Brian “Gunny” Zins of Girard, OH, won his 12th National Pistol title July 11-13 during the NRA’s National Rifle & Pistol Championships in Camp Perry, OH. Known by some as the runner-up on Season 2 of History Channel’s “Top Shot,” Zin’s twelfth title is twice as many as any other shooter in the history of the National Matches.
Brian Zins, center, waves his trophy from the gold medal position on the winner’s stand at the National Matches, with silver medalist John Zurek on the left, and SFC James Henderson, bronze medalist, on the right
“I’m not done yet,” Zins explained. “I think I have a few more left in me.” NRA’s National Pistol Championship is divided into three separate categories; .22, Center Fire, and .45. Competitors fire 270 rounds over three days for a total possible score of 2700-270x.
Zins finished the 2013 Championships with a total score of 2634-126x.
Finishing second overall, with a score of 2618-119x, was John Zurek of Arizona. Sergeant First Class James Henderson of the Army Marksmanship Unit finished in third with a total score of 2609-90x.
“Brian continues to display a remarkable ability to maintain focus and perform under the most dire of circumstances,” said NRA Director of Competitive Shooting Dennis Willing.
“It was a great recovery by a great champion.” The recovery came after the .22 Championship where Zins fired only 89 of his 90 allotted shots due to miscount. He ended up in ninth place in that event.
“Having a saved round in the .22 Caliber Championship was a rookie mistake that will hopefully never happen again—knock on wood,” Zins laughed. “But being able to pull it together, keep my head in the game and come back to win Center Fire and .45 was just huge for me.” Zins posted a first place score of 880- 45x in the Centerfire event and the first place score in the .45 championship with an 885-43x. Keith Sanderson was second in Centerfire with a score of 870-38x, and Zurek was third with a score of 868-42x.
In the .45 caliber competition, Patrick Franks was second, shooting an 883-34x score, and Henderson was third with an 881-40x.
Chad Ranton won the tight .22 rimfire championship event with an 879-42x, with Emil Milex in second, just 3X back, shooting a score of 879- 39x, and Brandon Hartsock in third with an 879-36x.
Philip Hemphil, NRA’s 2010 Pistol champ, won the High Police title with a final total of 2604-125x. Kimberly Hobart of New Philadelphia, OH, clinched the High Woman championships with a 2501-64x while Walker Buckman walked away with the High Junior win.
The National Rifle Association and the Civilian Marksmanship Program conduct the National Matches at Camp Perry each summer.
Considered the “World Series” of the shooting sports, participants range from novices to Olympic-level shooters, and include civilians, military personnel, and law enforcement officers.
The NRA National Rifle and Pistol Championships are open to everyone; NRA membership is not required.
The National Pistol Championships were to be followed by the Smallbore 3- Position and Prone Championships, followed later by the High Power rifle and Long Distance events.
