OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – September 19, 2023 – Blackhawk®, a leader in law enforcement and military equipment for over 20 years, congratulates tactical athletes Zach Rodman and Ehea Schuerch for their third-place team finish at the Tactical Games West Virginia Regional Team event. Rodman and Schuerch teamed up for the first time at the West Virginia match and were able to reach the podium after a dramatic second day finish.

Throughout the competition, Rodman and Schuerch ran a full suite of Blackhawk gear, including the T-Series® L3D holster with Jacket Slot Leg Strap Adapter plus the Foundation Series Tac Nylon plate carrier and belt. 

“The Foundation Series continues to execute in every difficult environment we compete in, and the West Virginia event was no less demanding,” said Rodman. “Another great item that can be added to any T-Series holster is the jacket slot leg strap adapter. Using it during the match made the holster feel almost non-existent during the ruck event that took us through the mountainous parts of the range. It’s a great piece that any T-Series owner should pick up.”

The West Virginia Tactical Games was the first match in which Rodman and Schuerch joined forces, and both competitors walked away from the event with a new level of respect for their teammate.

“Some things were out of our control and didn’t go as expected, but we fought hard and came back on day two to get the job done,” Schuerch said. “I had an absolute blast getting to partner with Zach for this competition. He’s a powerhouse of an athlete, a solid shooter, and he has a big heart and a passion for this sport and community. He made this weekend the highlight of my TTG season.”

Rodman expressed equal admiration for his partner.

“Ehea was a great teammate in West Virginia. Besides the fact that she is extremely strong, and her metabolic conditioning is world-class, she’s a great shooter and is always encouraging,” Rodman said. “These competitions are a roller coaster throughout the two days you are performing, so staying positive and having a level head is invaluable. I was thankful to have a partner that did both and so much more.”

To learn more about these Blackhawk sponsored athletes, The Tactical Games, or to see the full line-up of holsters and tactical gear that was used, head over to Blackhawk.com.

This invite-only, championship for the best-of-the-best scorers of the most prestigious sniper competitions worldwide was held in Refugio, Texas, Sept. 8 – 10, 2023.

(L to R) Sean Murphy of Nightforce Optics, Greg Hamilton of PROOF Research, winners of the Real World Sniper Championship.

Columbia Falls, Mont. (September 2023) – PROOF Research®’s Weapons Test Specialist Greg Hamilton and Sean Murphy of Nightforce Optics take home a repeat win in the Real World Sniper Championship, held at Bridle Iron South outside of Refugio, Texas, Sept. 8 – 10, 2023.

The championship is a culmination of the best-in-class sniper shooters from Real World Challenges, the International Sniper Competition, the Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship, and the USASOC Sniper Competition. Only the top performers are invited to this elite competition that includes blind stages held both night and day, with a variety of tasks and challenges for the teams.

“The Real World Sniper Championship included multiple curve balls thrown in throughout the stages,” Murphy explained. “Some of the challenges included a trauma casualty simulation, mid-stage changes to the info, and other seeds of chaos thrown in by the match director.”

Murphy participated as the primary shooter using his Accuracy International AT-X precision rifle with a PROOF Research carbon pre-fit barrel in 6.5 Creedmoor. PROOF Research’s Hamilton shot as the secondary using his 6.5 Creedmoor gas gun with a PROOF Research 20” stainless steel AR-10 barrel. In addition to the carbine for the bolt-gun shooters, Murphy used his .223 carbine with a PROOF Research 11.5” carbon barrel.

PROOF Research is a well-known brand within the precision rifle community and is one of the leading barrel brands used by champion competitors in the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) and National Rifle League (NRL). Developed to enhance mission success for our warfighters, PROOF Research’s carbon fiber barrels are designed for long-range accuracy, performance, and reliability under any environmental condition.

Find out more about PROOF Research barrels and rifles at proofresearch.com.

The Horus Heatstroke Open, a much-anticipated event in the Australian PRS calendar, took place this August, drawing 26 elite shooters to Darwin. As the summer heat intensified, competitors from across the country, predominantly from WA and SA, gathered to showcase their skills in this challenging Championship of Fire (COF).

This year’s event was marked by its unique night stages, a first for PRS Australia. These stages, including the spinner, pushed competitors to their limits with minimal lighting on the firing line and demanding low light conditions downrange. It was here that the Trace Adv 4-24×50 FFP with illuminated RMG reticle gave Team ZeroTech a distinct advantage, setting them apart from the competition.

