Here's the link to an article I wrote for Long Range Hunting Magazine. Enjoy
Hunting Pack Article
Monday, June 20, 2016
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
The Bianchi Cup
The Bianchi Cup is the premier action pistol competition in the United States. It draws competitors from around the world. Represented this year were teams from Australia, Japan, and the U.S. There may have been more, but I was honestly too distracted by this man's capri pants to notice.
The equipment used by Cup competitors is definitely different than you might expect. Having never been to an event such as this, I had it in my head that everyone would be using standard 1911 style pistols with target sights and the occasional red dot. The photo here shows just how far off I was. These "race guns" had precision barrels, custom triggers, aftermarket mag wells, barricade stops, and Aimpoint red dot optics! It's not uncommon for these pistols to cost $4000 or more.
The advantage this equipment provides to the competitors can't be overstated. A guy doesn't want to come out of a match second guessing whether the reason he scored poorly was because of his equipment. At least that part needs to be taken out of the equation. Then if he receives a low score, he has nothing to blame but himself.
The Green Valley club is a beautiful venue for this event and it's easy to understand why it is repeatedly chosen to host The Cup. From a personal perspective, I have been to a lot of ranges all over this country, and I can say confidently that the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol club is not just a bunch of dirt piles pushed together. They employ several staff to care for the grounds and keep things looking top notch. There is constant oversight and maintenance. It is one of the nicest small facilities I've ever seen. Kudos to you guys.
The man that won the Bianchi Cup this year is Doug Koenig. Here's a quote directly from his website to give you an idea of what kind of individual he is.
"Every once in awhile, a special sportsman comes along who redefines what it means to be a champion. Doug Koenig is a once in a generation talent, widely regarded as the best all around shooter in the world."
If you visit his website, take a look at the list of competitions this guys has won. If that's not impressive I don't know what is. I guess they need to update his win list though, because this year will mark the 18th time he has won the Bianchi Cup!
In summary, I'm impressed and intrigued by this event. I can see why it's such a big deal, but I can't understand "the draw" of it...yet.
Below, enjoy some more of the photos I took while checking out the 2016 NRA Bianchi Cup!
In all seriousness, there were some pretty high caliber competitors in attendance. I saw teams from all 4 branches of the military (sorry coast guard), law enforcement including the Border Patrol and ICE agents, professional sponsored teams, and of course the average joe.
The NRA and the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol club put on quite an event, and that's probably understating it. I was impressed with the level of competition. I was pleasantly surprised to find a building full of vendors handing out swag and promoting their newest products. The number of media organizations covering the shoot indicated that this thing is a big deal, and it all happens just outside Columbia Missouri every year in May!
The beginning stages of the match are fairly basic, focusing mainly on the fundamentals of marksmanship. All strings of fire begin close at 10 yards and then progress to 15y and 25y. Time is not a factor here and only hits count. It should be noted that precise shots with a pistol at 25 yards and farther, are quite difficult.
I saw one lady on the line just making the men look silly. She was so good. There is no "ladies division." They are thrown right in there with the men, which I personally appreciate. Typically the men dominate the shooting sports, so when I see a woman doing as well as she was, it makes me smile.
I saw one lady on the line just making the men look silly. She was so good. There is no "ladies division." They are thrown right in there with the men, which I personally appreciate. Typically the men dominate the shooting sports, so when I see a woman doing as well as she was, it makes me smile.
The equipment used by Cup competitors is definitely different than you might expect. Having never been to an event such as this, I had it in my head that everyone would be using standard 1911 style pistols with target sights and the occasional red dot. The photo here shows just how far off I was. These "race guns" had precision barrels, custom triggers, aftermarket mag wells, barricade stops, and Aimpoint red dot optics! It's not uncommon for these pistols to cost $4000 or more.The advantage this equipment provides to the competitors can't be overstated. A guy doesn't want to come out of a match second guessing whether the reason he scored poorly was because of his equipment. At least that part needs to be taken out of the equation. Then if he receives a low score, he has nothing to blame but himself.
The Green Valley club is a beautiful venue for this event and it's easy to understand why it is repeatedly chosen to host The Cup. From a personal perspective, I have been to a lot of ranges all over this country, and I can say confidently that the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol club is not just a bunch of dirt piles pushed together. They employ several staff to care for the grounds and keep things looking top notch. There is constant oversight and maintenance. It is one of the nicest small facilities I've ever seen. Kudos to you guys.
The man that won the Bianchi Cup this year is Doug Koenig. Here's a quote directly from his website to give you an idea of what kind of individual he is.
"Every once in awhile, a special sportsman comes along who redefines what it means to be a champion. Doug Koenig is a once in a generation talent, widely regarded as the best all around shooter in the world."
If you visit his website, take a look at the list of competitions this guys has won. If that's not impressive I don't know what is. I guess they need to update his win list though, because this year will mark the 18th time he has won the Bianchi Cup!
In summary, I'm impressed and intrigued by this event. I can see why it's such a big deal, but I can't understand "the draw" of it...yet.
Below, enjoy some more of the photos I took while checking out the 2016 NRA Bianchi Cup!
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