Quantico Shooting Club is a 501C Not-for-Profit corporation operating out of Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia. It promotes marksmanship among Marines, military members and their families, Club members, eligible and potential members, and authorized guests/shooters.

Lorne Cooper was at Quantico Shooting Club's match August 29-29, and we thank him for the following report. Thanks to Doug Hurst for the pictures:

Quantico Shooting Club High Power Weekend Reports Seven New National Records!

This past weekend at Quantico MCB Range 4, the Quantico Shooting Club hosted its 3rd NRA RegisteredTournament for 2010. It was hot, around 95 degrees, but conditions were mild. There were at total of34 competitors involved in this 2 day match, and everyone had a great time.

Match One consisted of the 300 yard 15 shot Individual Prone Course.

In the F T/R Class, Brian Santucci fired a 150 x7 to break the 149 x8 record set by Joseph Sturtevant andGySgt Daniel Borowiecki fired a 141 x5 to set a new record for the Service category.

In the F Open Class (Senior), David Dye fired a 150 x10 to tie the record set by Jim Murphy.

On the High Power side, Nathaniel Guernsey placed 1st with a 149 x8.

Match 2 was a 4 man team fire of the Mid Range Prone Course (45 shots per member), 15 shots each at300, 500 and 600 yards.

 More...

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...

The NRA/Springfield M1A match takes place tomorrow, Sunday, August 8. Shot in one day, the Awards Ceremony will begin tomorrow evening around 8 p.m. NRAblog's Kyle Jillson is on his way to Camp Perry to report live from this exciting competition. Here's a recap of the meaning behind this match:

The NRA/Springfield M1A match is a unique arrangement with the National Rifle Association and Springfield Armory to encourage more use of the M1A, a highly respected firearm that was the weapon of choice for rifle competition for a number of years.

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-fir, prone
• 10 shots rapid-fire, kneeling or sitting
• 10 shots slow-fire, standing

With various raffles for firearms and nice cash prizes, the NRA's Competitive Shooting Division reports the match is quite popular and does justice to the M1A.

Check out some of the pictures from the 2009 Springfield M1A Match here.

The top finishers for the 2009 NRA Springfield M1A Match:

• Champion: Thomas Rider (pictured) - 484-15x
• 1st Place Civilian: Nick Till - 482-17x
  
• 2nd Place Civilian: Fritz Hempelmann - 478-16x
  
• 3rd Place Civilian: Dennis Demille - 476-21x
  

Nancy Tompkins is a big deal at Camp Perry. After talking to her at the Randall Team match on Tuesday, a volunteer approached us. "Do you know who that is?" he asked suspiciously. NRAblog first met Tompkins on the line during the National Rifle Match’s high power rifle phase in 2008. Since then, she has appeared on the blog and in NRA news a number of times.

Tompkins first started shooting in 7th grade. “I’ve been at this a long time,” she said with a smile. She's published a book, Prone and High Power Rifle Shooting and is known in the community for her willingness to help other competitors. 

Tompkins is a 4-time National Long Range Champion. She's won the Wimbledon Cup, and the Leech Cup five times. She's won both team and individual medals in the World Palma Championships, serving on 6 Palma teams, as shooter and coach. 

How did she do at this year’s smallbore competition? “It went okay. Some days are better than others,” she said.

We wondered what sort of encouragement Tompkins would have for new shooters. Why should people consider involvement in competitive shooting of any kind?

“It’s a great social activity,” she said. “You meet incredible people. Also, it’s a great opportunity to wrk on mental and physical skills.”

“It teaches you great concentration, and young people who are junior competitors have a better focus.”

Tompkins, pictured above with Michelle Makucevich and her daughter, Danielle, age 13, says the sport is a family affair. More...

Amanda Millward from NRA Youth Programs wants us to highlight the actions of a very special firearms club in Florida. "They're holding NRA Day events the first weekend of every month," she said. Read on:

The Seminole County Gun and Archery Association in Geneva, Florida, hosted a NRA Youth Rifle Program on Sunday, July 4th, 2010, during their monthly scheduled Public Day activities.

The event had thirteen youth, ages 6 to 16, come out for safety training and to shoot rifles, along with many family members showing up to watch and show support. The kids were given rifle safety training, as outlined by the NRA, along with demonstrations of various types of rifles. The kids shot at paper plates from 33 and 50 feet and at silhouette targets at 75 feet.

As a final shoot of the morning, the kids also shot at color-show targets from 50 feet. Since the kids had much practice prior to these targets, the kids were guaranteed of doing well and having something to show and brag about to all of their friends.

For more information on this club's NRA Day events, contact Kent Arblaster at rkenta@netzero.net.

NRAblog is always pleased to announce new shooting records, and today we had the chance to attend an award ceremony honoring 1st Lt Trevor Hengehold’s Service record for high power.

The brief but dignified ceremony took place inside NRA’s National Firearms Museum here at headquarters, and Hengehold was presented with a certificate for his excellent performance on February 7, 2010 in Phoenix, AZ—he fired 200-14X at 1000 yards, 20 shots with metallic sights.

