NRA Pistol Training Goes Online

ALSO FEATUREDNew Open Airgun Nationals Format

Shooting is 90% Mental – Part 2Women of the USAMU

NRA’S COMPETITIVE SHOOTING JOURNALSPOR TS

VOL. 27 NO. 7 JULY 2014

35th

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CONTENTS // FEATURES

A Publication of the National Ri� e Association of America

Wayne R. LaPierre Executive Vice President

The NRA, the foremost guardian of the traditional American right to “keep and bear arms,” believes every law-abiding citizen is entitled to the ownership and legal use of � rearms,

and that every reputable gun owner should be an NRA member.

1435th Bianchi Cup ChampionshipsThis year’s Bianchi Champion was determined on the very last shot of the � nal event and was won by eight-time USA World Action Pistol Team Member and long-time Bianchi participant Kevin Angstadt.By Chip Lohman

4 SSUSA JULY 2014

A shake-up in the winner’s circle, increased attend-ance and $500,000 in cash and prizes continues to draw shooters from around the world. From left

to right are MidwayUSA Founder and CEO Larry Potter� eld, Ladies Champion Jessie Duff, Bianchi Champion Kevin Angstadt and MidwayUSA Co-Founder Brenda Potter� eld.

Cover Photo: Tam Adams

ON THE COVER

20Shooting is 90% Mental—Part 2This second installment completes our review of modern science as it applies to the mental game in shooting sports. Read what two doctors who are also accomplished marksmen have to contribute.By Chip Lohman

26Open Airgun NationalsThis year, shooting venues grew from one central location to 15 ranges spread across the nation. Read what else changed to help grow the sport.By Damian Allan

PUBLICATIONS DIVISIONExecutive Director: Doug Hamlin

Deputy Executive Director: Lourdes F. KiteIntegrated Marketing Director: Marshall J. Flemion

Fiscal Operations Manager: Evelyn Q. KesslerSales & Fiscal Assistant; Rachel Carr

Executive Assistant: Terri A. Wolfe

Editorial Director: John ZentManaging Editor: Chip Lohman

Editorial Assistant: Ann Rezelman

Creative Director: Harry L. JaecksArt Director: Susan K. Kilday

Senior Graphic Designer: Jessica KimPhotography Director: Lloyd Hill

Photographer: Peter Fountain Associate Photographer: Forrest MacCormack

WEB OPERATIONSManager; Michael Pedersen

Senior Web Developer; Tom RickwalderSenior Web Designer/Video Editor; Steve Dulco

PRODUCTION AND ADVERTISING SALES OPERATIONS

Director: Michael J. Sanford Manager: Michelle Kuntz

Marketing Manager: James C. HandlonSenior Production Coordinator: Debra Oliveri

Production Coordinator: Andrea MyersSenior Coord. Ad Services: Samantha Brown

Coord. Ad Services: Tiffany Ngu

Eastern Sales ManagerTony Morrison (860) 767-9801

Southeast Sales ExecutiveStan Yates (850) 619-8148

Eastern Direct Sales ExecutiveRachelle Trout (910) 262-0913

Western Sales ManagerCourtney Olson (303) 955-2194

Western Sales ExecutiveJames O’Neill (703) 267-1300

Midwest Sales ExecutiveTim Hamill (703) 267-1300

Western Direct Sales ExecutiveDebbie O’Connell (805) 582-9856

Detroit Advertising SalesKen Glowacki (313) 779-8504

Of� cial NRA positions are expressed only in statements bylined by NRA of� cers or in articles identi� ed as such.

Shooting Sports USA (ISSN 1069-6822) is published monthly by the National Ri� e Association of America, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400; (703) 267-1000. Copyright 2014, the National Ri� e Association of America.

To update your email address for the digital subscrition, simply re-register at www.shootingsportsusa.com.

No advertised item is intended for sale in those states, or in those areas where local restrictions may limit or prohibit the purchase, carrying or use of certain items. Check local laws before purchasing. Mention of a product or service in advertisements or text does not necessarily mean that it has been tested or approved by the NRA.

All rights reserved except where expressly waived.

The editors are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

WARNING: All technical data in this publication, especially for handloading, re� ect the limited experience of individuals using speci� c tools, products, equipment and components under speci� c conditions and circumstances not necessarily reported in the article and over which the National Ri� e Association (NRA) has no control. The data has not otherwise been tested or veri� ed by the NRA. The NRA, its agents, of� cers and employees accept no responsibility for the results obtained by persons using such data and disclaim all liability for any consequential injuries or damages.

SPOR TS

MEMBERSHIP ACCT. INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000

MEMBER PROGRAMS:(800) 672-3888

6 SSUSA JULY 2014

SUGGESTION BOX: E-MAIL US AT SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA@NRAHQ.ORG

CONTENTS // FEATURES

8 Shooter’s NewsHighlights from the world of competitive shooting sports.

9 Bag CheckA mini-series by Barbara Baird, Women’s Outdoor News, on tips about what the Pros take to the � ring line in their range bag.

12 Score SheetsLocal matches from coast to coast.

34 A Page From HistoryReprints from American Ri� eman magazine on competitive shooting in the early years.

38 Coming EventsComing Events lists national matches and provides a download link to the monthly list of 15,000 local matches each year.

39 Member Info

CONTENTS // DEPARTMENTS

30Women of the U.S. Army Marksmanship UnitBarbara caught up with four former stars of the elite Army Marksmanship Unit to learn what they’re up to now.

By Barbara Baird

VOL. 27, NO. 7 JULY 2014

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28Distance Education for Future NRA Pistol StudentsTo improve content consistency and reduce liability due to improper training, NRA Basic Pistol classes are set to go online in 2015.By Sean Thornton

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8 SSUSA JULY 2014

SHOOTER’S NEWS

2014 December Cover Contest

The SAFS courses have been a staple at the National Matches since 1918, with the involvement of over 1,000 pistol and ri�e par-ticipants continuing each year. The school is conducted by mem-bers of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Whether you’re an experienced shooter or picking up a �rearm for the �rst time, enjoy a day of fellowship and fun in one of America’s oldest pastimes with the security and knowledge of some of the best marksmen in the country. Visit http://thecmp.org/NM/Pistol.htm. Registration information can be found at http://thecmp.org/NM.htm.

Pistol Small Arms Firing School in July

In May, Creedmoor Sports announced a new addition to their family—former Army Marksmanship Unit member and Nation-al Ri�e Champion Tyrel Cooper. From General Manager and National Ri�e Champion Dennis DeMille: “We weren’t really looking for someone, but when we heard Ty might be available, we couldn’t risk missing an opportunity to get him on board.” From Cooper: “I’ve known Dennis for a long time. I remember watching him win National Championships when I was 14. When I got his call, it was easy to accept his offer.” Read more about Cooper here.

Ty Cooper Joins Creedmoor Sports

A reminder to save your favor-ite photos for the second annual December cover contest. We had many excellent submissions last year and look forward to more of the same. In October we’ll call for submissions of your best, high resolution (300 dpi or greater) photos of youth shooting sports, famous shooting athlete or shooters on-the-line with eye and ear protection. Color photos are preferred and they must be vertically oriented to �t the cover format. Just tilt your camera on its side. We’ll consid-er all submissions and pick one for the December, 2014, cover of Shooting Sports USA maga-zine. Professionals and amateurs may participate as long as reproduction rights are given to NRA and no compensation is expected, other than recog-nition among your peers and 100,000 readers.

