by Terry Duffy

The 2000 edition of the National Rifle Association’s National Matches at Camp Perry, OH, kicked off in grand style last month as Army Reserve M/Sgt. Steve Reiter of Sparks, NV, won the lead-off NRA National Pistol Championship, scoring a dominating 2641-129X of 2700 possible to notch his fifth Pistol title and High USAR honors.

Taking second and grabbing his second straight High Regular Service honor was US Marine Corps Sgt. Keith Sanderson of Quantico, VA, who shot 2622-122X, while Jerry Chaney of Lily, KY, finished third and picked up his third High Civilian title in the past four years with 2621-111X.

For his efforts, Reiter, a nine-year veteran of pistol competition at Camp Perry, joined a very select group as he became the fifth shooter in the 65-year history of the NRA National Pistol tourney to win four or more national titles. His previous wins came in 1999, 1994, 1993 and 1991.

Dating back to 1935, others to reach that milestone include: Detroit Police Officer Harry Reeves (1940, ’41, ’46, ’48, ’53 and ’54); USA M/Sgt. Huelet L. Benner (1947, ’49, ’51, ’55, ’56, and ’59); USA M/Sgt. William B. Blankenship Jr. (1960, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64 and ’67); and USA M/Sgt. Bonnie D. Harmon (1972, ’75, ’76 and ’82).

Dominates Centerfire
Going into the Pistol finals, Reiter’s victory was sealed following his impressive win in the earlier Centerfire championship. He took Centerfire with 875-24X of 900 possible on a day characterized by strong winds blowing in off of Lake Erie, which greatly affected the performances of other shooters. That win also gave him an insurmountable lead—17 points—going into the third day of competition.

As the competitors moved into the .45 caliber 900—the final of the three sub-aggregates that comprise the Pistol aggregate—it was neck and neck with Reiter and Lawrence Carter of Portland, ME, who managed to hold on to that title as a result of a higher X-count in the rapid fire stages. But it was Reiter’s total gained from the Centerfire score that proved the difference in overall scoring.

Special category winners in Pistol included: Kimberley Hobart of New Philadelphia, OH, a strong finisher in earlier .45-caliber competition, who shot 2557-73X for High Woman and Civilian Woman honors; Daurius R. Young of Port Orange, FL, shooting 2608-100X for his second straight High Senior win, and Patrick Powell of North Canton, OH, scoring 2369-45X for High Junior.

Also: USMA Cadet Sally Talbott of Buckshannon, WV, who shot 2473-74X for High Collegiate; Michigan State Police Officer James Griffiths with 2580-88X for High Police; USAF Maj. Dave McCormick of Beavercreek, OH, with 2562-71X for High Regular USAF, and ARNG CSM Danny Estes of Skidmore, MO, with 2594-101X for High National Guard honors.

NRA Pistol Sub-aggregates
Top finishers in the NRA .45 Caliber sub-aggregate included: Carter, with 876-45X; Reiter, 876-45X, and Sanderson, 874-41.

Winners in the NRA Centerfire sub-aggregate were: Reiter, shooing 875-40X; USAR Spc. Fritz Ficke of Tucson, AZ, with 864-26X, and David Glenn of Canton, OH, with 861-31X.

And in the NRA .22 Caliber 900 sub-aggregate it was USAR Sgt. James Henderson of Festus, MO, who shot 890-52X to grab the win, followed by Reiter with 890-44X for second following the tie-breaker shoot-off with Chaney who also scored 890-44X.

Results in the NRA Preliminary Pistol tourney saw Chaney grabbing top honors with 887-51X; USMA Gy/Sgt. Mario Lozoya of Oceanside, CA, taking second with 887-44X, and Weston Mcartor of Sedgwick, KS, with 887-41X for third.

Following a range change, shooting in the lead-off Three-Position tourney of the NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championships gets underway at Camp Perry. Look for a detailed report in an upcoming issue of Gun Week.issue and to have studied the history and arguments on both sides.”