A View From Our High Power Shooters

May was a busy month for VSSA's rifle shooters.  Included in the photos High Power Chairman Mike Jamison sent are a couple that give you an idea of what long range shooting looks like.  The first photo It is looking up at the 300 yard firing line from the target pit.

  This one is Mike working the target.

Mike Jamison and Phil Lowry entered the CMP Eastern Games at Camp Butner, NC as the VSSA Sniper Team, shooting Springfield 03A4 bolt action Period sniper rifles.  They were able to placed on a squad with friends from Virginia/NC who were also shooting.  Joining Mike and Phil was Alan Lashley, long-time VSSA coach and recently retired from the Virginia Guard, now living and fishing in Wilmington, NC, and Mark Chicowitz, another Virginian.

Phil Lowry is on the ground shooting, Mike Jamison is laying next to him , coaching him and reading the wind.  Alan Lashley ( former VSSA coach) is scoring.

 Marc Chikowitz is watching on the scope, (another Virginia shooter)

The VSSA Sniper team (Roanoke Branch) was in action May 19th and 20th at Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  The rain let up Sunday just in time for a beautiful day at the range.  Mike Jamison and Don Hanley shot together.  Scores at 300 yards were competitive, but 600 yards is still giving them some trouble. 

VSSA Shooters in Florida Highpower Competition

Two VSSA high power rifle shooters competed in the Orange Blossom Regional earlier this month in Malabar, Florida.

VSSA High Power Chairman Mike Jamison shot with member Jon Howell in the 2 man team match, and they won!  Mike also shot with Brad Sutherland in the 4 man team match, which they also won!  Steve Weast shot with the Bridgeville Delaware 4 man team, and they took second place in their class.

Congratulations guys!

VSSA Highpower Junior Shooters Featured in CMP First Shots E-Magazine

The recent CMP First Shot Online Magazine had this article on how the VSSA Junior Highpower Team made the transition from Air Rifle to Highpower Rifle:

Maj. Mike Darnell is the junior highpower program director for the Virginia Shooting Sports Association (VSSA). He began as the air rifle coach for the Brooke Point High School Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) in Stafford, VA, before a trip to the United States Marine Corps base in Quantico, VA, with four of his shooters for a community service project opened an entirely new marksmanship perspective.

VSSA is very blessed to have some dedicated coaches and program directors working with our junior shooters.  Besides Mike, Highpower Rifle Committee Chairman Mike Jamison and Coach Bill McKaig have worked very hard to make this one of the most active shooter programs in VSSA.

Left to right: Back row: Andrew Ross, Sam Cavender, Anthony Kissik, Nathan Dvornick, Theron Hawkins Front Row: Matthew Ross, Dawson Kissik

CMP noted that last year, VSSA brought a group of eight shooters to Camp Perry. This year, with the growing attention the team has received from other young shooters, the Camp Perry bunch almost doubled – growing to 14 shooters.

Maj. Mike Darnell began as the air rifle coach for Brooke Point High School before a few of his juniors became interested in highpower. The 2014 National Matches at Camp Perry was Darnell’s second trip as coach of the VSSA team.

It's a great article.  Congratulations to the shooters and coaches for catching the eye of CMP.

Results of the State High Power Rifle Championships at Roanoke Rifle and Revolver Club

The Roanoke Rifle and Revolver Club (RRRC) and their high power rifle chairman, Michael Torre, put on an excellent rifle match last Saturday, July 21.

Dodging occasional rain showers, the attendees shot a 4x300 yard prone match using the 600 yard reduced target (which is a real Bear!)

Second from the Left is VSSA’s Doug Morrison from Smith Mountain Lake, winner of the Scope category.  In the middle is Michael Torre who beat Doug by one point out of 800 to win the overall trophy!

Congratulations are in order for fine shooting and a well run match!

Thanks to VSSA High Power Rifle Chairman Mike Jamison for the report and photo.

VSSA High Power Juniors Win Spring League

Enough can't be said about VSSA Board Members Mike Jamison and Bill McKaig.  Mike is chairman of the VSSA Highpower program and Bill McKaig is the team coach.  Both have worked hard to build a strong junior high power program.  This group of junior shooters won the Fairfax Rod and Gun Club Spring League.

From left to right:  Christopher Howell, Anne Slota (from the Brooke Point High School JROTC Air Rifle team), Zach Lively, who also took #2 Service rifle Junior, and Jonathan Howell, who won the Marksman class, High Match Rifle Junior, and team member.   Their proud team captain, Mike Jamison, is standing behind them!



Mike Darnell (MAJ, USMC, ret) coaching Anne Slota



Kirk Sawyer, also from Brooke Pointe HS, winning an individual award!



“The Coach”

Great job and keep up the good work.

Fairfax Rod and Gun Club 2012 High Power Match Dates

VSSA High Power Rifle Committee Chairman Mike Jamison notes that Fairfax Rod and Gun Club has published the schedule for the 2012 Spring League.  The first match is March 10. Mike would like to field five teams!  If you are interested, contact Mike Jamison or just show up at Fairfax by 8:00 AM that day.  This is a great match series, and good practice for the rest of the year.

Come out and join a great group of shooters for a spring filled with shooting fun!

Fairfax Rod and Gun club 2012 High Power Rifle Schedule

Jan-21	Sat	Monthly High Power Match
Feb-11	Sat	High Power Rifle Clinic
Feb-25	Sat	High Power Work/Shoot
Mar-10	Sat	HP Spring League Match #1
Mar-11	Sun	HP Spring League Match #1
Mar-24	Sat	HP Spring League Match #2
Mar-25	Sun	HP Spring League Match #2
Apr-7	Sat	HP Spring league Makeup Match
Apr-14	Sat	HP Spring league Match #3
Apr-15	Sun	HP Spring league Match #3
Apr-28	Sat	HP Spring League Match #4
Apr-29	Sun	HP Spring League Match #4
May-19	Sat	Monthly High Power Match
Jun-16	Sat	Monthly High Power Match
Jul-21	Sat	Monthly High Power Match
Aug-18	Sat	Monthly High Power Match
Sept-15	Sat	Garand/Vintage Rifle Match
Oct-20	Sat	Monthly High Power Match
Nov-17	Sat	Monthly High Power Match
Dec-15	Sat	Monthly High Power Match

VSSA High Power Team at the Camp Perry National Matches

VSSA has a very active high power team and they once again competed in the National Matches at Camp Perry.  High Power Committee Chairman Mike Jamison works to get young shooters involved in high power rifle shooting and his out reach has paid off with 14 year-old Jonathan Howell taking the High Sub-Junior award for a match rifle at the 2011 National Championships.


Jonathan Howell (14) won the High Sub-Junior award for a match rifle at the 2011 National Championships, held at Camp Perry, Ohio.



Jonathan with his award

Jeff Hague - Another excellent shooter (and VSSA Member) who shoots with the team whenever possible.

Jon Howell and his son, Jonathan Howell at Camp Perry.  Team members call Jonathan “Little Howell”, but not for much longer!

Brad Sutherland – good shooter who shoots with VSSA when we have room on a team.

Thanks to VSSA High Power Chairman Mike Jamison for providing the photos.