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McKenna Dahl knows exactly what she wants to do after she graduates from high school. This energetic 18-year-old

from Seattle moved to the Olympic Training Center in May to begin her training regimen for the 2016 Paralympic Games—a journey that began with a camp she attended six years ago.

McKenna has amyoplasia arthrogryposis, which is the lack of development and growth of muscles. At age 12, she attended a day camp at Camp Access, especially created for children with disabilities. She shot a .22 and liked it. A few months later, camp director Ernie Butler invited her to shoot at an NRA disabled sectional match. Soon afterward, the Paralympic Training Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs sent her an invitation.

“From there, I was hooked and I worked my way onto the Paralympic Shooting Develop-ment Team a few years later,” said McKenna. She shoots R4, R5 and falling target events when available. The Olympic hopeful carries two types of Samsonite luggage bags: Large for air travel and smaller for the range. “I love both of these bags because they are easy for me to control with their four wheels. I use the larger Samsonite bag because it is one of the only bags big enough to �t my tabletop shooting table. I use

What’s in Your Range Bag, McKenna Dahl? By Barbara Baird, www.womensoutdoornews.com

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 9

the smaller bag to carry my shooting equipment around the range, to and from the line. Every-thing except my gun and tabletop �t inside so I don’t have to make a ton of trips to and from the line. It is easy for me to handle and has survived numerous airlines,” reported McKenna.

What does she keep in her range bags?

• A massive jumble of wheelchair parts designed by a machinist in Lynnwood, WA

• My Sauer shooting jacket and Contact II trigger-hand glove

• Finale Match pellets and Champion’s Choice cleaning pellets

• Cabela’s toolbox with Anschütz gun oil, blinder, cylinder adapter, and Allen wrenches

• A binder with old competitor numbers, IPC ID card, classi�cation info and shooting journal

• Gun stand

“I am so thankful for the doors that shooting has opened for me. My parents have been my biggest fans and I would not be where I am today without them,” added McKenna. McKenna will be competing at the Suhl, Germany, World Championships in July. You may follow her at her Facebook page, “My Paralympic Dream.”

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SHOOTER’S NEWS

Partner’s Corner

This is a new section of Shooters News where we list companies who display the Shooting Sports USA logo and link on their website. In this section, we return the favor. To join the partners list, please contact us using the magazine’s e-mail address on page 8.

NRA Competitions: http://competitions.nra.org/shooting-sports-usa.aspx Berger Bullets: http://www.bergerbullets.com/links/Larry’s Guns: http://larrysguns.com/Ammoman: http://www.ammoman.com/2a-friendsBlack Hills Ammo: http://blackhillsammo.wordpress.com/tag/shooting-sports-usa/Pronematch: http://pronematch.com/category/other/Krieger Barrels: http://www.kriegerbarrels.com/Links-c1246-wp5857.htmSchneller Manufacturing: http://schnellermanufacturing.com/Lee Precision: http://leeprecision.net/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/651/0/industry-newsShoot VMR: http://www.shootvmr.com/Anschütz: http://jga.anschuetz-sport.com/index.php5?produktID=267&menu=99&sprache=1&produktShow=detailAmmoSeek: http://ammoseek.com/view.now/friends.html

10 SSUSA JULY 2014

12 SSUSA JULY 2014

SCORE SHEETS

Connecticut Indoor Pistol Championship

Metropolitan Shooters, Inc. Manchester, CT Feb. 8-9 Submitted by Frank Savino 175 competitors

The match was won by New Jersey shooter Dave Lange with a score of 888-39X. Resident State Champion Shane Murphy (Torrington, CT) was the high expert �ring an 876-40X. Special category awards went to Karen Pizzitola, high woman who posted a score of 858-38X. Steve Wheeler took high senior with an 858-23.

The grand senior award went to Robert Droesch with an 836-19X. Top class awards went to High Master, Steve Setian �ring 875-37, Donald Norris, Master, posting an 875-42X, 1st Expert was Shane Murphy �ring an 876-40X, John Monty, Sharpshooter, with an 848-22X and Marksman Peter Galenski who �red a score of 836-19X.

Texas State High Power Ri�e Long Range/F-Class Championship

Bayou Ri�es Range Juliff, TX Mar. 6-9 Submitted by Benjamin Brooks 80 competitors

This Championship includes 2-Man team matches on Friday, three 20-shot 1,000-yard matches on Saturday and two 20-shot 1,000 yard matches on Sunday. We had 24 Teams including 48 shooters for Friday’s team matches and 80 shooters for the 1,000-yard matches on Saturday and Sunday.

Weather on Friday was clear to partly cloudy, with mild temperatures in the low 60s. Saturday

had overcast skies with threatening rains that did not occur. Sunday morning was totally wet with a cold front. Skies were dark gray with light rain showers, and northerly winds picking up to 7-10 mph. The decision was made at 8:45 a.m. to call the tournament, considering the weather conditions and concerns for the safety of the shooters and the range.

In the PALMA Class, Team National Blue (Jon Rhynard and Stacey Tamaulinas) took �rst with an 870-39X. In the Any Ri�e Class, Team “P3BR” (Ken Porter and Gary Henry) won with an 884-43X, and Team IGNUNT (Keith Stephens and David Alden) took 2nd with an 861-27X.

In the F-OPEN Class, Team Last Round (Mark Walker and Matt Davis) took �rst with an 888-39X, Team Third Generation was second with an 884-44X and Team Two Johns (John Gaines and John Myers) took third with an 879-31X.

In the F-TR Class, Team RAX & SAX (Leatha Tampke and Allen Tampke) won with an 860-33X.

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 13

WinnerDavid FontaineWestbrook, CT

552

2ndKevin WintersEaston, MA

531

3rdRick Sten

Pembroke, MA530

1st MJamie DeloryRehoboth, MA

503

1st EXPaul LaLancetteAttleboro, MA

526

International Air Pistol Sectional ChampionshipNewport Ri� e ClubMiddletown, RIMar. 22Submitted by Richard Ashmore16 competitors

Texas State Small Bore Silhouette Ri� e Match Haltom City Ri� e and Pistol ClubHaltom City, TXApr. 12Submitted by Joe Attwood38 competitors

Competitors participated in two 60-shot matches with the standard ri� e match and hunter ri� e match. Shooters consisted of a diverse group of 8 women, 2 juniors, and 10 seniors who came from Monterrey (Mexico), Amarillo, Albuquerque, Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi, and points east, south, and west of Texas.

The standard ri� e match winner was Juan Villareal from Monterrey who shot a � ne 52. He was closely followed by Elisabeth Steiger with a 51 (match high woman shooter) and Bill Motl with a 50 (match high senior). Joseph Steiger won AAA with 49. Jack Shada won AA with 36. Jim Rocket won A with a 41 and Liz Rocket won B with 25.

We shot the hunter ri� e match after a barbeque brisket and jalapeño-cheese sausage lunch. Bill Motl tied Elisabeth Steiger with a 54 and then won the shoot-off to earn top honors. First place AAA was Jorge Garza with 46. Nicholas Steiger shot a 44 to cinch second place AAA and went home with top junior honors with a total score of 89. Jim Rocket placed � rst in AA class with a 39. Gerry Hernandez won A with a 25. And Clay Rocket won B class with a 22.