Many NRA staff members were present, along with about ten other marines who stood behind Hengehold during the ceremony. Michael Krei, Director of NRA National Competitions, began the event by explaining Hengehold’s achievement and thanking the marines in attendance: “I want to thank you for serving our country and protecting all of us.”

Major Edward J. Land, Jr., NRA Secretary, then concluded the ceremony by making a few remarks of his own: “The opportunity to present one to one of my fellow marines is an honor. I feel very strongly about the National Record, which is why I personally sign each one.”

Congratulations to 1st Lt Hengehold, pictured above, on this incredible accomplishment!

Keep it right here at NRAblog for the most up-to-date Camp Perry information on the web. Spectators are encouraged at the World Series of Shooting Sports -- in fact, our Competitive Shooting Division's own Jody West designed these billboards for the greater Port Clinton, Ohio, area. Bring a friend, bring your sunblock, and head to the range.

Jul 12-13      Pistol SAFS
Jul 13-17      NRA Pistol Matches
Jul 18           National Trophy Pistol Matches
Jul 21-24      SBR 3-Position Matches
Jul 25-29      SBR Prone Matches
Jul 31-Aug 1 High Power Rifle SAFS
Aug 2-7       National Trophy Rifle Matches
Aug 8          Whistler Boy High Power Rifle Match
Aug 8          NRA/Springfield Match
Aug 9-13     NRA National High Power Rifle Matches
Aug 14-18   NRA Long Range Matches

 

An excerpt from Scott Olmsted's (Editor in Chief of NRA's American Hunter magazine) latest piece appeared in the online publication The Daily Caller:

Rifle Shooting: Hit the Mark

Imagine you’ve saved a year’s worth of overtime pay to book the elk hunt of your dreams. On day one in the Rocky Mountains you’ve stalked within range of the bull of your dreams. You’re in the sitting position, like Dad taught you when you were a kid. The wind is buffeting the muzzle of your rifle, and it’s a bit of a poke, but you’re confident you can hit the vitals of the 6×6. You squeeze the trigger … and you miss.

“That’s hunting,” you say. “I’ll get another chance.”

But what if you don’t?

I’ve seen this scenario play out more times than I care to count, my friends. I’ve seen grown men return to camp who were at a loss for words to explain how they missed that bull. Heck, it’s happened to me.

In fact, a couple years ago I admitted to myself that it was happening more times than I cared to recall. And try as I might, I couldn’t explain why. So I sought help.

Last year I attended not one, but two shooting schools: Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Ariz., and Sportsman’s All-Weather All-Terrain Marksmanship in Barksdale, Texas. Like many NRA members, I’m a lifelong shooter and hunter. I’m also a former Marine infantryman and an NRA-certified rifle instructor. But I have to admit what I learned about marksmanship at both places can fill a book.

Read the rest of the article here.

Congratulations are in order to the Robinson Rifle Team, whose members often practice on the NRA HQ Range. 

Read the Fairfax Times' account of their recent successes:

Right on target: Rams riflers hit bull's-eye

In the Robinson Secondary School gym, banners of the school's sports teams hang side-by-side displaying their various championships and other sports glory. But the school's most decorated banner, the rifle club's, hangs alone in a corner.

"People here don't really see us as a sport," junior Wharton Turner said. "But we've won a lot of [awards]."

The team recently added to its treasure trove by winning four championships in the 2010 season.

The Rams took home four national titles -- the National Rifle Association junior conventional small-bore rifle four-position championship on April 3 at the NRA range in Fairfax, the junior NRA three-position small-bore rifle championship and the NRA junior international air rifle championship on Feb. 27 at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and the three-position air rifle championships on March 27 in Winchester.

The small-bore four- and three-position title scores also qualified the team as overall national champions.

"Not only did we beat the scholastic scores, but we had beaten the national scores," senior Raleigh Cunningham said.

Unlike in most team sports, where a final score is immediately available, the Rams had to wait three months to get their scores. Some events took place in February and March, but the team just now learned about their titles.

"The NRA inspects the [tournament] targets," head coach Bob Hardy said. "All we can do is wonder how we did last year and think about if we did better."

Continue reading here.

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 inaugural NRA Club Collegiate Rifle championship. We're excited to see Lohman delving into the online video community. He tells us his next video will feature the NRA Bianchi Cup. Stay tuned!

From our friends in NRA Publications:

The July issue of Shooting Illustrated, on newsstands today, features the much-awaited Bushmaster Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR) on its cover and an exhaustive review of the gun by former SOF sniper Steve Adelmann. "I found if I reinstalled the barrel to the exact same ratchet position, POI shift was 1/2 inch at 100 yards," he wrote about the innovative carbine's barrel-changing mechanism.

"I've seen other polymer-catch folding stocks that 'break' into the folded position unintentionally, but the ACR I tested did not have the problem," noted Adelmann. It took him 7 seconds to convert the non-reciprocating charging handle to a lefty-friendly position, and of the three types of ammunition tested, one produced a .6-inch, five-shot group at 100 yards.

