National Rifle & Pistol Championships

CAMP PERRY 1959

The 1959 National Matches were conducted July 27 through Aug. 29 at Camp Perry, Ohio marking another annual shooting meet for the National Trophies, the first of which was established by Act of Congress in 1903, and the NRA Championships with pistol, small-bore rifle, and high power rifle.

The NRA competitions continue high power rifle shooting that was first begun in 1873. Pistol shooting was incorporated into the National Matches program in 1900, and small-bore matches were added to the activities in 1919.

Shooter participation has been climbing steadily in recent years, and in the 1959 matches the increase was 239 pistol competitors, 47 small-bore competitors and 370 high power competitors. In the Small Arms Firing School the increase was 185 in the Pistol School, 227 in the Rifle School, and 133 in the Junior and Tyro School. The total registration this year was 5090 competing (including muzzle-loading matches), and 4545 students in the various schools.

The Small Arms Firing School, which is the hard core of the National Matches, was conducted by the U.S. Army Infantry School's Weapons Dept. from Ft. Benning, Ga. All phases of marksmanship with pistol and rifle were covered, including the mechanical aspect of individual weapons, preparatory marksmanship, safety, coaching, and teaching techniques. This is climaxed by record firing with the weapon being studied.

Open to all citizens over 14

The Small Arms Firing School, authorized by the National Defense Act of 1916, is open to all citizens of the United States who are 14 years of age or older.

The Small Arms Firing School was organized during World War I to meet the great need for trained rifle instructors. It has been continued as a vital part of the activities at the National Matches since that date.

The mission of the Small Arms Firing School is to make shooters into good instructors. So trained, the instructor is in a better position to promote interest in raising standards of performance in the use of the individual U.S. Service arms.

By any standards, setting up the Camp Perry program and running the matches and schools is a tremendous job. The quantity of ammunition used for Service rifles and pistols and the schools, alone attest to the problem of logistics. In the Small Arms Firing School, Rifle, and the Junior and Tyro School, 205,000 rounds of cal. .22 long rifle ammunition were fired. In the Small Arms Firing School, Pistol, and the NRA Matches and National Trophy Matches, were the Service pistol was used, a total of 560,000 rounds of cal. .45 ACP was fired. In the high power rifle matches approximately 1¼ million rounds of cal. .30 ammunition were consumed.

Over 7000 individual awards were issued at Camp Perry. These awards were either sterling silverware or medals, and in the majority of cases the competitor was given the choice of either.

A number of trophies were placed in competition this year, some for the first time and some after several years of not being shot for.

In the pistol grand aggregate, the Thomas McGinley Trophy was received and awarded to the high Police competitor. This trophy was last awarded in 1956. The Colt Trophy, presented to the high team in the Cal. .45 Team Championship, was retired last year to the U.S. Border Patrol Team for winning the trophy 3 years in a row. A new Colt Trophy, larger and more elaborate, was donated by the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Col.

Parsons Trophy

The Frank Parsons Trophy, provided by the estate of the late NRA Director and U.S. International shooter, was awarded for the first time in the National Small-bore Rifle Position Championship.

The revived trophies in the small-bore matches were the Austin Trophy for the International Aggregate, the Hercules Trophy for the 4-Poisition 50-yd. Metallic Sight Team Match, and the American Dewar Trophy for the Metallic Sight Team Match. The Austin Trophy was last awarded in 1947 for the 40-shot 50-meter match. The Hercules Trophy, last awarded in 1955, was for the annual winner of the 200-yd. small-bore rifle 2-man team match. The American Dewar Trophy was competed for in 1930 over 2 Dewar courses (50 yds. and 100 yds., metallic sights). In 1938 it was changed to a single Dewar metallic sight match and was last fired for in 1947.

Another received trophy was the Officers' Reserve Trophy for the Any Sight Team Match. This trophy used to be given to the high Reservist in the President's high power rifle match with the last award in 1941.

