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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.

NRANews Executive Producer John Popp and his band of audio/technical wizards stopped by headquarters today to shoot segments for the show. They left with a little more than originally planned.

"Taping at NRA Headquarters accomplishes two things," explained Popp. "First, shooting here provides our viewers with an actual view of the building. We tape our interviews at the museum, in the hallways, on the range - where ever we can find a free space.

"Second is the wild cards. Today, for example, we ran into Competitive Shooting's H.Q. Moody. That impromptu meeting turned into two separate interviews. They wouldn't have happened if we weren't here at headquarters."

In addition to the Moody interviews, Popp and his crew had the opportunity to sit down with Ruthann Sprague from NRA Women's Programs, J.R. Robbins from NRAHuntersRights.org, and (pictured above) National Firearms Museum's Phil Schreier. All of which are scheduled air on NRANews.com somewhere between 9pm and midnight Eastern Time over the next few days.

NRA National Firearms Museum Senior Curator Phil Schreier was recently in Newark, Ohio, for The American Thompson Association’s 19th Annual All Thompson Show and Shoot. He provided us with these photos and told us a little about his trip.

“I’ve been to five,” Schreier said of the annual gathering. The Association, an NRA affiliated collector’s club, was awarded the NRA Gun Collectors Committee Trophy at the 2010 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Charlotte. Read more about the 2010 NRA National Gun Collecting Awards.

What do the Tommy Gun enthusiasts do at their show? The purpose of these meetings, their website says, is to gather and share experiences andinformation on the Thompson. Mixed with a good deal of fun, of course.

“It’s a two stage shoot,” Schreier explained. “The first stage you shoot your firearm on full automatic for five different stages, at 20 rounds each, with the focus on accuracy.”

“The second stage is a steel falling plate contest. That’s for speed.”

Given the chance, Schreier could hardly observe the event – he brought his Thompson and joined the competitors on the firing line. How'd he fare?

“Well, the guy that knocked me out of the first round won the overall competition,” he said with a smile, “so if I had to get beat by someone, at least I got beat by the guy who won it all.”

In addition to his time on the firing line, Schreier provided interviews for a few episodes of American Rifleman TV. 

“Anyone interested in joining the Association should check out their website,” Schreier said. Download an application here. Annual dues are $30. “They are a great group and a wonderful extension of the NRA’s commitment to gun collecting.”

More...

When it comes to class, Chip Lohman has more than his fair share. What else would one expect from the Editor of our very own Shooting Sports USA and a former Marine? But last week, he got a little more.

After his performance at the National Rifle & Pistol Shooting Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio, Lohman is now the proud holder of a Sharpshooter classification card. On hand to deliver Lohman’s card (pictured right) was Competitive Shooting’s John Parker.

“That was quick,” said Lohman. “You guys are on the ball up there.”

Classification cards are a measurement of your proficiency on the range. The better you shoot, the higher your classification. While classification has no bearing on your course of fire, it does have a bearing when it comes to the scheduling of awards. For Lohman, his classification rose from Marksman to Sharpshooter.

“It really comes down to experience,” explained Lohman. “2009 was my first time at Camp Perry in a number of years. I left a few things, like the mat placement and hydration, off my list. With a year under my belt, I had a better understanding of what to expect, how to practice, and how to prepare for the line.”

After receiving his card, Lohman can now purchase the corresponding Competitive Shooting Decal. Perfect for your car, office, or gun box, Competitive Shooting Decals are a great way to let others know you're moving up the ladder.

"With any luck, I'll have an Expert card and decal soon enough."

Students across the country are heading back to school and the 2011 Collegiate Rifle season is right around the corner. This past week the date for the final championship was locked in and now the schedule is set. The dates and locations of this year's collegiate championships are:

• NCAA Rifle Championships - March 10-12, Fort Benning, GA, Hosted by Columbus State University

• NRA Intercollegiate Pistol Championships - March 15-19, Fort Benning, GA

• ACUI Clay Target Championships - March 29-April 5, San Antonio, TX

• NRA Intercollegiate Rifle Club Championship - April 7-10, The Citadel, Hosted by Clemson University

“We’re grateful to be able to return to Benning for the pistol championship," said Victoria Croft, National Manager of the NRA Collegiate & Schools Program. "The AMU is a wonderful host and are great promoters of our championship."