By the end of Day 1, Team ZeroTech had already made a strong impression. Adam Piromanski secured the 6th position, while Mitch Hogan was hot on his heels in 7th place. Their performance was marked by confidence, precision, and a series of high-scoring stages.

Day 2 was no less intense. While Team ZT maintained their momentum, Hogan emphasized the importance of consistency in such competitions. “They’re marathons, not sprints,” he noted, highlighting the pitfalls of sequence errors and low-scoring stages that can quickly change a shooter’s rank.

Despite the challenges, Hogan emerged victorious, clinching the 7th position overall and being honored with the Marksman award. The competition was fierce, with a mere 4 points separating the 4th to 7th positions. Teammate Piromanski also showcased his prowess, finishing 14th overall.

Hogan expressed his gratitude to ZeroTech Precision Optics, Warne Scope Mounts, and TSA Outdoors for their unwavering support throughout the 2023 PRS Season. As the season nears its conclusion, all eyes are now on the ACT, eagerly awaiting to see who will make it to the top 40 and earn an invitation to the grand 2023 PRS Australia Finale at Hilltop in NSW this coming October.

“ZeroTech Precision Optics are immensely proud of our team shooters and their outstanding performances throughout the Precision Rifle Series. Their dedication, skill, and resilience in the face of intense competition are a testament to the calibre of talent we are fortunate to have representing our brand. Mitch Hogan’s triumph, alongside Adam Piromanski’s commendable finish, underscores the synergy between top-tier talent and cutting-edge optics technology.”

Ben Clarke – Global Marketing Manager, ZeroTech Optics

www.zerotechoptics.com

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – August 16, 2023 – RCBS®, the leading manufacturer of ammunition reloading equipment for rifles and pistols, congratulates RCBS pro shooters and the entire RCBS team for another successful “RCBS Rumble” — one of the most popular and fastest-selling Precision Rifle Series matches of the season.

A major high point for the RCBS brand as it celebrates its 80th anniversary, this year’s RCBS Rumble was held August 11-12 near Pleasant Hill, Missouri. With additional support from partners including Bushnell®, Hoppe’s®, Hodgdon®, GA Precision and Manner’s Composite Stocks, the Rumble drew 92 elite PRS shooters from across the country and sold out of registration spots in under an hour.

“This year’s RCBS Rumble was by all accounts a tremendous success,” said Laurie Kokoruda, senior product manager and match director. “We knew from the beginning that we wanted to make the course of fire even more challenging than the previous year, so we added more movement and new obstacles for competitors to face. Of course, the weather itself added its own degree of difficulty. Despite the new challenges, we heard nothing but positive feedback from shooters throughout the match.”

The match had a go-big-or-go-home feel, presenting plenty of fresh challenges for competitors to navigate. Hot and humid weather on day one gave way to hard rains and fierce winds that partly obscured targets on day two. Over the course of two days, shooters worked their way through 18 unique stages, including a new shooting tower. In addition to the main competition, the match included side stages sponsored by Manners Composite Stocks and Bushnell.

Team RCBS and Elite Tactical shooter Robert Brantley took Top Tactical at the match, taking home one of the coveted RCBS custom press trophies. The win is Brantley’s third in a row as he continues to lead the points race for becoming the Top Tactical shooter of the 2023 PRS Season. Meanwhile, RCBS and Elite Tactical teammate Melissa Gilliland took Top Lady. First through third place winners won gold, silver and bronze Summit presses. Fourth and fifth place finishers were awarded a custom copper RCBS Rebel press.

“We greatly appreciate all the efforts that went into this match, from the volunteers to the range officers and sponsors,” said Kokoruda. “This is definitely an event that showcases the power of the RCBS brand, and we can’t wait to be back again next year.”

RCBS would like to congratulate all the shooters who participated in this year’s event as well as extend its thanks to the many sponsors and volunteers who helped make the match a success.

2023 RCBS Rumble Winners

1st Place – Brandon Hembree

2nd Place – Chris Opfer

3rd Place – Jeremy Von Glahn

Top Tactical – Robert Brantley

Top Production – Doug Koenig

Top Gas Gun – Scott Shreve

Top Sr. – Dale Rhoads

Top Mil/LE – Jarrod Berry

Topy Lady – Melissa Gilliland

Top Junior – Garrett Stephens

Top Amateur – Morgan Kenner

Top Marksman – Brent Harlan

To learn more about RCBS or to see the full lineup of RCBS products, check out RCBS.com. 

COLO SPRGS, CO – It’s said that all roads lead to Rome, but for Team USA, the destination is Paris, the host city of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Athletes all over the country are working tirelessly day in and day out to hone their strength and skills with their sights on one goal: the opportunity to represent their country on an Olympic team. With opening ceremonies taking place July 26, 2024, we are now one year out from the world’s preeminent contest of sport.

