Our cover feature highlights Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Mary Tucker, who in January became one of the first USA Shooting athletes to secure a spot on the Paris 2024 Olympic shooting team. Author Maggie Kelch had the opportunity to chat with Tucker about her competition experiences since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, including podium finishes at ISSF matches and the Pan Am Games, as well as her successful collegiate rifle career with the Kentucky Wildcats and West Virginia Mountaineers. Read Kelch’s interview with Tucker to learn more about this talented air rifle and smallbore shooter who is deep in preparation to earn Olympic medals once again in Paris this summer.
In Product Focus, Field Editor Art Merrill examines New Zealand-based company Annealing Made Perfect’s new AMP press for handloaders that brings digital technology to precise bullet seating. Representing the cutting edge of precision reloading, this electronic bullet seater connects to your computer to show whether neck tension is consistent from cartridge to cartridge—allowing handloaders to pull any cartridges that deviate from the group.
Field Editor Chris Christian is an active Steel Challenge shooter who noticed a growing trend in this popular discipline. Often thought of as a sport catering for junior shooters, in his article “Seniors and Steel,” Christian reports that Steel Challenge’s meteoric growth is due in part to participation from senior citizens, especially in his home state of Florida. He includes testimonials from several seniors who actively compete in Steel Challenge, all of whom agree that it’s not just the accuracy, precision and speed that draws them in, but also the camaraderie.
In the second installment of his “Buying Throwback Guns” feature, Art Merrill outlines the merits of purchasing classic guns outside the usual online route. Arguing that “inexpensive firearms can still be face-to-face fair deals,” Merrill shares the story of his in-person purchase of a throwback semi-automatic Marlin Model Super-Automatic 98 with Weaver B4 scope from a local FFL for only $50. In addition, he points out the irregularities that discounted this vintage rifle-and-scope combo, along with its merits.
Leupold’s Mark 5HD 2-10X 30 mm riflescope is a unique low power variable optic that provides the same rich feature set found on other scopes in the Mark 5HD lineup, but in a diminutive package that’s a solid choice for Precision Rifle Series competition, as well as multi-gun and tactical-based disciplines. Sporting the company’s TMR MIL reticle, 30 mm objective lens, a durable 35 mm maintube and Leupold’s legendary glass, this optic is one that you are not going to want to miss. Read my review to find out more about the Leupold Mark 5HD 2-10X 30 mm and its performance at close range and at distance.
John Parker
Editor-in-Chief, Shooting Sports USA
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