Match winner Elisabeth Steiger with Match Director Ernie Kuney

Black Powder Target Ri� e Mid Range ProneButte Ri� e ClubRocker, MTMay 11Submitted by Mark Grif� s8 competitors

Those of us in the � rst relay got to shoot in snow storms at 300 and 600 yards, sometimes waiting until we could see the targets. We did manage to � nish. All of us were wet and cold and Relay 2 decided not to shoot at 600 yards, so we didn’t have to pull pit duty. We have to thank them for sticking it out for ours, though. Congratulations to Wes Daems, he won the match—spotting for himself.

WinnerWes DaemsEnnis, MT

290-6X45-70

Pedersoli Sharps

14 SSUSA JULY 2014

Like a photo � nish at the Kentucky Derby or the � nal lap of the Indy 500, this year’s Bianchi Cup Champion was determined on the last shot, of the last event, on the last day of the three-day match. Since

1990, Doug Koenig has won the Bianchi Cup 15 times, but this year’s score of 1918-182X earned him second place (among 295 contestants, the larg-est attendance so far). While some may ask “What went wrong?”—let’s examine what went right.

New winners, more contestants and some no-shows made for an interesting Championship this year.

35th35thMidwayUSA35thMidwayUSA35th35th35thMidwayUSA35thMidwayUSA35th35thMidwayUSA35thMidwayUSA35th&35th&35thMidwayUSA&MidwayUSA35thMidwayUSA35th&35thMidwayUSA35th NRA BIANCHI CUP CHAMPIONSHIPSMidwayUSA

NRA BIANCHI CUP CHAMPIONSHIPSMidwayUSA

By Chip Lohman, Managing Editor

35thTop � nishers and presenters (l. to r.):High Jr. Louis Surgi, High Sr. Kim Beckwith, MidwayUSA Founder and CEO Larry Potter� eld, Colt Marketing VP Joyce Rubino, Ladies Champion Jessie Duff, Bianchi Champion Kevin Angstadt, MidwayUSA Founder and Co-Owner Brenda Potter� eld, Metallic Winner Kevin Worrell, Grand Senior Adam Lennert and Production Champion Rob Leatham.

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SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 15

New winners, more contestants and some no-shows made for an interesting Championship this year.

When Koenig � red his last 25-yard shot as the tombstone target made its 6-second pass from left to right, he knew immediately that it was outside the eight-inch 10-ring. Keep in mind that the pre-ceding 191 shots for the week were all bullseyes.

Those of us standing nearby could see his under-stated reaction, which was simply mouthing the word “ooh.” There was no exaggerated look to the sky, no grimace or drama. He calmly waited for his targets, con� rmed what he already knew, thanked

MidwayUSAMidwayUSAMidwayUSAMidwayUSAMidwayUSAMidwayUSAMidwayUSANRA BIANCHI CUP CHAMPIONSHIPSNRA BIANCHI CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

MidwayUSANRA BIANCHI CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

MidwayUSAMidwayUSANRA BIANCHI CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

MidwayUSANRA BIANCHI CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

MidwayUSANRA BIANCHI CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

MidwayUSA MidwayUSA

16 SSUSA JULY 2014

FEATURE // BIANCHI

the range of� cer holding the targets and exited the range. He rebounded to win the Open class Colt Speed event the next morning.

We don’t need a calculator to tabulate what Doug Koenig has done right. He was the � rst to shoot a perfect score at Bianchi in 1990; he’s won the Cup 15 times, all with perfect scores except in 2008, and he holds the Bianchi record of 1920-187X, � red in 2011. That’s 192 bullseyes, of which 187 were inside the four-inch X-ring. Did I mention his sixth World Action Pistol victory the week prior to this year’s Cup? Congratulations Doug for your dedication, for raising the bar and for your sportsmanship.

Having won 60+ State and Regional matches, this is Bianchi Cup Champion Kevin Angstadt’s 15th Cup and his � rst “clean”—the only one to do so at this year’s Championships. No newcomer to the sport, Angstadt has been on every USAAction Pistol Team since 2006. Angstadt shot an 1890-171X last year with a 450/480 on the mover. He apparently put in the hours on a practice mover since then, rewarding him with a mover score this year of 480-35X. Said Angstadt: “The dream for all action pistol shooters is to come here and shoot a 1920. I was just hoping to get second place, but to win the whole thing? That’s unreal.” The Pennsylvania native is sponsored by Midsouth Shooters, Safariland and Zero Bullets.

Amidst her television production schedule for NRA All Access and Taurus sponsorship duties, Ladies Champion Jessie Duff put aside a few practice weeks to � ne tune her shooting in prepa-ration for the Bianchi Cup’s unique demands. Responding to National Champion Julie Golob on “Gun Girl Radio,” Duff said: “Other events put your adrenaline to good use with running between targets and shooting fast. In Bianchi, you stand and shoot. There’s no running to help shake off the nerves. When I stepped up to the � rst target on the Practical this year, my hands were shaking. I really have to work at staying calm, especially on the Mover where all eyes are on you.”

NRA National Police Pistol Champion and Marine Corps Team Member Kevin Worrell took top honors in the Bianchi Metallic Division this year.

After 30+ years of professional shooting, Production Champion Rob Leatham is still busy winning and loving every minute of it. He recently became the second person to win all six USPSA divisions, the most recent one being the revolver division. Julie Golob was the � rst. As Leatham jokingly points out, “She did it with a revolver I loaned her. So, technically, both titles were won with Leatham guns.”

Leatham’s � rst Bianchi match was in 1982. He has stood on the winner’s podium at Bianchi so often

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Doug Koenig (l.), who placed second with a 1918-182X, congratulates Kevin Angstadt on his 1920-171X victory. Rounding out the top three was Nigel Gordon with a 1918-152X.

Taurus’ Jessie Duff took home her fourth Ladies Champion trophy after � ring an 1893-135X.

2014 Bianchi Champion Kevin Angstadt.

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 17

that NRA now orders the trophies with his name already engraved (just kidding). Watch for a feature article with Leatham later this year, after he shoots

Bullseye Pistol at Camp Perry this month. For those new to the Bianchi Cup course-of-�re, see our previous article here.

DAILY LEADER BOARDPractical Barricade Mover Plates Total

OPEN DIVISION

Kevin Angstadt 480-41X 480-47X 480-35X 480-65X 1920-171X

Doug Koenig 480-45X 480-47X 478-42X 480-48X 1918-182X

Nigel Gordon 480-32X 480-40X 478-32X 480-48X 1918-152X

METALLIC DIVISION

Kevin Worrell 478-24X 475-26X 474-29X 480-54X 1907-127X

Robert Vadasz 474-27X 473-30X 480-33X 470-47X 1897-134X

Andre Schroeder 474-28X 456-31X 459-26X 480-48X 1869-133X

PRODUCTION DIVISION

Rob Leatham 468-22X 480-33X 476-31X 460-46X 1884-132X

Vance Schmid 449-20X 471-34X 474-28X 470-47X 1864-129X

Dave Sevigny 429-18X 453-16X 463-24X 480-77X 1825-106X

LADIES CATEGORY

Jessie Duff 474-29X 480-41X 469-18X 470-47X 1893-135X

Tiffany Piper 472-28X 480-42X 469-25X 470-47X 1891-142X

Cherie Blake 465-31X 480-34X 459-23X 470-47X 1874-135X

For all the scores, visit: www.gvshoot.com/forums/index.php?/page/gvbianchicup.