The NRA Intercollegiate Rifle Club Championship, started last year at Purdue University, will be hosted next by Clemson University. "We are overflowing with excitement to the take the 2nd Annual NRA Intercollegiate Rifle Club Championship to The Citadel in Charleston, SC., with Clemson as the host," Croft said. We look forward to working with Clemson and The Citadel to make this championship a fantastic success for our club rifle shooters!”

The Quincy Herald-Whig brings us the following from the great state of Illinois:

Shot in the Arm: Donated hunt for raffle gives QHS rifle team financial boost

The Quincy High School rifle team just received a welcome shot in the arm.

Because of budget cuts, the team lost its funding by the Quincy School District earlier this year. So its only income now is from donations.

After hearing about the team's financial plight, the Olin Corp., which makes Winchester products and ammunition, donated a hunting package valued at $3,500 as a way to help the team raise some money through a raffle.

Ticket sales are under way now, and the winner will be drawn Oct. 1.

Jim Holtman, rifle team coach, said he was floored when he heard about the offer from Olin Corp. "I never dreamed that they would give us a hunt with that kind of dollar value," he said. "It's just way more than I expected. I just can't say enough about them standing behind us."

The hunt will be for two people at NILO Farms, a hunting/shooting facility near Alton owned by Olin Corp. The two-day hunt package will include lodging, meals, live birds (pheasant, chukar and ducks), dogs, guides, ammunition, shotguns if needed and "all the clay birds the winner can stand," Holtman said. If the winner doesn't have the needed license, they will furnish that as well," he said.

Read the entire story here.

Bob Gustin of Cameron Park, California, didn't set out to establish a new record at the 2010 NRA National Rifle & Pistol Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio - so he set two. One as part of a team and one all on his own.

"Guess it was my time," Gustin mused. "After 46 years of shooting here at Camp Perry, I should have set a record at something."

First on the agenda was the Palma Individual title. That's fifteen shots from 800, 900, and 1000 yards. And how many times did Bob make it out of the ten ring? Not once.

"I cleaned it," said Gustin. "I've shot a perfect round before, but never with this many Xs."

His score of 450-33x beat the old mark by six of those Xs. And who's numbers did he beat? Palma teammate Nancy Tompkins-Gallagher. Just to show there were no hard feelings, Nancy and her daughter Michelle joined Bob along with Bryan Litz to set a new Palma Team Match record of 1796-119x. A quintessential feat for the boy who once begged his father to take him to the range.

"Dad never shot a rifle in his life," said Gustin. "I asked so he took me. My father was great that way."

Bob started shooting on the smallbore range. Then, in 1980, he switched to reserve shooting with the service rifle section until ultimately moving to high power in 1990. Twenty years later, he's perfected the shot and spends even more time on the range.

After retiring from a 31 year stint on the California Highway Patrol (No CHiP references please - "I haven't said anything nasty about you yet" ... Bob Gustin ) Bob now gets to do what he really loves.

"I shoot," Gustin laughed. "Well, I also drive my wife around in our motor home. Last place we saw was Shipshewana, Indiana. There's a nice Amish community there that she likes to visit for the quilting, the food and the people."

But retired or not, Bob always finds time for practice. We all do when it comes to doing what comes natural aids in perfecting one of the things he loves best.

"I just like shooting. It's fun and you meet a lot of interesting people. Especially here at Perry."

NRA's Competitive Shooting Division has added the Adams Arms Ozark 3-Gun Championship to its list of NRA-sanctioned 3-Gun matches. The match will be held September 24-26, 2010, near the Lake of Ozarks in the heart of Missouri.

Nearly 230 shooters will compete during this three day competition which includes nine stages of fire. Designed to test competitors’ pistol, shotgun, and tactical rifle skills, the stages feature the natural terrain and hills of the Ozark Mountains on 1,000 acres of land. Despite the physical and marksmanship challenges competitors will face, the competition includes shooters of all skill levels.

“We like to be challenging, but fun,” said Match Director Kirk Broyles. “We want to make sure the most experienced shooters are challenged and enjoy the match, but that new shooters can compete and won’t be overwhelmed.”

Run by the Adams Arms Shooting Team, the Ozark 3-Gun Championship held its first competition just last year. The match gained NRA-sanctioning in 2010, and Broyles looks forward to the relationship with NRA.