"Rifle Editor Steve Adelmann's combat experience gives him an unusual perspective in testing the ACR," Shooting Illustrated Editor in Chief Guy J. Sagi said. "As for which ammunition produced a .6-inch group at 100 yards, you'll have to pick up the magazine to find out."

Look for Shooting Illustrated, The Definitive Source for The Modern Shooter, at a newsstand near you, or subscribe by calling (877) 223-3840 or visiting www.ShootingIllustrated.com.

Coach Hardy of the Robinson Rifle Team recently sent his team a message. In addition to detailing the team's preparation for the upcoming CMP/USA Air Rifle National Championship July 8-10, he had a few kind words to say about the NRA:

Robinson Rifle Team family--shooters, coaches, parents, and school administrators--I hope you realize how fortunate your are to be associated with one of the best high school rifle teams in the country, the winner of four NRA Junior Sectional National Championships in 2010.  As just one of the coaches, I can tell you how privileged, and what a thrill I get out of being around, and working with you great Robinson students and accomplished shooters. 

Most important to our successes are our loyal and supportive friends of the National Rifle Association--Greg Wodack and the Range Staff; Andy Rayland, our Saturday RSO and his co-RSOs; and the NRA top management and leadership, who have so generously accommodated this team since September 11, 2001, when the Army Range at Fort Belvoir was closed to us.  We had no place to go, and the NRA took us in and have provided Robinson a home for the past nine years. 

So, when you see NRA Staff, tell them thanks, that they made Robinson's successes possible.

Thank you, Coach Hardy, for your dedication to the future of the shooting sports! 

We last heard from Hardy here -- and stay tuned for more on this talented young group  

On the last day, awards were presented for the individual matches on Saturday and the team match on Sunday.  All of the trophies were brought out to the range and presented on the 600 yard line.  Before presenting the awards for each trophy, Steve Beck read a bio of every fallen hero.  Steve knew some of the families, so he had some interesting stories to tell.   Marine Pfc Christopher White trophy was presented to the shooter with the high overall aggregate for the Garand, Springfield, Military Vintage Rifle matches.  Chris White’s father was in attendance so he asked his son’s squad leader to join him up front to talk about Chris.  His squad leader, Ray Browne, shot in the matches and was surprised to hear that he had won the trophy.  Ray said it was fate that he won.  Mr. Jim Land, Secretary of the NRA, helped to present some of the awards and talk about high power shooting.

This is a list of the trophies and the high score for each match.  The top three Service Rifle and top 3 Match Rifle shooters received plaques.

More...

Every year, hundreds of NRA Day events are conducted across the country. Below is the story of one such event in Wisconsin, courtesy of Jeff Nass. He and a team of other volunteers provide the NRA Day/U.S. Armed Forces Basic Rifle Fundamentals Class to a group of young people known as “Poolees.” Read on to find out how this group helps to introduce youth to shooting while preparing those who go on to serve our country with a crucial skill set.

Nass writes:

A picture of America stands before you: an inner city kid who never held a rifle in his life; a suburban kid, a child of privilege, is in the same boat; the son of a working class family who has hunted deer, but always with a scoped rifle. They all stand on the verge of the most significant experience of their life, a chance to serve their country. Each has advantages their forefathers could not imagine, but the one thing they lack is skill, using a rifle with iron sights, and familiarity with the AR-type rifle.

An estimated one in three Poolees will NOT become a Marine. It truly is “The Few, The Proud.” In 2004, born of the vision of NRA Senior Training Counselor Scott Taetsch and USMC Master Gunnery Sergeant Mike Krueger, both concerned fathers of young Marines, working in cooperation with the USMC Recruit Command, designed a program to introduce young Poolees to the basics of rifle marksmanship while building confidence in the men and women who have committed themselves to defending our great nation and cherished freedoms. The hope was that by providing an introduction in advance, they might excel during Range Phase at Camp Pendleton. More...

Jan Raab, National Manager of NRA's High Power Rifle Programs, sent NRAblog an update from the final day of the Remembering the Brave Match in Quantico, Virginia:

On the final day of the Remembering the Brave Match, nine teams competed for the Lcpl Vincent M. Sullivan Trophy. The USMC team outshot the National Guard team by five points. USMC Scarlett finished in third, only one point behind All Guard Kerin. The Marine Corps winning team members included Sean Morris, Emily Windmassinger, Neil Sookdeo and Brent Payne.

One junior team entered. Brad Palmer from Connecticut coached the team of young shooters. Brad gave 12-year-old Remington Judd some pointers before starting the standing stage of the match. Other team members included Justine Jarvis of Connecticut, Allison Otto and Theron Duitsman. Allison's and Theron's fathers both shoot for the Marine Corps Rifle Team.

Barbeque sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers were served after the team match under a big red tent behind the 600 yards line. While they enjoyed their lunch, a fun, informal Infantry Trophy Team match was organized. The match also known as the “Rattle Battle,” because of the large number of rounds fired in 50-second strings, was won by the National Guard team.

Also on NRAblog:
Remembering the Brave Match
Remembering the Brave Match - Day 2
Remembering the Brave Tournament - Trophy Presentations