Marine Corps “Gunny” Kevin Worrell won this year’s Metallic Division.

After 30+ years as a pro, Rob Leatham of Spring�eld Armory was the “Top Gun” in the Production Division.

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18 SSUSA JULY 2014

FEATURE // BIANCHI

THE SUPPORT TEAMImagine running a match with only contestants. Weekly club shoots are often run this way but, for an

International Championship like Bianchi, people expect the best—and the Green Valley Ri� e and Pistol Club delivers. Here are a few of the dedicated, friendly Bianchi professionals who “make it happen.” Some have been supporting the Cup for over 20 years. (See the next page for their names.)

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Event I: Practical

Event II: Barricade

Event IV: Falling Plates

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 19

Event I, and the � rst stage for the top-squadded Pros, is the Practical. From l. to r. on the previ-ous page are Daniel Cook, Hayden Green, Chief Range Of� cer Diane Berkowitz, Jonathan Toalson and Richard Johnson. For many competitors, the � rst words they hear at Bianchi are Diane’s “Welcome to the Practical!”

Next door is Event II—the Barricade, which boasts the fastest event at Bianchi: A draw from the holster and six shots � red in � ve seconds. Team Barricade includes (l. to r.) Chuck Dungan, Patricia Johnson, Sarah Toalson, Chief Range Of� cer Jessie Goff (13 years at Bianchi) and Tina Brooke. Veterans of Bianchi remember Jessie’s

warm welcome and her � rst question: “Does anyone have any questions about the course-of-� re?” A salute goes to Chuck for wearing the designated pink uniform shirt.

Event IV is the Falling Plates, where everyone knows your score: The plate either drops or it doesn’t. Team Plate’s roster includes (l. to r.) Braden McLane, Karen Heddesheiner (22 years at Bianchi), Chief Range Of� cer Bruce Cook, Philip Neff and Launa Burke. A member of Cook’s team tests the plates early each morning with a .22 cal. pistol to ensure they all drop correctly. Our apolo-gies to the three Mover Teams who were not included. We’ll get you next year.

NEW SHOOTERSOne of the hurdles for growing our sport is to

avoid the appearance of being an elite group. When new shooters come to a match to watch, they have overcome several challenges, includ-ing just � nding the range. We should all extend a friendly hand to make them feel welcome. Apparently, the Bianchi Cup has done just that because the “new shooter” category continues to grow. The number of unclassi� ed shooters this year reached 98—up from 79 last year. Do you recognize the two new (new to Bianchi anyway) “tyros” above? On the left is the reigning High Woman Record Holder in service ri� e—Julia Watson. To her left is six-time Woman’s National Bullseye Pistol Champion, Kimberly Hobart. Both competed this year and when asked, said, “We’ll be back!”

MISSING IN ACTIONAbsent this year were:

• Enoch SmithBorder Patrol’s Enoch Smith, last year’s Production Division Champion, was picked up by another agency and was attending their academy when the � rst shot went downrange at Bianchi this year.

• Carl BernoskyNational Ri� e Champion and last year’s second place Bianchi winner Carl Bernosky was recovering from a back injury. He hopes to be well enough to shoot at Camp Perry later this month.

• Randi RogersThird place overall in the Production Division last year, Smith & Wesson’s Randi Rogers had to bow out this year to � lm the next season of Ammo & Attitude in New Mexico.

So, with the 35th Bianchi Cup � led away in the record books, practice for next year begins today. Download the Coming Events listing from page 38 and sign up for an Action Pistol Match. There’s no time like the present!

Julia Watson and Kimbery Hobart

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90%BY CHIP LOHMAN, MANAGING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: DR. JUDY TANT AND DR. MIKE KEYES

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FEATURE // MENTAL TRAINING II

Here is the conclusion of last month’s review of how several recent areas of neurological study offer new perspectives on established training regimens. Please refer to Part 1 for endnotes and the biographies of Drs. Tant and Keyes.

SHOOTING IS

20 SSUSA JULY 2014

PRACTICEObservation:

What does practice accomplish? Am I building strength, or just a habit?

Research: Neuroscience has countered long-standing

views about the brain, revealing that it can change. The medical terms for this are plasticity and neurogenesis. In her book, Train Your MIND Change Your BRAIN, Sharon Begley reviews studies by neuroscientists that have replaced old myths about how our brain reacts to repetitious training. Where the scienti� c community used to believe that we were born with and maintained our neuro programming for life, recent research con� rms that the mind is much more adaptive than once believed. One of Begley’s examples recounts how Drs. Michael Merzenich and Jon Kaas “severed the medial nerve in a monkey’s hand, leaving the monkey unable to feel anything on the thumb side of the palm. Several months after the sur-gery, time enough for the monkey’s brain to realize it had not received any signals from the thumb for quite a while, the doctors re-examined the somatosensory cortex [the brain’s processor for sense of touch]. Up until now, the standard view was that one would discover a ‘black hole’ in the cortex where it used to receive input.“In fact, what the two doctors discovered was that the region of the brain that had originally received signals from the severed nerve, now responded to stimulation of other parts of the hand. Instead of receiving signals from the thumb area, this region of the brain now responded to signals from the pinkie side of the palm. While the study was initially dismissed as a

quirk, the surrounding controversy led to more experimentation that ultimately dis-charged the myth of the stagnant brain. “In fact, these studies showed that our brain’s physical layout, how much space is appor-tioned to certain tasks and how strongly one neuronal � ring is connected to another, is shaped by experiences and the life we live,” wrote Begley.

From Dr. Tant: “Research on humans has con� rmed and

extended such � ndings. Brain scans of concert violinists and taxi drivers show enlargement of brain areas important to the practice of their profession (left hand for violinists, and the hippo-campus—important for spacial memory, in taxi drivers.) [Siegel, p. 85]

“More directly applicable to shooting is research establishing that growth in the middle prefrontal lobe occurs in mindfulness practition-ers who are adept at paying attention to the pres-ent moment in a nonjudgmental and non-control-ling manner. Think of an ideal shooter, focused on the center of the bull [with a red-dot scope], observing but not forcing, accepting the random movement of the sights and noting the outcome of the shot with detachment. Now think of doing it yourself, over and over again, knowing that you are exercising and growing your brain with each repetition.”

Muscle Memory: Further research suggests that not only can

the “second room” (the cerebellum) of the brain store procedures, but the trained brain has a better idea of tripping the correct nerves and muscles, leading to memory within the muscle itself.

…an ideal shooter, focused on the center of the bull, observing but not forcing, accepting the random movement of the

sights and noting the outcome of the shot with detachment.

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 21

22 SSUSA JULY 2014

FEATURE // MENTAL TRAINING II

BRAIN SPEEDObservation:

If I don’t over-think things and just let my eye trigger the shot, I shoot better.

