Team Hornady® scored well at the Superstition Mountain Mystery 3- Gun Championship, March 22-24, 2013 at the Rio Salado Sportsman Club in Mesa, Arizona. The fast-stage match attracted 368 competitors from 32 states, Canada, Philippines and the United Kingdom. Jerry Miculek won the Open Division, shooting Hornady® 147 grain FMJ 9mm reloads in his pistol, and Hornady® 60 grain V-MAX® 223 caliber bullets in his rifle.
“Hornady 147 grain offers match accuracy coupled with outstanding reliability,” Miculek explained. “I shot 60 grain V-MAX bullets in my rifle because I’ve never found a rifle that didn’t shoot this bullet well. My M&P-15 is no exception.”
Miculek thought he’d seen it all when it came to stage designs. “Stage two ‘Snakes on a Plane’ presented an interesting challenge,” he said. “I’ve seen stages with swinging clay birds shot with shotguns, but this one engaged a rifle or a pistol. There were a lot of no- shoots thrown in as well.”
Michael Voigt finished a strong third among 78 competitors in the Open Division, shooting Hornady® 9mm 125 grain HAP® in his pistol, and Hornady® 223 Rem 75 grain BTHP Match™ ammo in his rifle.
Three Team Hornady® shooters took top 10 finishes among 200 competitors in the Tac Scope Division, with Travis Gibson finishing fourth, Kelly Neal placing seventh, and Keith Garcia taking tenth place. Gibson shot Hornady® 35 grain NTX® in his rifle, because he knew the stages would be close and fast. “I chose a downloaded round that made my Colt Competition CR Pro shoot really flat,” said Gibson. “There is no muzzle rise with Hornady 35 grain NTX bullets, which allows for lightning quick doubles on paper.”
Barry Dueck finished third in the Heavy Metal Scope Division, shooting Hornady® 178 grain BTHP Match™ 308 in his rifle, Hornady® 45 caliber 230 grain HAP® in his pistol, and 12 gauge Critical Defense® 00 for his shotgun buckshot stage. “Tight patterning coupled with 1,600 fps velocity knocked over the heavy steel targets with a single hit,” said Dueck. “Many competitors had trouble knocking these targets over with lesser 00 rounds, but Hornady ammo performed.”
With targets set as close as 10 feet and out to 325 yards, four-time Superstition Mountain Mystery 3-Gun Heavy Metal Pump Champion, Patrick Kelley, finished fifth in the Tac Limited Division shooting Hornady® 55 grain Steel Match® in his 223 rifle. Patrick added, “As one of a few shooters running iron sights in the limited division, accuracy is a must and Hornady gives me that edge!”
Match Director, Dan Furbee said the atmosphere was a key feature of the 18 th annual, three-day event. “Gorgeous weather combined with blooming desert flowers and
roadrunners, and coyotes howling in the early morning hours added to the excitement of the 3-Gun season kick off,” he said. “A generous $300,000 prize table favored everyone to go home a winner. We can’t wait to do it all again next year.”
Founded in 1949, Hornady® Manufacturing Company is a family owned business headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska. Proudly manufacturing products that are made in the USA, Hornady® Manufacturing is a world leader in bullet, ammunition, reloading tool and accessory design and manufacture.
For further information regarding Hornady® products, visit the company website at http://hornady.com. Media members interested in Hornady® products for editorial review should contact Neal Emery at nemery@hornady.com.