If you're not receiving Shooting Sports USA in your inbox for free each month, now's the time to sign up!

The September 2010 issue is hot off the press -- er, the Internet -- and here are some of its highlights:

• Camp Perry exclusive: National Pistol Matches coverage. Check out champ Brian Zins' rapid-fire target, at right.
• Meet a few more of the NRA Competitive Shooting Division staff. 
• Offhand Rifle Shooting, an article recycled from a 1941 issue of American Rifleman.

Check out the September issue now, and watch this accompanying video of the 2010 National Pistol Matches. Stay tuned to NRAblog for the latest on the NRA's Competitive Shooting Journal, manned by our very own Chip Lohman.

Chip Lohman serves as Managing Editor of Shooting Sports USA magazine, published by the NRA for gun owners, competitive shooters, their fans, and the public. If you don't receive the magazine each month in your inbox, here's your chance! Click here to subscribe for FREE.

The video above follows participants through the 2010 National Pistol Matches at Camp Perry. Lohman competed alongside pistol greats Brian Zins and Phillip Hemphill. Stay tuned for Lohman's next video, which we believe may also come to us from Ohio.

Yesterday's Palma Team action marked the end of the 2010 National Rifle and Pistol Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio. NRAblog was honored to serve as your source for all things Camp Perry, and we encourage you to stick around. More coverage is in the queue.

This year, Camp Perry spectators and NRAblog readers watched previous champions Brian Zins (Pistol) and John Whidden (Long Range High Power) reclaim their crowns. SSG Shane Barnhart took first in smallbore's 3-Position and Prone matches, and last year's Long Range champ Sherri Gallagher staked her claim to the High Power Championship.

Rising juniors and savvy veterans endured the unique weeks of sun, rain, and wind that only Camp Perry provides. Seasoned coaches shared their knowledge with teenagers in grueling week-long camps. Competitors marveled at the friendships built through their sport and listened to stories from expereinced warhorses like  Fred Cole and Nancy Tompkins. And don't forget NRA's dedicated volunteers, some of whom spend their entire summers helping out. The NRA said thanks to all our hard-working volunteers with a thank you beach party, but that can't begin to express how much we appreciate their efforts.

Some competitors left with trophies. Others left with questions; did I shoot too fast, should I have waiting for the wind to past, is this the best I can do? The only way to find those answers is to maintain the training and return to Perry for the 2011 Championships. With a little luck, and a couple more Xs, we could see some new names on next year's trophies. More...

Here's a note from John Howard, NRA's National Instructor Trainer, on revisions to the FIRST Steps Pistol Lesson Plan.

To keep you up-to-date and to let you know that we are committed to continuously improving the quality levels in all of our programs, we have revised the FIRST Steps Pistol (FSP) lesson plan. In previous FSP lesson plans, the shooting portion required students to repeat the multi-shot exercise until instructors were comfortable with their performance. The vast majority take great pride in their role as NRA Instructors and place very reasonable expectations on their students to ensure they are able to shoot well prior to receiving an NRA Certificate.

Therefore, the objective has worked fine as indicated, until recently. We have been notified on several occasions by students that received a certificate, but did not feel confident in their shooting skills. They indicated that they took the course for their "carry permit" and only fired 15 rounds (or fewer) in their class. The specific revision is on page FSP-40, E-8 and incorporates an actual "skill standard" that must be met by students before moving onto the next step, and most importantly, before receiving an NRA FIRST Steps Pistol course completion certificate.

Watch for this change to be implemented in every NRA Basic Firearm Training course as they become due for reprint. In a nutshell, the optional shooting skill requirement that is currently in the basic practical rocker worksheet will become a standard skill requirement in each basic shooting discipline. People expect a high level of quality from training programs bearing the NRA name, and we cannot lose focus on the goal of any NRA Basic Firearm Training course. "To Teach the Basic Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude to own and use (the specific firearm) safely."

