In March for this year’s F-Class World Championships held in Bloemfontein, South Africa, the United States sent a united F-T/R and F-Open team, shooting different guns, but with the shared goal of returning to America with as many team medals as possible. By all accounts, the unified approach worked—our F-Open rifle shooters defeated South Africa on its home range for the first time in over two decades, capturing the F-Open team aggregate gold medal in a historic victory. Preceding the F-Class World Championships in Bloemfontein was the 2023 South African National Championship, where U.S. rifle shooter Erik Cortina was chaired on the range after topping the F-Open leaderboard with a score of 687-65V. You can see Cortina, along with his 7 mm PRCW rifle on the cover, and also don’t miss my match report featuring this year’s F-Class rifle competitions in South Africa.
In Product Focus, Field Editor Art Merrill reviews the new Ruger .22 LR and .22 WMR Super Wrangler, which he said for the price of $329 lives in “a class of its own” when it comes to features. Not only boasting performance approaching that of the more expensive Ruger Single Six, the new Super Wrangler has an adjustable rear sight, a must-have for a convertible revolver. If you’ve been waiting for an affordable convertible .22 rimfire revolver, be sure to read Merrill’s review.
Although his term as National Rifle Association President was more than 30 years ago, the late Gen. Joe Foss remains a name well-known among NRA members. He was a Medal of Honor recipient, South Dakota governor, the first commissioner of the American Football League and an Honorary NRA Life Member. In Arizona’s Maricopa County, the Gen. Joe Foss Range honors the legend with the complex bearing his name that’s staffed with an all-volunteer group from the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association. Learn what Art Merrill discovered after visiting the Gen. Joe Foss Range.
This month, Field Editor Chris Christian provides his answer to the classic competitive shooting question: “More matches or more practice?” Well, you need some of both in order to succeed, because you really can’t prepare for a match without having been to a match. In his article, Christian shares his tips for action shooting that will prepare you for scenarios that require more than just knowing the fundamentals.
While better known for its robust lineup of weather meter-ballistic computers, Kestrel has released a real winner in the KST1000 shot timer. The company wisely employed pro shooter Doug Koenig to help design the KST1000, which is sophisticated enough to pick up suppressed shots and even the click made from dry firing. Read Frank Melloni’s review of the KST1000 shot timer.
John Parker
Editor-in-Chief, Shooting Sports USA
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