Research: Scientists believe that the newer frontal

lobe may not be able to keep up with “deep” brain signals that transmit at nearly 300 mph. This is explained when athletes talk about “letting go,” rather than over-thinking the shot. As Tim Conrad explained in his January, 2013, article on muzzle �ip, this conscious signal can take up to 0.3 seconds from recognizing the desired sight picture to moving the trigger �nger—too long to capture the opportunity for a perfect shot. However, if the signal is initiated spontaneously in the cerebellum where such pro-cedures are thought to be stored through repeti-tion, the reaction speed is much quicker. Signals are processed by the “deep brain” almost twice as fast as the problem-solving frontal lobes.

From Dr. Tant: “Instructions, however well-meaning, from

the conscious (left brain, frontal lobe) are a sure recipe for suboptimal shots (producing a donut pattern, for instance). Working with an electronic training system can illustrate this concretely. Often, I have found that the best possible score would have come about 0.3 seconds before the actual ‘shot’ was released. Diagnosis: I forced the shot and lowered my score.”

As an example of how patterns can be embedded into the “deep brain” without direct control from the frontal lobes, consider how very experienced amateur radio operators have learned to recognize the Morse code. While the highest level of licensing requires that amateur radio operators copy Morse code at 20 words per minute, very experienced “Hams” can copy signals at 100 words per minute, while reading a separate message out loud from a newspaper. With years of repetition, the deep brain for these radio operators has learned to translate

the sound of Morse code dots and dashes directly to the written symbol, while the conscious brain reads concurrently from the newspaper. From Lones Wigger’s interview, “It takes 3-4 years to learn how to shoot, and another 3-4 years to learn how to win—to deal with match pressure. It takes several more years to learn how to do it when it counts.”

FOCUSObservation:

When I’m in “the zone,” I shoot my best. But, it’s hard to get there on demand.

Research: This condition has been studied neurologically

in a number of studies showing how the brain works when an expert is viewing an action in their area of expertise or when they are work-ing at a high level. From David Rock’s Your Brain at Work: “A key part of maintaining good focus occurs based on how well we inhibit the wrong things from coming into focus.” There’s that concept again—inhibiting what comes naturally, like subduing the instinct to �inch. Brock contin-ues: “Using scanning technologies, neuroscien-tists have observed people inhibiting their natural responses, and discovered the brain networks that are activated when this happens. There is one speci�c region within the prefrontal cortex that keeps showing up as being central for all types of inhibition. It’s called the right and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex.” So it is with well-practiced shooters—this part of the brain that inhibits unwanted activity is stronger than in less-practiced athletes. While we might say these athletes really know how to focus, it may be more precise to say they have spent more time in the “brain gym,” strengthening the part of the mind that keeps out unwanted distractions.

...it may be more precise to say they have spent more time in the “brain gym,” strengthening the part of the mind that keeps out unwanted distractions.

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 23

From Dr. Tant: “This is different than telling yourself to stop

doing something, which perversely increases the emphasis on it. It is more a process which is a byproduct of focusing; the brain adjusts by reduc-ing � ring in nonessential or interfering areas.”

Finally, from Brock, a slightly different take on the concept of being in the zone: “Here’s a big takeaway from all this. Manage what you focus on. Pay attention to your attention, and stop yourself from getting on the wrong train of thought early, before it takes over. This is the opposite of being mindless: It’s being mindful.”

From Dr. Keyes: “As for focus, there is a large range of ability

to focus among people in general, and probably includes a genetic component. I did an accidental experiment with U.S. pistol shooters in which I asked them to work with a biofeedback machine. Originally I was going to teach them relaxation, but they all beat the machine right away. In fact they had races to see who could do it the fast-est. There was no need to teach relaxation—they all had that talent (none had ever been taught a technique), but none had a way to use it when they were at the world championships or the Olympics. They also had the ability to focus intensely, but again were not able to use that ability to their advantage. Focus can be learned, but most shooters are self-selected and have the talent to focus in the � rst place. The trick is to be able to use that ability in high stress situations which does require a lot of training and coaching. As for the SEAL study [see Part 1], it’s not sur-prising that they found that conclusion as these men were not only chosen in a vigorous selection environment, but are very highly trained to the point of brain change, the way classical musi-cians and a lot of other athletes are.

“In addition, classroom teachers and trainers often refer to a student’s attention span or inabil-ity to focus, when describing their ability to learn. An inexperienced person’s mind may wander during stress with thoughts such as “Will I win? Will my teammate do better than me? What will my parents or friends think? Will I be embar-rassed?” With experience and maturity, we begin to collate what is important and exclude that which is not. Put another way, we learn to focus.”

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF BELIEF

Yale Professor Steven Novella’s Your Deceptive Mind explains the many � aws in our mind’s emotions and its tendency to take the path of least resistance as a self-protective measure. “The default mode of human psychology is to arrive at beliefs for largely emotional reasons and then to employ our reason, more to justify those beliefs, rather than to arrive at those beliefs in the � rst place.” An example of this is when we rationalize or attribute our behavior to external causes. Without the use of critical thinking (the frontal lobes), it is easy to give in to deep-seated emotions to protect our self-esteem. “I lost because of ______,” rather than “I wasn’t prepared.”

Like practicing the fundamentals, the habit of critical thinking can become ingrained in the plas-tic mind. While we can’t change the evolved emo-tions rooted in our “lizard brain,” we can change how we respond to those emotions by “engaging the executive function of our frontal lobes.” As an example, rather than label pre-match nerves as a � aw that threatens our shooting performance, instead, view the excess adrenaline as our body’s attempt to prepare us for the match with better eyesight and re� exes.

...it may be more precise to say they have spent more time in the “brain gym,” strengthening the part of the mind that keeps out unwanted distractions.

24 SSUSA JULY 2014

FEATURE // MENTAL TRAINING II

Dr. Tant: “What you are

describing here relates to the whole area of rational, conscious reformulations of trou-blesome emotions and beliefs via self-talk, which is the province

of cognitive-behavioral therapy, often referred to as CBT in my � eld. It is great stuff, especially when it is kept purely positive. I describe it to my patients as being a sort of mental hygiene regi-men, to be used routinely to maintain a good attitude, just as they would brush their teeth daily or try to get enough sleep. Abundant research supports its usefulness for treating many psychological disorders and enhancing many types of performance.

“Opportunities for using it in competition come up all the time for me. Just yesterday, I shot a 2700 match at an indoor range where the temperature was stuck at around 86 degrees and I had come dressed for about 70 degrees, at most. Even as I knew I was in for a long ordeal, I told myself that everyone was in the same boat, reminded myself that I tolerate heat better than many due to my low metabolism and that, in any event, it was going to be good practice for the outdoor season. I didn’t shoot well, but I didn’t sink into the negativity and I enjoyed the match.

“The CBT/self-talk approach is easy to understand, well-researched and a great place to start for anyone because it is so accessible. Its hallmark quality is the suppressing of unwant-ed beliefs through the installation of counteract-ing beliefs or positive self statements. Studies in animals and humans have shown that the old (negative) learning remains encoded in our brains alongside the newer (positive) learning. The old learning may not be active,

but suppressing it is only temporary unless we periodically refresh the more positive, desirable thoughts and beliefs that we seek. (Yes, like brushing our teeth!)

