TANGO6T riflescope, and a SIG KILO 3000BDX Rangefinder.
Click Photo for full-screen diagram
Horner said the 2020 Multi-Gun Nationals were very tough — a special challenge:
“The competition at this year’s Multi-Gun Nationals was the best I’ve seen. Everyone that competed had obviously spent extra time training and practicing while they were at home over the past few months. With this being the first major nationals match since quarantine, the training showed and the competition was elevated. The accuracy and reliability of my SIG equipment, combined with my training routine, gave me the edge I needed to pull-off the victory[.]”
How Hot is Horner — Just Watch and Be Amazed
Here are two videos showcasing Horner’s Skills with Rifle and pistol. In the first video, Horner demonstrates how to move and shoot with an AR platform rifle. In the second video, Horner demonstrates his speed, mobility, and accuracy during the final stage of a 3-Gun Nation event.
Rifle Skills for Multi-Gun Competition — Grip, Stance, and Body Position
Daniel Horner Shreds 3-Gun Nation Stage with Blazing Speed
As a soldier with the USAMU, Horner was a true phenom with rifle, pistol, and shotgun, winning multiple 3-Gun titles against tough competition. When he was on his game, no one on the planet was better in the 3-Gun arena. His record of major multi-gun championships may never be rivaled. He has won over 125 major events/titles at the world, national, regional, and state level.
Daniel Horner Major Titles
10-Time USPSA Multi-Gun National Champion
4-Time 3-Gun Nation Pro Series Champion
2014 NRA World Shooting Championship Winner
2-Time Int’l Sniper Competition Team Winner
2-Time IDPA National Champion
IPSC Shotgun National Champion
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Do you enjoy 3-Gun competition or other types of “Action Shooting”? Then you should visit the USAMU Facebook Page today Friday, June 19th at 2:00 pm Eastern.
There will be a LIVE Q & A session today. Members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) will answer questions about Action Shooting, about the USAMU in general, and about the U.S. Army. This is a great opportunity to communicate directly with some of the top 3-gun shooters in the nation. If you have specific questions, then post a comment on the USAMU’s Facebook page before the session.
Want to learn more about Action Shooting? This Virtual Tour Video first tours the USAMU training center. Then team members show the rifles, pistols, and shotguns they use in Multi-Gun competition.
SFC Daniel Horner — Greatest 3-Gunner Ever?
Though now a civilian competing for SIG Sauer, SFC Daniel Horner was a USAMU superstar. One of the best 3-Gun competitors in history, Horner was blazing fast (and wicked accurate) with all three guns.
As a soldier with the USAMU, Horner was a true phenom with rifle, pistol, and shotgun, winning multiple 3-Gun titles against tough competition. When he was on his game, no one on the planet was better in the 3-Gun arena. His record of major multi-gun championships may never be rivaled. He has won over 125 major events/titles at the world, national, regional, and state level.
Daniel Horner Major Titles
10-Time USPSA Multi-Gun National Champion
4-Time 3-Gun Nation Pro Series Champion
2014 NRA World Shooting Championship Winner
2-Time Int’l Sniper Competition Team Winner
2-Time IDPA National Champion
IPSC Shotgun National Champion
Rifle Grip, Stance, and Body Position for Action Shooting Competition
In this action-packed video, SFC Horner gives tips on how to properly handle a semi-automatic rifle, including grip, stance and body position.
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SFC Daniel Horner USAMU file photo (not from 2015 WSC).
For the past three days, the NRA World Shoooting Championship (WSC) has been underway at the Peacemaker Nat’l Training Center in West Virginia. If you’re curious about this event, which offers $250,000 worth of cash and prizes, check out this September 26th video showing SFC Dan Horner (last year’s WSC winner) in the 3-Gun Stage. Horner displays his ability to transition rapidly from one gun to the next while acquiring targets with Robocop-like efficiency. This year, Horner finished second overall, just three points behind newly-crowned 2015 WSC Winner Bruce Piatt (2631 points).
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Daniel Horner of the USAMU has been crowned the World Shooting Champion, and he has a $50,000 check to prove it. In the first running of the Trijicon World Shooting Championship (TWSC), 159 of the world’s top shooters competed in a grueling 4-day, multi-discipline event. To do well at the TWSC you had to be an expert with rifle, shotgun, and pistol — and you couldn’t have any real weaknesses. You needed mastery of speed pistol, trap shooting, long-range rifle shooting, cowboy action disciplines, “run and gun”, and defensive action scenarios.
SSG Daniel Horner (File photo — not from TWSC)
Horner topped the field with 966.856 points. In second place was Bianchi Cup Ace Bruce Piatt with 924.895. The legendary Jerry Miculek took third with 870.153. Jerry’s performance gave hope for us old guys. There must also be something about Miculek DNA — Jerry’s daughter Lena was the top female competitor, finishing 28th overall. We also want to acknowledge young Brian Nelson who, competing as a Junior, finished fourth overall, a great accomplishment. Other than Nelson, most of the top finishers are professional 3-Gun competitors. These folks know how to put rounds on target quickly and transition smoothly from one firearm to the next.
For four days, the shooters competed in twelve equally-weighted disciplines from various shooting sports. The match combines pistol shooting (action and bullseye), rifle shooting (action, smallbore, high-power, and F-Class), and Shotgun (Sporting Clays/trap/tactical). All firearms and ammunition were provided for each event.
Horner won the big prize through consistency. Out of the 12 shooting events, he finished in the top 10 in all but two. Writing in the Shooting Wire, Jim Shepherd reports: “Horner took outright stage wins in the Wobble Trap Doubles (100%) and NRA Action Rifle (100%) and used them to overcome his two worst scores, a 28th-place finish in F-Class rifle and a 13th-place in .22 rifle. For his achievement, Horner wins the $50,000 prize, and the dubious honor of now knowing that every competition shooter in the world has him solidly in their sights now, not just the 3-gun shooters he regularly tests … and bests.”
Big Cash Awards and Unrivaled Prize Table
Competitors came to the Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, WV for a chance to be crowned the “World Shooting Champion” and receive a $50,000 first place cash prize. This match carried “multi-gun” competition to a whole new level, with BIG MONEY at stake:. There were cash payouts for most stages and over $150,000 worth of hardware on the prize table.
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
Meanwhile, in Spain — the ISSF World Shooting Championships
The next TWSC will be held October 15-17, 2015. This inaugural event went well, and it will surely grow in prestige as time passes. However, we do question the notion that this was truly a “World Championship”. The TWSC took place in West Virginia at the same time that the ISSF World Championships were being held in Granada, Spain. That means that virtually none of the world’s top shotgun aces or top prone/3P rifle shooters attended the TWSC — they were in Spain instead. Over 2000 shooters are competing at the 2014 ISSF World Championships, including hundreds of Olympians. The TWSC had less than 200 competitors, and few Olympians. TWSC was, then, more realistically, a North American Multi-Gun Championship. Let’s hope that, in the years to come, the TWSC will attract more foreign-born competitors. That way it can properly be called a “World Shooting Championship”.
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If you’re anywhere near Phoenix, head down to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility on May 6-8, 2022. You’ll have a chance to shoot a variety of SIG Sauer pistols and rifles. That’s right, you can test drive nearly 50 new SIG guns at one of America’s best ranges, and SIG Sauer even provides the ammo. There is a fee of $79.95 per day. When you consider the cost of ammo, that’s a good deal.
