The first annual Inaugural Handgunner was held this last weekend at the Ben Avery range, hosted by the Deer Tribe Rod and Gun Club.  The match consisted of 5 of the original handgunner stages; sudden death, color blind, pesky poppers, dominos and tombstones.  There were 4 squads; 3 limited and one open.  We started shooting at 8 am and were finished with the match, shoot offs and prizes by 3.

The match was amazing, Bob and Gunny did a lot of work with the help of many other club members to get this match going.  They were able to lock in a couple major sponsors for this match, and plan on getting many more for next year.

Many thanks go to the Deer Tribe Rod and Gun Club members, Smith and Wesson, SGC USA, Hi-Viz, Sierra Bullets, as well as many other sponsors!!

Mark took top overall Limited, and overall limited in the shoot offs.  I had to make a major come back in the shoot offs to take 3rd overall open.  For some odd reason I kept drawing Angus Hobdell and Nick S. for my contingents at each stage…..so I didn’t get as many points as I would have liked.  However, we had a great time and are looking forward to next year.  hoping to help get some more sponsorships and get more women and some juniors out there to shoot!!!

A big shout out goes to Paul Miller for all that he did to keep this match alive.  Thank you!!!

Well I can say I finally did it.  I have my first Nationals win under my belt!!  I’ll have some pictures to post soon!

Multigun Nationals took place in Boulder City, NV, October 22-25, hosted by the Desert Lakes Range.  There were 12 stages, 2 being long-range rifle stages, (ranging from 125-450 yard), stage 1 included pistol as well.  I mention those stages first because they were my favorite.  These two stages alone brought up my confidence in my multigun shooting ability. 

The remainder of the stages consisted of a pistol/shotgun stage, 2 all pistol stages, a rifle/shotgun stage, 2 stages with all 3 guns, a rifle/shotgun stage and a couple other variations.

Our squad of shooters were amazing!  There were a range of shooting abilities within our squad, as well as a variety of personalities.  The diversity made the three days of shooting a blast!  The RO’s were very helpful and friendly throughout the entire match.

The FNH crew decided it was more cost-effective to rent a house for the 4 days that we were there.  We had a blast, cooking breakfast, ordering pizza, and just hanging out without all the fuss of the casinos.  Don’t get me wrong, we hit the casinos at least 2 of the nights….only because we wanted to!

Thanks to everyone who made my first national win a great one!  My husband and family for supporting me along the way.  My sponsors for being there and taking a chance on me, thanks for allowing me to enjoy the ride!!!  The RO’s, match staff, families, sponsor, shooters and ranges for making our matches possible.  Kudos to all!!!

Big Congrats to Ms. Maggie for her first Nationals title as well – Top Open Female!!!

Ahhh a week in Vegas, most people would think of this as fun and expensive.  Well…It was!! 

We shot the USPSA Back to Back Handgun Nationals for the first time this year.  The match was located at the Desert Sportsman Range in Las Vegas, NV over the dates of September 19-27.  It was 4 day of Open/production Nationals and 3 days of Limited/Limited 10 Nationals.  We shot both Nationals on the ladies super squad and had a blast with every one of them (including our 2 guys, Billy and Mark). 

The match was 16 stages that were slightly altered the day in between both matches.  Each stage was completely different from the next, all posing different obstacles to challenge your skills.  I believe there were only 2 stages that you faced the targets and drew from your holster. 

While getting ready for the match we had to make a few last-minute alterations and gun decision.  I had to borrow an open gun from my FNH USA sponsor Tommy Thacker.  His STI 38 super-hybrid-comp pistol was set up very nicely, and obviously well used.  It took me a couple days to get used the long trigger and a c-more sight again, but by the last day I knew where I needed to be.

For the Limited Nationals I used the new FNH USA/STI prototype limited gun.  This pistol is a 40 calibers, standard frame and slide.   Nothing to fancy about the gun, but it is set up in a way that can be used for those with practical and tactical needs. 

