Blake Meixel’s competition shooting resume includes winning the Pennsylvania State Rifle Silhouette Championship on six different occasions (different guns and different aggregate awards). Learn what he keeps in his range bag.
What are your first memories of handling a firearm?
I first picked up a firearm when I was around six years old. It was a Crickett .22, which also happened to be my first firearm. I received this firearm for my birthday—my brother and I got the exact same gun. It was my introduction to the world of firearms and hunting.
Tell us how you began in competitive shooting?
I didn’t start competing until I was about 14. I became involved in competitions from my grandfather, who had shot back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It had been a family sport with my whole family on my mother’s side. But they got out of it when the grandkids were born, and life became busy with sports and other activities.
What firearms and other gear do you use for competition?
I have several rifle setups for different disciplines and restrictions. My High Power Hunter rifle is a 7 mm BR Remington action with a 26-inch long, 1:8.5-inch twist Brux Varmint contour barrel, TriggerTech Diamond two-stage trigger, Fajen Silhouette stock and Leupold M8-24X 5/8-MOA target dot scope. For my loads, I use Alpha Munitions 6 mm BR brass reformed to 7 mm BR, Sierra 140-grain tipped GameKing bullets pushed by N-133 powder for chicken, pigs and turkeys, and Sierra 165-grain tipped GameKing bullets with the same powder for rams.
For High Power Standard rifle, I use a 6.5X47 Lapua with 28-inch, 1:7.5-inch Brux Varmint contour barrel, TriggerTech Diamond two-stage trigger, H&S Precision silhouette stock and Leupold Mark 3 18-40X optic with 1/2-MOA target dot. For my loads, I have Alpha Munitions 6.5X47 brass, Sierra 123-grain MatchKing bullets and N-133 powder for chicken, pigs and turkeys, as well as Sierra 140-grain tipped GameKing bullets pushed by N-133 for the rams.
In Smallbore Hunter and Standard rifle, I shoot the same rifle both ways. It’s a .22 LR PT&G Win 52D reamer with a 22-inch Brux #4 Douglas contour barrel, TriggerTech Diamond two-stage trigger and Weaver CT-24X 1/2-MOA target dot scope.
All my rifles are chambered using Pacific Tool and Gauge reamers, with gunsmithing is done by Buffalo Valley Gunsmithing.
Tell us about your range bag and what you carry in it besides your firearms?
I don’t have a range bag per se, but I do have a backpack that holds my silhouette vest and my tools. It’s just an inexpensive Adidas backpack. The best part about it is the spacious pouch.
What do you do in your free time?
During my free time, I enjoy machining, and I’m enrolled in a precision machining course in high school. I’m also constantly reloading ammunition for my family. Additionally, I enjoy the outdoors, such as hunting and fishing.
What would you tell someone interested in finding out more about your sport?
The best way to find out more about Silhouette competition is to either reach out to a shooter or check out the North American Silhouette Shooter Association website at nassasilhouette.org for a breakdown of the sport. Also, visit the Coming Events section of Shooting Sports USA.
Any tips for new shooters?
The best advice I can give is to make practice more about quality rather than quantity. Don’t go out there with a full box of ammo. Take 20 rounds and that’s all. Focus on making each shot a perfect shot, so you can reinforce the shot sooner because you have limited your ammo supply. Also, work on the mental side of the sport; as a person who would let his emotions get the better of him, you need to focus on strengthening your mental state.
Silhouette competition is a fantastic way to learn about firearms safety and the difficulty of shooting in the standing position. It is also a welcoming sport. To me, this sport is like home; every time I go to the firing line, I feel at home and at peace. Shooting is more than a sport for me—it is my passion.
Follow Blake Meixel on Instagram: blake_meixel