“There is newer (2004 and later mostly) research however, that � ts beautifully into the neuroplasticity model that you described earlier. The research establishes that the brain has a way of completely, not just temporarily, revising what it knows, erasing memories without just sidelin-ing them or suppressing them. Termed “memory reconsolidation,” it is a process that rewires a memory or belief when three key steps occur: (1) Reactivation of the original learning (belief, negative self statement, etc.) in an emotionally real way, (2) Creating or encountering a mis-match with the belief or expectation while the original learning is activated (produces instability in the original learning), and (3) Within a period of about � ve hours, installing a new learning that contradicts, or at least alters somewhat, the problem thoughts. (This process is not what behavioral scientists call ‘extinction,’ which appears to be a form of suppression and not true elimination of memory. Memory reconsolida-tion has been demonstrated for various types of memory (e.g., procedural memory, declarative memory, classical fear conditioning) and applied in a whole range of psychotherapies, though rarely explicitly. According to Ecker, et al. (2012) in Unlocking the Emotional Brain, (p. 26): “As of this writing, this [three step process] is the only behavioral process known to neuroscience that achieves true eradication of an emotional learn-ing, and it does so through the only known form of neuroplasticity capable of unlocking the synapses maintaining an existing learning: memory reconsolidation.

“The relevance for our purposes here is that knowing about memory reconsolidation gives the shooter a powerful tool to transform negative

...knowing about memory reconsolidation gives the shooter a powerful tool to transform negative experiences and do it when they are at their most intense.

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 25

experiences and do it when they are at their most intense. While having a coach at these times would be a real asset, there is nothing to keep us from deliberately using these experi-ences as reminders to search for mismatching information or evidence to help us change and strengthen our mental game.

“As a personal example, I remember a 2700 match some years back in which I cross-� red early in the slow-� re portion of .22 and had to face the rest of the day, down a bunch of points. I recall feeling embarrassed and defeated, as if the match was over and a disaster already. Like a good cognitive therapist though, I reminded myself, almost mechanically, to hang in there anyway (positive self-talk of the suppress-ing sort) and hunkered down to “do my best” (more positive self-talk). At the end of the day, I had shot some of my best short lines [25-yards] ever with the .45, resulting in a half-decent aggregate score. It was an “aha!” moment for me. With the distress of the cross� ring (old, intense negative experience) still accessible but destabilized by the con� icting, contradictory reality of an OK aggregate score, a new know-ing settled in my gut (memory reconsolidation): “Never give up, ever!” I’ve cross� red since, not a pleasant experience certainly, but I don’t go back to that old defeated place. Something shifted for me that day and I believe the mismatch of my initial negative assessment with the tolerable outcome gave substance to the conviction that it’s never over until it’s done.”

SEEING IN SLOW MOTIONObservation:

With timed � re, standing in the wind, moving the trigger � nger and even fatigue from holding the � rearm, our training regimens eventually address shot timing in an effort to shrink target holes to a winning group size. As discussed in Begley’s book, extensive training can produce a direct, neurological circuit between procedures stored in the “deep brain” and the trigger � nger,

and may even educate the muscle itself in the proper technique.

Slow-motion cameras capture many more frames per second in order to reveal details not visible at normal speed. In slow motion, we are seeing a fraction of the original move-ment, extended over the same time interval. If only the human eye could slow down the shooter’s sight picture so we could split that last second into 10, or better yet, 100 frames, enabling us to select the precise sight picture “frame” prior to releasing the shot. As it turns out, we can.

Recall the phrase after a moment of crisis: “It was as if time stood still.” Law enforcement of� cers have described their actions under stress as seemingly “in slow motion.” During a slip on the ice that left the author hovering several feet above the asphalt, I felt I had a full minute to prepare for the fall, all due to the intense, momentary crisis and subsequent focus from the part of the brain dedicated to “� ght-or-� ight.”

Research: As we’ve learned, training can improve our

ability to exclude unnecessary thoughts. As Lanny Bassham explained, a proper attitude can re-cast the “� ght-or-� ight” reaction of our early reptilian brain into the positive component of hyper concentration. If we replace “frames per second” with “procedures per second” and elimi-nate most of the unnecessary data through better focus, then the same amount of time is devoted to fewer procedures. In effect, we are seeing in slow motion.

Many thanks to Dr. Judy Tant and Dr. Mike Keyes for their time and contributions to this series. While wide-ranging, hopefully these articles will help the reader with one or more new perspectives toward a better understanding of how our brain in� uences our shooting performance.

26 SSUSA JULY 2014

FEATURE // OPEN AIR MATCHES

NRA OPEN AIRGUNNRA OPEN AIRGUNNATIONALSNATIONALSNATIONALS

For the � rst time, airgun competitors could participate in the Nationals from one of 15 locations. Here, shooters on the line compete from Walhalla High School in South Carolina.

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By Damian Allen, National Airgun Manager

Local Precision Ri� e winners from Albany, OR, included (l. to r.) Andrew Dudley, Taylor Dueck, Shyanne Bennett and Casey Miller.

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 27

A new format with more locations and competitor categories helped boost participation, while online scoring made it seem like a shoulder-to-shoulder event.

This year’s Championships were held during March 29-30 and April 5-6 at 15 locations, thus retiring the long-standing tradition of hosting the matches at a central site. NRA also

implemented the Orion scanning/scoring system so that the scores from all 436 competitors were reported in near-real-time. Even the National Champion was declared within moments of � ring the � nal shot. Shooters from the East and West Coast, the Midwest and even Alaska and Hawaii were able to compete without traveling halfway across the globe. And, in order to make the compe-tition more accessible, this year’s Championships also began accepting a wider variety of competitors, including adults. Some veteran shooters dusted off their air ri� es from long ago, while others had kept their skills current and were among the � rst to register. In addition to presenting more opportunities for adult competitive shooting, the expanded format allows older shooters to pass on the marksmanship lessons they have learned throughout their lives. Though currently dwarfed by the number of junior competi-tors, adult airgun competition is expected to expand in the coming years.

One of the main goals of the Open Airgun Championships is to include as many competitors as possible. In addition to a category for adults, the 2014 Open Airgun Championships introduced a category for Adaptive Competi-tors. Programs such as those run by the Paralyzed Veterans of America use airguns to introduce adaptive shooters to competition. The Open

Airgun Nationals represent yet another opportunity for individuals with disabilities to compete.

This year’s Precision Ri� e Champions were Tim Sherry (Fairbanks, AK), Jack Anderson (Franklin, PA) and Michael Steinel (Lowell, OH). The top scores in Sporter Ri� e were delivered by cham-pions Justine Hamilton (Zion, IL), Kevin Hamilton (Zion, IL) and Carmen Paige (Ft. Benning, GA).

There is a great deal of airgun talent through-out the United States, with national awards sent to competitors in Alaska, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Washington. Every participant from each of the 15 different locations had a chance for a national award and, while many locations stand out as having excellent programs that pro-duce fantastic marksmen, no single region domi-

nated the competition.The new format for the

Championships allowed more shooters to compete than ever before, reaching all the corners of the United States. With more locations, one might have expect-ed many more problems and logistical concerns, but each location was able to post their scores online within the allotted time period. The chief lesson of the 2014 Championships was the value of local shooting clubs. The multi-location format bene� ted from the fact that there is a great deal of know-how at the clubs and schools that run airgun events each month. Taking advantage of the regional expertise has brought

more shooters to the Nationals this year, and prom-ises to allow increasing improvements in the years to come.

Becky Martin (Emerado, ND) took home a handful of medals that she won at Ayr, ND.