I did not shoot up to my par, which was disappointing but partially expected with the minimum amount of practice I was able to do.  It was awesome being back out on the range shooting with all the handgun shooters I hadn’t seen in quite a while.  It has been great spending the last couple of years at home with my kiddos (which is my main job), but even better being accepted back out on the range!

Jessie Abbate won High Production and limited Lady, she was in our squad both times and was amazing to watch shoot.  I was never able to watch Megan shoot, who won high Open Lady, but I hear she is incredible as well.  Top Limited 10 lady was won by Randi Rogers, who rocked quite a few of her stages to take a hold of her win!

Thanks to all the range staff, match staff, RO’s, sponsors and shooters for making this a memorable match!

 

DPMS Tri-Gun Challenge was held August 20-23, in ST. Cloud, MN.  The match was held the Del-Tone/Luth Gun Club.  The match consisted of 10 stages overall; 1 3 gun stage, 4 shotgun, 2 pistol, 1 rifle shotgun, and 2 rifle pistol.  The match was suppose to run over 3 days, however, some of us players were pushing and got through within the first 2 days. 

Stage 1, all shotgun, upstairs

The DPMS staff were awesome in facilitating our needs and taking care of all the stats and RO’s.  The match was very exciting and challenging. 

Challenging how you say….well, have you ever had to shoot while sitting in an outhouse?  Or better yet, while laying in a front bucket of a construction truck?  Probably not, but that is what these individuals thought up for the match.  Better yet, how many times do you actually get to go shoot up a house with a shotgun, including running upstairs (see picture above)?  Probably not very often.  So as I said, the match was exciting and challenging.

I would like to thank all the RO’s that work every single match there is.  Without you, things wouldn’t get done consistently with every shooter! 

Thanks to the match staff for taking time out of your own busy schedules to make these matches go smoothly! 

Team FNH USA @ DPMS Tri-Gun

Team Leupold @ DPMS Tri-Gun

Finally, to all the sponsors for donating time, money and prizes for all of us die hards!  Last but not least, to my sponsors for taking a chance and enjoying every minute of it!!

Team Leupold @ DPMS Tri-Gun

August 14-16 we were at the Steel Challenge held in Piru, Ca.  From what I heard, the Steel Challenge win is one of the most sought after around.  Now this could be rumor, but since I’ve seen the picture of Jessie Abbate kissing her prized cup, I’d have to say it is fact. 

The match consists of 8 stages.  Most of which I had seen before…..10 years ago.  So since we didn’t have time to practice (besides Tuesday night steel at Rio Salado), I didn’t do to well.  I did, however, have a great time. 

So, our goal for next year….PRACTICE!!!

Congrats Jessie for your Open and Limited Lady win and Julie for your Production Lady win (and 2nd overall), and Max Michel for your Open Overall win.  See everyone soon!

The Rocky Mountain 3 Gun match ran by Range Masters Denise and JJ Johnson, hosted by the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM; was one of the most skill challenging matches I have ever shot.  The match was held on the NRA Whittington Center Range of over 33,000 acres of beautiful land (not to mention all the wildlife and view for miles!)  The NRA Whittington Center was founded in 1973, and hosts many competitive, educational and recreational activities in all shooting disciplines.

Just some of the wildlife we saw

To start out our weekend we drove up an enormous range.  Upon driving into the driveway to your left and right were some of our state flags.  The amazing NRA Whittington Center building was next to follow, with a friendly person to wave you through at the check point.  Driving down the road you had a view for miles, with antelope and deer playing in the fields.  And then there it was the sign that said, “Stage 1 & 2 à”.  That was not the last sign showing us where to go.  The stages were what seemed to be a mile or so apart, so you drove to every stage.  Then there was the trek into the bay where your stage was.  Now that could be a simple little walk to the stage, like stage 8.  Or this could take you a couple minutes to walk down a wash, up the hill and through some trees, like stage 3.  Either way, you were able to enjoy the scenery, while getting a workout at 6700 feet elevation.

