Last weekend marked the inaugural Legion Team Sniper Challenge, which was directed by Green Beret lead sniper instructor Matt Masterson and JP’s Adam Burt.
In addition, JP Enterprises was the lead sponsor at the match.
All proceeds went to support and raise awareness for Chapter 38 of the National Special Forces Association, an organization that supports and connects veterans of the U.S. Special Forces.
The invite-only Legion Team Sniper Challenge took place over two days at the 5th Special Forces Group range complex at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. More than 30 teams, comprising the nation’s best military special operations snipers and civilian competitors, took part in this unique, stress-shoot format match. Each two-person team employed a combination of long-range rifle, semi-automatic carbine and pistols to tackle a course of 11 wildly different stages. The targets included paper, reactive steel and fixed steel with indicators, at distances up to 1,000 yards.
All team competitors also had to carry the gear used for the duration of the course of fire.
As for allowed calibers, bolt-action rifles were limited to .308 Win., 6.5 mm Creedmoor and .300 Win. Mag., with carbines restricted to .223 Rem./5.56 mm NATO, and only 9 mm-chambered pistols. All stages were timed and scoring was time plus misses, along with failures to engage.
Incorporating elements designed to distract and disorient even veteran competitors, the Legion Team Sniper Challenge experience aimed to replicate the stress and uncertainty of actual combat operations. Elevated heart rates, physical and auditory distractions, and abruptly changing information are only a few of the non-shooting challenges faced by competitors.
From the match website: “Some of the skills that will be tested include target recognition, ranging, wind calling, non-standard shooting positions, problem solving and stress management. When encountering adversity and stress, the most successful teams will adopt a ‘no problem, I’ll roll with this’ attitude and focus in on the task at hand.”
Topping the leaderboard at the 2023 Legion Team Sniper Challenge was Nightforce’s Sean Murphy and Proof Research’s Greg Hamilton. The duo was fresh off their victory at the Real World Sniper Challenge. JP Enterprises shooter and Crossfit founder Dave Castro, with partner Dan Posey, also claimed a hard-fought fifth-place finish.
“JP has always maintained a special relationship with the Special Forces community,” Adam Burt said. “This match was a great way to renew that commitment, both for the many military competitors and for Chapter 38’s great work on behalf of SF veterans. We’re very pleased to have put on such a one-of-a-kind event for all involved and look forward to repeating that performance next year.”
Go to jprifles.com for the latest from JP Enterprises, and for more information about the Special Forces Association, Chapter 38, visit sfa38.org.