As NRA Instructors, it is imperative that your students feel confident in handling their firearms and that they develop the skill to be able to group their shots in the center of their targets with consistency before they receive your endorsement. We have placed this page at your sign-in screen at NRAInstructors.org under "Useful links for instructors" as FIRST Steps Pistol Revision FSP-40. Please print it and replace it in your FIRST Steps Pistol Lesson plan.

Thanks for the update, John. Have questions? Call NRA's Training Department at 703-267-1428 or send an email to training@nrahq.org.

Competing in the NRA National Pistol Championships for the first time is a thrill, but the experience is even better when your team comes in third. For Chief Warrant Officer 3 Glenn Ryther, Captain of the Marine Corps Reserve Pistol Team, his first time at Camp Perry led to a historic finish for his team, and a showing that other teams won't soon forget. CWO3 Ryther and his team were recently featured in New York's Time Herald-Record to chronicle their amazing first appearance at Camp Perry.

Town of Newburgh detective leads reservist shooters

TOWN OF NEWBURGH — Glenn Ryther tries to spend a little time with a gun every day. Live rounds at least once a week. BB guns with his kids at home. Pulling the trigger on an unloaded pistol over and over to perfect the movement. It's been that way since the U.S. Marine Corps reservist joined the Corps' pistol team two years ago in Quantico, Va.

All that practice has helped Ryther, a Town of Newburgh police detective, earn recognition as part of a nationally top-ranked military reserve pistol team. His team took third at the National Rifle & Pistol Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio.

It was the best finish ever for a Marine Reserve team. The squad competed July 11-19 at the tournament, which is considered the World Series of shooting sports, and finished ahead of every other reserve team in the nation. It ended up just one point out of second place. More than 100 teams, including active-duty teams, competed.

Read the rest of the article here.

Want more coverage from the National Matches at Camp Perry? NRAblog will be reporting live through August 18, so keep checking back from more news and photos.

One of the the best parts about NRA's Club University is the assorted group of individuals who attend. Club U Indianapolis was no different as we ran into interesting people such as Dave Schneider from Michigan State University. So what brought Schneider to Indianapolis?

“I'm here to find out as much about NRA grants as possible,” said Dave. “Plus, there are a number of other programs that we can benefit from.”

By “we,” he means the the Michigan State Marksmanship Team. Founded in 2001, the club held their first NRA sanctioned match in 2003. And more recently, they found a new home in the form of the John and Marnie Demmer Shooting Sports Education and Training Center.

“You should see this place,” said Dave. “Shooting lanes inside and out the facility that can be used for both archery and firearms … it’s beautiful.”

Having such a top-of-the-line facility is a new experience for Schneider. Finding his post a mere nine months ago, working for the Marksmanship Team Michigan State was probably the furthest thing on his mind during his time in Afghanistan.

“Three tours,” Dave explained. “Ultimately, the injuries I sustained made it impossible to continue. When I got back to the states, they asked me to help develop a program [the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service] to help other vets returning to civilian life find jobs. Michigan State was one of those jobs.”

But what drew our attention to Schneider was his shirt. Emblazoned on his chest was the can’t-miss logo of NRA’s 2010 National Rifle and Pistol Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio. Probably more than a coincidence, given that the matches started just a few days before Club U.

“I was over there, at Perry, shooting outside of my specialty,” explained Dave. “I’m used to shooting big bore and light machine guns, but I’ve been trying to broaden my shooting horizons. Plus, it’s easier. There’s so much gear when you lug around a rifle. With a pistol, all I need is a bag or a box to carry the necessities.”

Just like Club University – you get all the information you need to improve the operation of your club in a compact, handy, one-day package.

As promised, here's a photo slideshow of the Awards Ceremony from the 2010 NRA National Pistol Championships, complete with photos of all your top shooters. Looking for complete results? Get the full listing here.

The preliminary results are in, and for Brian Zins, 2010 turned out to be number 10, as he wins his 10th title as NRA National Pistol Champion. Philip Hemphill held on to his second place finish from last year, and Staff Sergeant Robert Park took third. Below are preliminary results from today's matches, where John Zurek and Staff Sergeant Adam Sokolowski of the AMU seemed to dominate in the .45 Caliber matches. 