Shooting Shotgun on Stage 2

The stages varied from simple stages like…..well…. maybe stage, no….  Ok, you catch my drift.  Stage one was an all rifle stage that you started out with 6 steel targets (ranging from 250-400ish yards), prone from a “roof top”.  From this position you could take the 600 yard bonus target (that few hit).  Then you ran off to shoot some paper; jump into a man hole, shoot more paper (mini papers I might add) and then finish prone on rocks at the end of the stage.  But that was only one of the 8 incredible stages at this match.  One of which was a surprise stage. 

Shooting the 400 yard target on stage 8

Needless to say, for our first time shooting this match we didn’t know what to expect.  Team FNH USA is hooked and plans on shooting this match from here on.  We had a wonderful time.  The staff was awesome, the stages were challenging and the range is absolutely beautiful!

Before finishing this post I wanted to add that Robby Johnson, from the Army Shooting Team, did an amazing presentation for one of our wounded warriors who shot the match.  Upon Robby taking his plaque for 1st overall Tactical Irons, he gave his personal decked out Benelli shotgun to warrior James Gill.  I do not know the entire story about Mr. Gill, but he is a very pleasant man, and a great shooter (taking 83/217 overall shooters, 64/148 Tactical Scope Shooters)!

A huge thank you to all the sponsors for dedicating their time, donating their products and shooting the match!  Congratulations to all the winners of their classes and division.  We hope to see you at another match soon!

 

Skeet Shooting Day 1

Well the match is a wrap.  After two days we were tired, but excited.  This was a new match for the entire FNH team; Mark Hanish, Ken Pfau, Ken Flood, Tommy Thacker and myself; however we managed to take second place Pro Division (or Open class).  Congratulations to DPMS for their overall Pro Division win.

 With pride and honor, I was awarded the first Pro Division Ladies award.  I would like to congratulate Sarah Morton, of NSSF, for taking the first ever top lady for the industry division.  The Industry Masters had never announced the ladies category before. However, this year they decided to recognize  the ladies category since more and more women were shooting the match. 

The match is all about raising money for the First Shots program, ran by NSSF.  This program helps to reach out to the individuals who have never shot or held a gun.  The awareness from this program is growing as it opens the eyes of more people, changing one persons perception at a time.

The match consisted of trap and skeet shooting, 2 pistol stages, and 2 rifle stages.  The 9mm pistol stages were a “run and gun” stage, with 6 steel silhouette targets and a stop plate.  The other pistol stage was a 6 steel plate rack.  The rifle stages were 5 flasher targets at ~100 yards with a .223 rifle, and 2 plate racks with 10 pieces of steel total with a .22 rifle. 

The match was a lot of fun, I would recommend it to anyone in the industry who is looking for something different to do.  There were 200 shooters this year, which is far more than they have ever had before.  Next year the match is in Nebraska, and I would challenge any manufacture to come up with at least one team and try it out for yourself!

I would like to thank all the sponsors who donated prizes for the raffle to help raise money for the First Shots.  The raffle appeared to be a success, and a lot of good prizes were won by many.  Thanks to the Hartford Gun Club for being so hospitable in allowing us to take over their range for a couple days for this event.  Another thank you goes to FMG Publications, for putting this together and making sure the manufacturers receive the publicity they deserve for this match.  A special thanks to Ken Pfau and FNH manufacturing for making it possible for Mark and I to attend this match and giving us the privilege of representing them!

Even though we are extremely busy getting the house ready for my mom to move in, not to mention leaving Thursday to go to the Industry Masters; I am making time to get my website up! 

So whats new.  Thanks to Matt Burkett and Julie Goloski, I will/should have my website functioning and easy on the eyes by the end of today.  Thanks guys for all your help!!!  Keep posted for new adventures and shooting information.

Daniel shooting his first match in Oregon

Later, Tasha

Lexi watching a match in Oregon