Chris Johnson, High Master Conventional Pistol shooter, promotes the shooting sports by running Bullseye Shooting seminars and coordinating competitive events. Chris is also a member of the Lead Slingers club in Illinois.

 

 

Chris Johnson- 2005 1st place Civilian Champion & 3rd place National Pistol Championship

Chris’s report:

Camp Perry was a lot of fun for me. Just a little more fun than the 2700 I shot at Valparaiso, IN on Sunday on my way out to Camp Perry. I was doing well and finished with a 2652, (98.2%) for my first time over 2650. That was pretty cool.

 

Anyway, the Nationals also went very well. Just to get even with me for firing my first 2650 score, the Pistol Gods had me shooting next to and scoring GSgt Brian Zins USMC (six time national champion). Rimfire day had the Masters shooting at 7:30 in the morning and the conditions were perfect; overcast and no wind. I shot 886-43x which was good enough for 4th in High Master Civilian. Winning score was SSgt James Henderson USAR with an unbelievable 897-60x.

 

Centerfire day had the Masters shooting at 1:00 pm and the wind was howling. I was fortunate enough to shoot some good slowfire targets and finished 3rd overall with an 873-39x. Winning score was 878-43x. Great scores for such windy conditions.

 

On .45 day the Masters shot at 9:30 am and the wind wasn’t bad at all. I knew at that point there was a group of about five or six shooters in contention; Zins, Henderson, John Ennis (all service) and Jerry Chaney and me (civilians). I did OK and shot an 878-36x. Winning score was Zins with an 885-30x so I knew I was near the top.

 

Zins finished as champ with a 2645-111x, Henderson second with a 2637-137x, and I was third with a 2637-118x. I also ended up the Civilian Champion.

 

Making Master in One Year
Chris Johnson’s story, in his own words

 

 

Dan Gutknecht, left, placed 14th Master-Civilian in the NRA Open Conventional Pistol (Sectional) in January 2009. Dan has also been taking Top Gun trophies in the club’s pistol leagues. Congratulations to our actual and very own “Southport Master.”