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28 SSUSA JULY 2014

FEATURE // BLENDED TRAINING

On Saturday, April 26, a little after 1:00 p.m., I was present at the NRA Annual Meetings as NRA Train-ing Department National Manager John Howard made a rather signi� -

cant announcement to nearly 800 NRA certi� ed trainers. True, there were a couple of other announcements made, such as online instructor recerti� cation will soon require a record of teach-ing activity (any � rearms teaching activity); an online refresher course to make sure that train-ers are on the same page as the certi� ed NRA curriculum; as well as exploring the creation of simulator-based training classes. But, that was not what caught the attention of most of those assembled. No, it was the announcement that

NRA would be moving the Basic Pistol Course to a “Blended Learning” format in the following year. This spurred many questions from the trainers in attendance, not the least of which was: “What’s Blended Learning?”

I spent a great deal of time after the announce-ment, along with John and Instructor Program Coordinator Mark Richardson, answering as many questions as we could. However, given the number of trainers and the time available, it was impossible to address them all. So, allow me to get into the weeds a bit and see if I can’t help illuminate some of the � ner points, as we know them today.

First things � rst: What is Blended Learning? Wikipedia describes it pretty well: “Blended

DISTANCEDISTANCEEDUCATION

BY SEAN THORNTON, NRA SENIOR TRAINING PROGRAM COORDINATOR

FOR FUTURE NRA PISTOL STUDENTS

The Times, They Are A-Changin’NRA Instructor Program Goes “Blended”

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 29

learning is a formal education program in which a student learns, at least in part, through online delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control over the time, place, path or pace. While still attending a ‘brick-and-mortar’ school structure, face-to-face classroom methods are combined with computer-mediated activities.” In essence, taking part of a curriculum and putting it online as a preliminary, standard introduction, before classroom discussion takes place.”

This then prompted the question, “Why don’t you have an example or �nished product that you could demonstrate and allow trainers to see how it works?” We wanted to get way out ahead of this initiative and inform our trainers (we have 116,000 at present) of what the future will look like for NRA training. We did not want to announce one day that: “As of next week, the switch is �ipped and you must now use this system.” Rather, we wanted to communicate well in advance that this is being developed so that the transition can be as seamless as possible.

Which brings me to the primary reason this initiative was started— increased standardiza-tion of class content, for the student’s bene�t. We have all heard stories of a trainer who has shirked their duty to the student and either omitted or changed NRA-certi�ed material or the process, for any number of rea-sons—all of which were inadequate. Our primary concern and responsibility is the student, and we must explore making use of the tools at our dis-posal to help ensure that they get the best training we can offer.

We want to make sure that the student is, with-out question, exposed to the material they are

supposed to receive during a class. In the case of online education, the student will be introduced to such things as basic safety knowledge; nomen-clature; ammunition; scoring a target; opportuni-ties for ongoing training and practice; and other similar objectives that will be moved to a uniform, web-based e-learning format.

Instructors will remain the most important part of implementing the blended training program. Instructors will be providing instruction during the second phase of Basic Pistol training, including teaching and veri�cation of practical range exer-cises, prior to validating the diploma. The range session will include loading and unloading the various action types, performing safe gun handling fundamentals, learning a position, etc.

Remember to advertise all your courses on www.nrainstructors.org.

There are some big upsides to this method: Increased standardiza-tion for the student, as I mentioned earlier; reduced liability for the trainer and the NRA; reduced need for class-room time and room rental; and the change from student materials, previously purchased by the instructor, to online documentation. If you’re already an NRA instruc-tor, you will receive additional information, as appropriate.

We made this announcement early to give instructors an opportunity to wrap

their minds around this new concept and to adjust accordingly. The NRA has been developing instructors for more than a hundred years. This partnership will continue to be the gold standard of �rearms training in America.

For more information, contact: nrainstructors@nrahq.org.

...standardizing the student’s knowledge and continuing to be the gold standard for

�rearms training in America.

30 SSUSA JULY 2014

FEATURE // WHERE ARE THEY NOW? BY BARBARA BAIRD

Whereas many might think of the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in terms of the world’s toughest men, it also trains steely-eyed women champions. From AMU public affairs of�cer Michael Molinaro: “In 1959, SFC Barbara Hale joined the unit and won the 1961 service ri�e championship. In 1965, LtCol Sallie Carroll became the �rst woman to join the service pistol team. And then we had the likes of

Olympian Margaret Murdoch [now a career nurse] and Sherri Gallagher [now with the Army Golden Knights skydivers], among others.” We asked four women AMU alumnae to tell us about their days with the unit and what’s on their to-do list.

Kimberly Kolb-Eakin shot service pistol and broke eight national records, four of which still stand. Today, she is an incurable entrepreneur. Having sold her gourmet wine business, she now sells machine guns with her husband and is assisting him with the launch of his new book, Showdown:The Truth Behind the Gun Control Crisis. She served in the Army from 1990 to 2011.

WOMENWOMENWOMENWOMENWOMENOF THE AMU

Where are they now?(l. to r.) Former AMU team members

Eakin, Dement, DeWitt and Golob posing with unloaded guns.

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32 SSUSA JULY 2014

FEATURE // WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Joetta Dement was a member of 19 different World Teams in Trap and Double Trap. She retired from the Army in 2014 and has been catching up on the things she said she’d do when she retired. Today, she is the Merchandising Manager for Jager Pro, a company of 10 retired Army soldiers who eradicate feral hogs. She served in the Army from 1994 to 2014.

Terri DeMitt competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Double Trap and earned Armed Force Female Athlete of the Year, among numerous other awards. She is now one of two Program Managers for the MidwayUSA Foundation that provide sustainment funding for youth shooting teams. She served in the Army from 1991 to 2011.

Julie Golob competed in Action Pistol and earned Army Female Athlete of the Year in 1999. She is now the Captain of the Smith & Wesson Shooting Team, record-setting national champion, [most recently placed second at the World Action Pistol Championships], author and frequent television guest star. She served in the Army from 1995 to 2003.

WHAT LESSONS DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THE AMU?Kimberly: “The quality of my training depended directly on how well I paid attention to daily routines and their effect on my shooting. With 5-6 hours of range time each day, I was forced to examine every little habit and �gure out if it worked for me or not. I also had the opportunity to shoot shoulder-to-shoulder with the nation’s top shooters.”

Joetta: ”Discipline, working together as a team, and not to ever let anyone tell you ‘you can’t do that.’ Always believe in yourself.”

Terri: “Success is a journey. All things being equal, attitude will determine outcome.”

Julie: “Leadership and the value of hard work. Regardless of the weather or how tired we were, we were there to shoot, to train and to win. That experience taught me about goal setting. A series of seminars by Lanny Bassham also taught me about mental management.”

WHAT’S ON YOUR “SHOOTING BUCKET LIST?”Kimberly: “Go back to Camp Perry and win the National Championships. And, Sandra Uptagrafft may coax me back into Air and Sports Pistol, yet.”

Joetta: “My focus has switched from me to our son. He loves to shoot and we have started taking him hunting.”

Terri: “In addition to working on a Master’s Degree in Sport Coaching, I’ve been asked to participate in Wobble Trap, which is a modi�ed version of International Trap. So, I’ll need to start training again.”

