CAMP PERRY, Ohio – The 2022 National Airgun Events, held as part of the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) National Matches, welcomed more than 580 air rifles and air pistols during July and August. Events are held inside the Gary Anderson CMP Center of Competence, located on the grounds of the historic Camp Perry National Guard Training Facility, and utilize indoor electronic targeting technology capable of simulating multiple yard lines from a fixed firing point.
The lineup includes a variety of opportunities suitable for both seasoned competitors and those new to the sport. New to the calendar in 2022 was the 100 Shot Challenge, which consisted of a whopping 100 record shots. The winner of the Air Pistol competition was Daniel Miller, 40, of Mineola, Texas, with a score of 912-7X, while Claudia Muzik, 16, of Green Springs, Ohio, bested Air Rifle with a score of 994-75X. .
Larry Bush, 74, of Perrysburg, Ohio, with a score of 396-19X, edged out last year’s winner Thomas Wonderly, 76, of Portage, Ohio, by two points.
An AiR-15 Challenge Match was also on the program, featuring airguns that resemble AR-15 rifles and a 100-yard mock target. Leading the event for the second year in a row was SFC Brandon Green, 37, of Box Springs, Georgia, with a score of 396-19X. David Baalman, 48, of Richland, Washington, led the 20 Shot AiR15 Standing Match at 192-3X.
The CMP Bench League allows participants of any age to compete in a national level event, even if he or she has never competed before. During the League, competitors fire Air Sporter, Sniper, or AiR-15 rifles from a fixed mount for stability, providing a fun and challenging experience for all.
Claiming the overall victory in the 60 Shot Bench Air Rifle Match was Philip Edwards, 74, of Marblehead, Ohio, with a score of 632.3. Edwards finished just one point ahead of 16-year-old Riley Dunn of Washington, Pennsylvania, who placed second.
Edwards also led the Bench League 30-shot accuracy match by just seven-tenths of a point. Larry Kiraly, 69, of Perrysburg, Ohio, led the 30 Shot Sporter Match by a narrow margin as Bush came back to claim victory in the AiR-15 competition.
A Center Shot contest, where participants who shoot closest to the center of the target have a chance to win money, based on participation, also challenged competitors in the airgun shooting range in the rifle and pistol categories . Scott Braun, 52, of Belvidere, Illinois, who shot the only 10.9 shot, led the Rifle Center Shot contest. Amy Trombley, 57, of Canton, Michigan, also shot a 10.9 and led the Pistol Center Shot and earned more than $90.
For a complete list of 2022 national match airgun event results, please visit the CMP competition tracking page at https://ct.thecmp.org/22nmageresults. National air pistol events will return next summer for the 2023 CMP Nationals at Camp Perry.
About the Gary Anderson CMP Center of Competence:
The Gary Anderson CMP Competency Center is open to the public year-round and features an 80-point range with CMP’s own electronic targets. The facility also features authentic Olympic and other memorabilia from the career of celebrated American shooter, Gary Anderson, as well as a retail center for equipment and souvenir needs. Learn more by visiting the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/ranges/cmp-competition-centers/.
The Civilian Aim Program is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearms safety and marksmanship training and the promotion of competitive marksmanship for United States citizens. For more information about the CMP and its programs, log on to www.TheCMP.org.