SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

MGM Shooter Stricklin - NSSF Rimfire Challenge Champ & Sport Ambassador

The NSSF Rimfire Challenge stopped at Parma Rod & Gun Club, Parma, Idaho on August 30, 2014 for the Idaho State shoot. Sponsored by MGM Targets and Tactical Solutions with steel targets by MGM Targets, 129 shooters competed in 10 stages with .22 rimfire rifles and .22 rimfire pistols.

MGM Team shooter, and 2013 NSSF Rimfire Challenge National Champion Ron Stricklin took the overall win while competing with shooters from around the country, including the Northwest, California and a group from the National Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF) in Connecticut. Using his Volquartsen Custom rimfire rifle and pistol, Ron bested the field of 129, gained and held a commanding 11-plus second lead for the win. Congratulations to Ron Stricklin.

After working with Ron before the match and on match day, Robin Taylor, Head Coach of Team Gotta wrote a note to MGM president Mike Gibson as well as the heads of Stricklin's other sponsor companies complementing Mr. Stricklin. MGM proudly shares the letter:

"A few months ago, the youth pistol team I coach (Team Gotta from Custer, Washington) decided to try NSSF Rimfire competition for the first time. Two of our shooters shot with Ron Stricklin at the Steel Challenge World Championship, and after chatting about their plans, Ron offered to "show them the ropes" if they could come a day early to the Idaho NSSF match.

To make a long story short, Ron's generosity impressed us deeply. My advanced group ended up spending half a day studying under the NSSF National Champion at his home range in Emmett, Idaho. Ron not only gave of his time, but had an entire trailer-load of MGM steel targets set up for us to train on.

We knew next to nothing about speed rifle shooting, so getting a chance to learn from the best in the country was nothing short of amazing.

The next day, the rest of the team arrived (we brought 11 shooters total), and I realized one of my younger shooters and his father had brought a rifle with only 7+1 capacity. (A poor choice for a 7-target speed match.) At the last minute we asked Ron if his offer to loan the team a rifle was still open. Sure enough, Ron handed young Russell (12 years old) and his father Mike (shooting his first match) a beautiful Volquartsen-barreled Ruger 10/22 with too many custom touches to list. This was his personal back-up gun, the one he would rely on to win the match if his main failed. On top of this, he handed them two bricks of Gemtech ammo, saying "use this, I know it works."

We tried to give Ron ammunition to replace what Russell's family shot, but he wouldn't hear of it. In a world where .22 ammo is worse than scarce, that sort of generosity set us back on our heels.

Collectively, we owe Ron Stricklin quite a debt, and we wanted you to know how much we appreciate what he did for us. In many ways, Ron "saved our bacon" at the Idaho NSSF match last weekend.

In the end, Ron won the match, and one of our shooters that he helped (Adam) finished a surprising 4th in Limited. Young Russell (who so desperately needed a rifle) won a new 10/22 rifle off of the prize table, as did another one of our new shooters (Austin). The rifles will be held in trust by their fathers, of course, but the team is still talking about Ron Stricklin and everything they learned from him -- and talking about modifying their rifles to be more like Ron's.

We know your firms have had a lot to do with supporting Ron, and we wish to thank you by extension for making all this possible."

Sincerely, Robin Taylor - Head Coach, Team Gotta