Competitors’ Corner: August 2023

Highlights from the August 2023 issue of Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competitive shooting journal.

by
posted on August 2, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Aug2023 CC 1
Pictured above on the cover is three-time Olympic skeet gold medalist Vincent Hancock this past May at the USA Shooting Nationals in Hillsdale, Mich., where he won a gold medal and posted the overall high score.
USA Shooting

The August cover features three-time Olympic skeet gold medalist Vincent Hancock who, by all measures, is the reigning “King of International Skeet.” As you read this, our friends at USA Shooting are knee-deep in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which kick off in less than a year. Hancock, along with many other Olympic shooting hopefuls, are currently sharpening their skills on the international competition circuit as USA Shooting gears up for the Path to Paris 2024. Currently, the United States holds the most golds, as well as the highest number of Olympic shooting medals overall. This past April in Indianapolis at the NRA Annual Meeting, I had the opportunity to sit down with USA Shooting’s Chairman of the Board, Jim Mitchell, new Chief Executive Officer, Craig Kozeniesky and Senior Director of Development, Tracy Barnes, who were kind enough to share details about Team USA’s Path to Paris 2024.

You don’t want to miss Product Focus, where Field Editor Art Merrill reviews the evaluates Savage’s 1911 Govt. Style Stainless pistol, which arrives hot on the heels of the company’s popular polymer 9 mm Stance pistol. Regarding this new steel gun in the Savage lineup, Merrill said, “it’s an excellent rendition of an enhanced Model 1911” with an “exceptionally tight slide-to-frame fit.” Read his review in Product Focus.

Glock Shooting Sports Foundation
Read Field Editor Chris Christian’s article about Glock Shooting Sports Foundation competition in the August 2023 issue of the digital magazine.

 

These days, Glock Shooting Sports Foundation-sanctioned action shooting competitions are among the most popular out there, which led Field Editor Chris Christian to give it a go. A competitive shooting organization centered on the seemingly endless variations of the boxy Glock pistol, GSSF offers multiple divisions familiar to action shooters, such as Carry Optics and Stock, along with smart stage design. Additionally, there are GSSF matches that feature sizable prize tables. In the article he wrote about the Glock Shooting Sports Foundation this month, Christian summed up the game succinctly (also reminiscent of the Wyatt Earp quote), “When it comes to GSSF competition, speed may be fine, but accuracy is certainly final.”

Our friend and favorite Second Amendment attorney, Stephen P. Halbrook, shares with us his book review for “One For All, All For One. A Commemorative for the Bicentenary of the Swiss Shooting Association SSV.” In his review of this 860-page book, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Switzerland’s famous marksmanship society, Halbrook outlines chapter by chapter highlights from its rich history, which is deeply intertwined with the political, military and social life of the country.

On the subject of training, author Frank Melloni said, “Routines get stale, progress diminishes and we sometimes get too comfortable with our current environment.” This can ring true for any discipline, from air gun to trapshooting. In his article this month, Melloni shares five tips that will help you freshen up your training regimen. Use his advice to reach the top of the leaderboard and achieve your goals in championship competition.

John Parker
Editor-in-Chief, Shooting Sports USA

Are you a subscriber?

Not receiving the monthly digital magazine announcement in your inbox? Become a subscriber. Not only is it completely free, it only takes a minute to sign up and it guarantees you’ll never miss a single issue of the NRA’s competitive shooting journal. Subscribe here.

Latest

Molly Miller Macconf 1A
Molly Miller Macconf 1A

Mount Aloysius College Tops First Mid-Atlantic Rifle Conference Rankings of 2025-26 Season

Mount Aloysius College dominates the opening MAC rifle rankings, while standout Molly Miller tops the individual air rifle leaderboard.

Legends Rise and Records Fall: 1984 National Matches

The 1984 National Matches saw record participation and standout performances from legends like Lones Wigger and Ron West at Camp Perry.

Collegiate Rifle: Kentucky, Nebraska Share Top Spot in Latest CRCA Rankings

Kentucky and Nebraska tie for No. 1 in the latest CRCA poll, with West Virginia close behind as NCAA rifle competition intensifies.

New: Cole Exclusive Beretta 688

Cole Fine Guns refreshes the Beretta 688 with hand-selected Turkish walnut, blending tradition and aesthetics for a modern classic.

Collegiate Rifle: Akron Tops Field in VMI Four-Team Match

Akron rifle topped UAB, VMI mixed and VMI women’s teams in Lexington, with standout performances by Natalia Siek in smallbore and Matthew Kimball in air rifle.

U.S. Juniors Set Sights on the 2025 Drew Cup

Fourteen U.S. juniors qualify for the prestigious 2025 Drew Cup, firing world-class scores that could make America a frontrunner in international smallbore rifle competition.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.