“I’m excited about the partnership with the NRA and the things they bring to 3-Gun as a sport and this match, specifically,” said Broyles. 

NRA-sanctioning is not the only new feature for the match in 2010. Broyles and his team recently announced that the competition will be the first match for the second season of the 3-Gun Nation television show. The program will film the match and hold a shoot-off at the end of the competition, where the top-ranked shooters compete head-to-head for cash, prizes, and more.

Check out the video footage above from the 2009 Ozark 3-Gun Championship, and bookmark NRAblog for coverage of the event live from Missouri.

A flurry of phone calls on Friday afternoon led to the appearance of NRAblog contributor Lars Dalseide on NRANews.com.

"It was great to be back in the studio and see the guys," said Dalseide. "The only odd part was being in front of the camera instead of behind the scenes."

Before he came to work at the National Rifle Association, Lars was a producer for NRANews. Then his days were spent researching stories, booking guests, and producing the live show. Now things are a touch different.

"On Friday's show, for example, I was able to promote the National Rifle & Pistol Championships, the National Police Shooting Championships, Disabled Shooting clinics, POMA, and more," said Dalseide. "If there's a choice between producing the show and appearing on the show, I'll take appearing every time."

Pictured to the right along side NRANews producer Cameron Gray, Lars ended up staying for the entire show. Before long, he started to creep back into his old producer shoes.

"I was helping with the guests, taking a few calls, and even started making camera suggestions," Dalseide recalled. "That's when I knew it was time to step back. The guys who run the show today do an incredible job. The last thing they need is me mucking up the works."

NRANews received a number of calls regarding this interview. You can now view the Lars Dalseide interview on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=N87yIvCCbNk

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.

Shooting for the disabled at Scio Rod and Gun Club

The Scio Rod and Gun Club is taking aim at helping the disabled get the chance to shoot a rifle.

Tuesday night the club under the direction of President Bill Hadsell and other members, flew the red National Rifle Association (NRA) flag over it firing range to let those around them know that the firing range, located off the Vandermark Road and bordering farm land, was in use.

A line of about 10 disabled riflemen were trying out their aim, some with the Club’s rifles and others, like veteran competition shooter Tracy Schmitt, of Scio, were using their own rifle. His, with a nifty variegated stock, was being sited in using a special (tiny) target. However others, like Steven Weatherell of Friendship, were using regular NRA regulation targets and shooting from a fixed stand at 50 yards.

Schmitt, who is an active member in the Scio Club said, “My being a member kind of shown a light in the club that disabled shooters couldn’t use the old range because the old shooting benches were too high and there was no concrete so we couldn’t get up here to shoot.”

Shooting since he was 12 years old, Schmitt is afflicted with a form of muscular dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair, however that doesn’t stop him from being a certified instructor by the NRA for rifle, pistol, shotgun and range safety.

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...

Palma Team Match awards were handed out this afternoon in a ceremony held at the base of Viale Range. While top billing went to team Litz-Gallagher with a recording breaking score of 1796-119x, there were still plenty of other prizes to hand out.

Scores are listed below: Congratulations to all team members and competitors.

Photos from the Palma Course Team Matches Awards at Camp Perry

The Remington Band of Brothers match has concluded, but do you know the significance of the trophy associated with this competition? Pictured at right, this trophy is awarded to the winner of the 1,000 yard Any Sight Match at the NRA National Long Range Championships.

It makes its debut on stage at Camp Perry last night.

The Remington “Band of Brothers” Trophy is a large bronze sculpture created by Sculptor James Muir. The trophy depicts a D-Day Scenario in World War II, with U.S. soldiers in a jeep breaking through enemy lines to carry a wounded officer to safety.

The sculpture is very detailed, including “bullet holes” surrounding the jeep and a large American flag on the jeep hood to avoid drawing the fire of Army Air Corps fighter planes. The trophy has a 24-inch wooden pentagon shaped base. The jeep is guided by the iron hand and nerve of its 4th Infantry Division driver and guided by an eagle-eyed 101st Airborne "Pathfinder" riding shotgun with a Springfield M1903-A1 sniper rifle.

This piece of artwork was donated to the NRA by Remington Arms Company, Inc. as a tribute to the heroism of “brother” Americans who fought to preserve freedom against the stronghold of Fascism.