American competitive shooting has a rich and proud history, boasting legends like Olympic Hall of Fame inductee Lones Wigger, women’s trailblazer Margaret Murdoch, and icons Gary Anderson and Lanny Bassham. The USA claims the most Olympic medals of any country in shooting at 116, almost twice the count of the second-place country, China. Bolstered by a culture that values the safe, sporting use of firearms, today’s Olympic heroes and hopefuls follow in the footsteps of history’s giants to make history of their own. Each is pursuing a dream many years in the making, with a unique story that led them to the Path to Paris.

Dubbed “The King of Skeet,” three-time gold medalist and Paris Olympic hopeful Vincent Hancock found his competitive drive-in baseball as a child, but by age 11, thanks to shooting with his father, skeet shooting had captured his full attention. By age 14, he had won his first Junior National Championship, and at 16 he had captured a World Championship title. In 2006, at age 17, he joined the United States Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) to further his training. Only two years later, he stepped atop the highest podium in the world to be awarded the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the youngest winner ever in that event. His Olympic path continued in 2012 as he won another gold in London, the first shotgun athlete to win consecutive Olympic gold medals. Hancock again dominated at the 2020 Tokyo Games to win an unprecedented third gold medal in skeet. 

“I’m not a superstitious person, so I’m not much on good luck charms or rituals,” says Hancock. “What I do believe in is consistency. With that in mind, I do like to compete in the same clothing and shoes that I practice in, so I have multiples of everything!”

Now on the Path to Paris, looking to qualify for the 2024 Olympics, Hancock is also intent on giving back to the sport by coaching and mentoring other athletes. “I would say to my younger self to always remember to have fun,” said Hancock. “Remember why you started shooting.” 

Rifle Olympic hopeful Sagen Maddalena also had important early influences leading her to shooting sports: her father and grandfather. Starting out in a 4-H shooting sports program, she later joined the award-winning California Grizzlies junior high-power rifle team, where she was motivated to beat the boys. Maddalena went on to shoot for the University of Alaska Fairbanks rifle team and earned eight All-American titles. Like Hancock, Maddalena also joined the USAMU, going on to earn multiple national titles, set national records, and earn a spot on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team, finishing 5th in Women’s 50m Rifle 3-Positions. Later that year, she won the prestigious invitation-only International Shooting Sports Federation President’s Cup in the same event, then secured the silver medal and a USA quota spot for the Paris Olympic Games at the 2022 World Championships in a nail-biter final. She hopes to be the one filling that quota on her Path to Paris.

Among her many memories of competing overseas, tobogganing in Austria remains a favorite. She targets bass at the end of a fishing rod while off the range. “Be a sponge,” she would tell her younger self. “Listen and watch your mentors and coaches. Watch and learn from your competitors.”

A 4-H club and a father’s influence also gave pistol Olympic hopeful Katelyn Abeln her start in shooting sports, though it wasn’t until she shot air pistol at a makeshift target in a CrossFit gym that she fell in love with the sport. She competed at her first National Junior Olympic Championships at the age of 12 and hasn’t looked back. Rising in the junior ranks, Abeln joined the Ohio State University pistol team and has since become an accomplished open competitor, winning a gold medal at the 2022 Championship of the Americas in Women’s 25m Sport Pistol and securing a quota spot for the 2024 Paris Games for USA. 

While shooting is serious business for Abeln, she emphasizes the importance of fun, from upbeat music prior to a competition to making memories with other competitors. At her first international competition in the Czech Republic, she recalls, “We played cards in the hallway of the hotel, explored the city, and ate new food. It doesn’t seem like much when you are in the moment, but looking back, [the memories] seem more special than ever.” Crowned this year’s National Champion in 25m Sport Pistol, Abeln has the Path to Paris clearly in her sights.

These and numerous other hopefuls train with determination as they dream of representing the USA on the world stage next year, building upon an impressive history of American competitive shooting athletes. While only a select few will be named to the team, every athlete’s sacrifice and drive for excellence in the shooting sports makes us proud.

Opening Ceremonies for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place July 26, 2024. Watch for Paralympic athlete features as we approach one year out from the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremonies, to be held August 28, 2024.

Support your Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls on the Path to Paris and beyond by donating to USA Shooting at usashooting.org/get-involved/donate or by becoming a member at members.usashooting.org/memberregistration.

By Reya Kempley, USAS Strategic Communications Coordinator