National Pistol Championship:

First Place: Brian Zins - 2650-134X

Second Place: Philip Hemphill - 2643-128X

Third Place: SSG Robert Park, Army Marksmanship Unit - 2634 - 116X 

.45 Caliber Championship:

First Place: John Zurek - 877-34X

Second Place: SSG Adam Solokowski, Army Marksmanship Unit - 873-39X

Third Place: Brian Zins - 872-44X

.45 Caliber National Match Course Match Winner: SSG Adam Solokowski, Army Marksmanship Unit - 294-17X

.45 Caliber Rapid Fire Winner: Philip Hemphill - 200-11X

.45 Caliber Slow Fire Winner: John Zurek - 194-3X

.45 Caliber Timed Fire Winner: James Lenardson - 200-12X

We'll have a full listing of your champions tomorrow once scores are finalized, as well as results from today's team matches and photos from the Awards Ceremony and Match Director's Reception.   

As the sponsor of the NRA National Pistol Championships, Universal Coin & Bullion (UCB) has been at Camp Perry this week taking in the competition and hosting a hospitality tent outside the Stat Office. At tonight's Awards Ceremony, UCB will present the 2010 National Pistol Champion with a one-of-a-kind pistol. NRAblog caught with Director Rob Patton and Paul Stein, Vice President of Marketing, to learn more about this stunning firearm and the coins embedded in the grips. 

The 1911 Nighthawk Custom pistol features two antique 1911 $5 Indian gold coins embedded in the pistol grips, which are made of cocobolo wood. Designed in partnership with Craig Gholson, CEO of Nighthawk Custom, the firearm is also hand engraved and includes custom checkering and Trijicon sights. 

"Our work with Craig has created a masterpiece that the winner will cherish for generations to come," said Stein.

As a 1911-style pistol with two rare gold coins from the year 1911 embedded in the grips, this prize embodies a long-standing correlations between firearms and the precious metal.

"Our decision to put coins in the handguns symbolizes the legacy of gold and guns," said Patton.

As the Official Bullion & Rare Coin Dealer of the NRA, UCB has set a high standard with the creation of this unique pistol and their support of the National Matches. Stein hopes that this will encourage others will do the same. 

"We hope that the partnership to build this gun is a challenge to other companies to work together in whatever ways and means possible to support great causes and national events like Camp Perry has been for over 100 years," said Stein. 

Many previous National Champions return to Camp Perry, whether it's to compete, volunteer, or just visit with old friends. But six-time National Pistol Champion Bill Blankenship is here enjoying the camaraderie and helping to mentor the shooters. 

Blankenship serves as the Chairman of the Protest Committee, but is also here as the Team Captain for the NRA/USA Civilian Pistol Team and the Mayleigh Cup International Postal Match Team. With his experience, Blankenship is a valuable asset to the younger shooters on these teams, providing guidance and a wealth of shooting knowledge. So far, Blankenship has been impressed by what he's seen.

"There is a lot of talent out there. Some of these guys are shooting awfully good scores," said Blankenship.

No stranger to the leader board, then Sergeant First Class Blankenship of the United States Army held the title of National Pistol Champion from 1960-1964, before capturing his 6th and final title as a Master Sergeant in 1967.

Today, more than 40 years later, Blankenship (pictured at left with NRA Pistol Manager and Match Director Tom Hughes) is back at the National Matches.

"Some of the buildings are new, but it's still the same old Camp Perry," said Blankenship with a smile.  

Today marks the final day of competition at the 2010 NRA National Pistol Championships here at Camp Perry. The .45 Caliber Championship is being fired today, and at tonight's Awards Ceremony, the 2010 National Pistol Champion will be named. If current leader Brian Zins takes top honors, this will be his 10th title as National Champion. But with Philip Hemphill and AMU shooters Staff Sergeants John Ennis and Robert Park at Zins' heels, today's competition could still alter the standings. 