Julie: “After world travel with the Army and Smith & Wesson, I’d still like to shoot and/or hunt in all 50 states. And I’d like to get back to Camp Perry and achieve the Presidents Hundred; try my hand at cowboy action shooting; and maybe, one day, become competitive in Olympic Sport Pistol.”

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I Am the CMP.

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www.TheCMP.org 1-888-267-0796

“When Icompete in

air ri�e shooting at the CMP

Marksmanship Center, I’m

following in the footsteps of

Olympians,present and

past.”

“When Icompete in

air ri�e shooting at the CMP

Marksmanship Center, I’m

following in the footsteps of

Olympians,present and

past.”To learn more about

opportunities to participate in the

CMP’s �rearm safety and

marksmanshipprograms, call or

visit us on the Web today!

To learn more about opportunities to participate in the

CMP’s �rearm safety and

marksmanshipprograms, call or

visit us on the Web today!

A PAGE FROM HISTORY: AMERICAN RIFLEMAN, AUGUST 1955

34 SSUSA JULY 2014

A PAGE FROM HISTORY: AMERICAN RIFLEMAN, AUGUST 1955

36 SSUSA JULY 2014

38 SSUSA JULY 2014

COMING EVENTS

NATIONAL SMALLBORE RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIPSBRISTOL, INJul. 14-15 Metric 3-Position ChampionshipJul. 16-17 Conventional 3-Position ChampionshipJul. 19-23 Conventional Prone ChampionshipJul. 24-25 Metric Prone Championship

The Championship Program and registration are online. To request a written entry form and/or program: (A) Submit a written request via e-mail to hmoody@nrahq.org or to lwenzell@nrahq.org indicating your request or (B) Submit a written request indicating your request to NRA Competitive Shooting Division, Attn: National Smallbore Ri�e Championships (Mrs. Lois Wenzell), 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030.

2014 NATIONAL RIFLE & PISTOL CHAMPIONSHIPSCAMP PERRY, OHJul. 8-13 Pistol MatchesJul. 14-23 CMP High Power Ri�e and Games EventsJul. 24-29 NRA High Power Ri�e and Mid-Range ChampionshipJul. 30-Aug. 3 NRA Long Range High Power Ri�e ChampionshipAug. 5-10 NRA Fullbore Championship

Online Registration for the National Champion-ships is available at: www.nmentry.com (select the “2014 Camp Perry Online Entry” link). Entry forms and programs are available on the NRA Competi-tive Shooting web site or will be mailed to com-petitors. To request an entry form and program either: (A) Call (877) 672-6282 and press “1”;

Click here for the entire Coming Events list. Click this box to download the entire Coming Events list in a smaller �le size (without page turning).

TOURNAMENTS To be listed, NRA must sanction matches by the 15th of

the month, two months prior to the month of the magazine

issue. If you are interested in entering a tournament, contact

the individual listed. For any cancellations or changes to

this listing, please contact Shelly Kramer: (703) 267-1459;

mkramer@nrahq.org, NRA Competitive Shooting Division.

NRA SANCTIONED

MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000INTERNET ADDRESS: www.nra.org

MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888NRAstore.com (888) 607-6007

MEMBER PROGRAMSHertz Car Rental CDP# 166609

(800) 654-2200AVIS Car Rental AWD# A832100

(800) 225-7094NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs

(877) 672-3006NRA Endorsed Prescription Plan

(888) 436-3700NRA Endorsed Check Program

(888) 331-6767NRA VISA Card(866) NRA-VISA

NRA Real Estate/Relocation Services(800) 593-2526

NRA Endorsed Moving ProgramNorth American Van Lines (800) 524-5533

Allied Van Lines (800) 871-8864

INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTIONGrassroots/Legislative Hotline

(800) 392-8683

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT(877) NRA-GIVE

THE NRA FOUNDATION (800) 423-6894

GIFT PLANNING (800) 672-4521

EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM(800) 231-0752

FRIENDS OF NRA(703) 267-1342

WOMEN ON TARGET(800) 861-1166

REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM(800) 861-1166

INSTRUCTOR/COACH(703) 267-1500

COMPETITIVE SHOOTING(703) 267-1468

FIELD OPERATIONS/RANGES(877) 672-7264

GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS(703) 267-1601

NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS(800) NRA-CLUB

HUNTER SERVICES (703) 267-1500

LAW ENFORCEMENT(703) 267-2640

NATIONAL FIREARMS MUSEUM(703) 267-1600

EDUCATION & TRAINING(703) 267-1500

MEDIA RELATIONS (703) 267-1595

YOUTH PROGRAMS (703) 267-1505

PROGRAM MATERIALS CENTER (800) 336-7402

NRA MEMBER INFORMATION & BENEFITS

SHOOTINGSPORTSUSA.COM 39

(B) E-mail a request indicating your desired phase (pistol, smallbore or high power ri�e) to compadmin@nrahq.org; or (C) Mail a request indicating your desired phase to: NRA Com- petitive Shooting Division, Attn: National Matches Request, 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030.

2014 SPIRIT OF AMERICA FULLBORE PRONE CHAMPIONSHIPRATON, NMSEPTEMBER 5-12, 2014

For information please contact: John W. Gaines, 122 Hidden Haven Dr., Boerne, TX 78006; jrgaines@gvtc.com.

2014 F-CLASS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPSPHOENIX, AZOCTOBER 28-NOVEMBER 2, 2014

For information please contact: Middleton Tompkins, P.O. Box 11684, Prescott, AZ 86304; (928) 776-8576.

2014 NATIONAL SILHOUETTE CHAMPIONSHIPSRATON, NMJul. 9-12 Hunter’s PistolJul. 14-16 Smallbore Ri�eJul. 18-20 High Power Ri�eJul. 22-25 Cowboy Ri�e Jul. 29-30 Black Powder Cartridge Ri�e ScopeAug. 1-2 Black Powder Cartridge Ri�eSep. 13-20 Black Powder Target Ri�e

Program and entry cards have been available since April 1, 2014. Write now for yours and be sure to specify the Championship(s) you wish to attend. Write or call: NRA Silhouette Dept., 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030; (703) 267-1474 or silhouette@nrahq.org.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 10/22 ®, Ruger asked its fans to submit

a photo and description of their customized 10/22 ® rifl e. We narrowed down the entries to ten

fi nalists and the public voted for their favorite design. The contest winning rifl e, available in 2014, takes the

legendary action and renowned, reliable rotary magazine of the 10/22 ® and combines them with several features of

other popular Ruger ® rifl es. The result is a fun, versatile rifl e that fi rearms enthusiasts of all ages are sure to enjoy.

©2014 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. 050614RUGER.COM/10/22

Patented, Detachable 10-Round Rotary Magazine

Scout Rifl e-Style Accurate Sighting System

Ergonomical, Lightweight Black Composite Stockwith Modern Forend Contouring and Grip Serrations

Scout Rifl e-Style Picatinny Rail

Flash Suppressor * and Protected Front Sight

Includes

Interchangeable

Stock Modules

that Provide

Comb Height

Options for

Scope or Iron

Sight Use

* Some rifl es may not be available in all states and locales due to laws limiting magazine capacity or other feature-based restrictions.Please check with your local law enforcement agency prior to purchasing to verify that it may legally be purchased and/or possessed in your particular state and locale.

2014 ONLYPatented, Detachable

10-Round Rotary Magazine