Tubb Wins NRA Long Range Rifle Championship

Rifle Shooter contributing editor David Tubb captured the recently concluded NRA Long Range Championships at Camp Perry, OH. His aggregate score of 1249-68X — just one point off a perfect score — now stands as the national record and bested his closest competitor by two points.

The long-range championship consists of four 20-shot matches at 1,000 yards. Two of the matches are any-sight and two are iron-sight. The aggregate also includes a Palma Match, with 15 shots each at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards with iron-sighted .308s.

In the any-sight matches Tubb used a Tubb 2000 rifle topped with a Premier scope. He built his 6XC handload with Norma brass and his own DTAC 115-grain 6mm bullet and Hodgdon powder. He loaded Sierra .308 bullets for the Palma portion of the competition.

But equipment is, of course, only one part of the equation. The other is preparation.

"I spend lots of time teaching wind-reading skills during my classes," he told Rifle Shooter. "This helps to sharpen my long-range shooting skills when I compete."

Tubb is understandably pleased with his performance, particularly winning the Wimbledon Cup en route to his overall victory with a 200-10X. "It's the most prestigious any rifle/any sight match in the world," he said. "Overall, I am most happy that I was able to perform to my abilities."

John Whidden of Nashville, GA, finished second with a 1247-68X and Rodrigo Rosa of Auburn, NH, was third with a 1244-53X.

Michelle Gallagher of Phoenix, AZ, fired a 1240-64X to capture High Woman honors, and Brianna Rachinski was High Junior with a 1224-36X. High Senior — and High Palma victor — was Robert Steketee of Haslett, MI, with a 1243-48X. Fellow Michigander Peter Church of Dearborn shot a 1221-56X to take the High Grand Senior title. Staff Sgt. Grant Scott won High Service Rifle with a 1221-44X.