In addition to today's competition, the Match Director's Reception will be held at the Club House from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., followed by the Awards Ceremony at Hough Auditorium beginning at 8:00 p.m. 

Results are in for yesterday's team matches, with US Army Reserve - Black taking first in the Center Fire Two-Member Team Match with a 574-24X and Springfield Red winning the Center Fire Team Championship (four-member) with an 1152-48X. 

Preliminary results for the Center Fire Championship are in, and a new leader has emerged after another hot and sometimes windy day of shooting. As always, we'll let you know if these results change following the challenge period.  

Center Fire Championship:

First Place: SSG John Ennis, Army Marksmanship Unit - 885-44X

Second Place: Brian Zins - 884-37X

Third Place: Philip Hemphill - 879-38X

Center Fire National Match Course Match Winner: SSG John Ennis, Army Marksmanship Unit - 297-16X

Center Fire Rapid Fire Winner: SSGT Kevin Moore, USMC Reserve - 199-11X

Center Fire Slow Fire Winner: SSG John Ennis, Army Marksmanship Unit - 196-5X

Center Fire Timed Fire Winner: SSG Adam Solokowski, Army Marksmanship Unit - 200-12X

We'll bring you scores from the team matches tomorrow, along with coverage of the final day of competition here at the National Pistol Championships. Right now Brian Zins is in the running for the the title of National Pistol Champion, but SSG John Ennis' performance on the range today has him in a close second. Will Zins take home a tenth title in 2010 or will a new champion be named? Tomorrow's .45 Caliber Championship will give us our answer. 

The final relay of the day has finished shooting and groups of shooters have taken to the range to compete in the final event of the day, the team matches. 

Yesterday we brought you breaking news of a shoot-off to determine first and second place in the .22 Caliber Rapid Fire Match, and results are in! Chuck Holt took first place and Staff Sergeant Patrick Franks of the Army Marksmanship Unit took second place. 

As for yesterday's team matches, the United States Army Reserve Team - Black won the .22 Caliber Two Member Team Match with a score of 579-16X and the Zero/Mountain Competition Pistol Team took first in the .22 Caliber Team Championship (four member team) with a score of 1158-52X.

We'll be bringing you results soon, so check back to see who will walk away with the title of 2010 Center Fire Champion. 

Each year, the top 10 slow fire competitors at Camp Perry are selected to compete in the Mayleigh Cup as Team USA.  Firing .22 caliber pistols, team members' scores are combined and entered into this international postal match. This year's team scored a 2663, a one point increase over last year's score of 2662.

Team USA has won the match for the past seven years, and we're hoping 2010 is no exception. Once all teams have submitted scores and results are in, NRAblog will let you know whether Team USA has held on to the top spot.

This year's team is comprised of Philip Hemphill, Brian Zins, Ron Steinbrecher, Harvie Loomis, SSG Robert Park, SSG Jonathan Rosene, SSG Adam Sokolowski, SSG John Ennis, SSGT Jason Hedrick, and David Lange, led by Team Captain Bill Blankenship and Team Adjutant John Gordon.

Congrats, Team USA, and good luck in the Mayleigh Cup!  

The Club House at Camp Perry was buzzing with activity last night, both inside and out. Each year, NRA hosts a Volunteer Banquet to thank our hardworking volunteers for their help and to present awards of recognition.

All volunteers were entered into a drawing for great prizes including NRA memorabilia, digital cameras, shooting equipment and accessories, and more. Service awards were given to 15 volunteers, including Chief Referee Kenneth Boyd for 25 years of service, and NRA Trophy Room guru Pierce Johnson who has volunteered for an incredible 40 years.

Volunteers also signed a t-shirt for sponsor Universal Coin and Bullion to thank them for donating t-shirts and supporting the National Pistol Championships.  

Outside the Volunteer Banquet, a beach party sponsored by NRA's Competitive Shooting Division was in full swing for competitors and their families featuring food and live music.  

Thanks again to NRA volunteers for your support of the National Matches!