In high power rifle competition the high Civilian with the Service rifle this year received the Individual Palma Trophy, last awarded in 1930 for 15 shots at 800 yds., 15 shots at 900 yds., and 15 shots at 1000 yds. with the Service rifle. The high Civilian in the Bolt Rifle Aggregate was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars Trophy which was last awarded in 1940. The course of fire for this trophy used to be 10 shots each at 200 yds. slow-fire standing, 200 yds. rapid-fire standing to prone. The Bolt Rifle Rapid-Fire Match winner now receives the Coast Artillery Trophy formerly awarded in the President's Match. This trophy was last fired for in 1951.

The Critchfield-Herrick Trophy was awarded to the high team firing the Service rifle in the Herrick Trophy Team Match. This trophy was last presented in 1940.

International Postal Matches

In the Mayleigh Cup International Pistol Team Match the United States fired an unofficial score of 1829. This compares with an 1842 score in 1958. When all results are in from the countries competing, the official results will be announced.

New targets adopted a year ago by Great Britain were used for the first time in this country in the Dewar Trophy International Team Match and proved to be much more difficult than the U.S. targets. The U.S. Team ended up with a 7736 unofficial total.

Not all scores are in for the Randle Trophy Women's International Small-bore Rifle Team Match but the U.S. has recorded a 3979 score. Other countries competing are Great Britain, Canada, South Africa, Australia and Southern Rhodesia.

Excerpt from the American Rifle Magazine

U.S. Marine Corps Pistol Team

The Marine Corps Heavy hitting pistol men take time out for their annual team picture before getting down to the serious business of capturing their share of the U.S. Championships at the National Rifle and Pistol Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio August 1 - 6. The team which was formed after the Marine Corps Matches at Quantico, Va., earlier this year competed in a series of matches in preparation for the big shoot. Competing against 1,800 of the best shooters ever to attend the National matches, the Marines this year will have to shoot harder and straighter to offset the increasing power and depth of other armed forces teams.

MCRD Marksman Eyes Grand Slam

A San Diego marine will aim for a shooting grand slam in the National Rifle and Pistol Matches beginning July 27, at Camp Perry, Ohio.

More than 4,000 shooters from all parts of the United States will visit the Army National Guard camp at Lake Erie for the 1959 event. They will fire in 82 individual and team matches for trophies with such picturesque names as Daniel Boone, Rattlesnake, Minute Man, Soldier of Marathon, General Custer and Celtic Chieftain.

Capt. William W. McMillan of the Marksmanship Training Unit at the San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot is the hottest bet in years to sweep both the National individual pistol and rifle events in the month-long competition.

The 30-year-old Leatherneck officer won the National Pistol title in 1957 and the World .38 caliber pistol crown last year in Moscow. This year, he is competing with the rifle for the first time since 1955. Last month he captured the Marine Corps championship with both weapons, a history making feat.

Officials of the National Rifle Association recall no man ever winning national titles with both guns but conceded that McMillan could be the man to break that precedent.

The San Diego shooter won the Corps rifle championship with only a week's practice. He may get no more than that at Perry. He will coach and fire with the Marine Corps pistol team through Aug. 6. The National High Power Rifle events begin Aug. 14.

One-hundred-and-sixty Marine marksmen will shoot in the 56th edition of the National Matches.

Six of Capt. McMillan's MTU teammates are returning to defend titles they won in 1958. They are ActGySgt. Michael Pietroforte, first man in history to win the National Trophy Individual Rifle event with a perfect 250 score; ActSSgt. Frank O. Wright, National Trophy Individual Pistol champion; ActGySgt. V. D. Mitchell, National Service Rifle titlist; Capt. Thomas Mitchell and 1stSgt. R. O. Jones, who won pistol honors, and ActGySgt. Charles Ainscoe, a rifle award winner.

The San Diego Union, Sunday, July 19, 1959

National Matches Next In Line For Shooters

By Capt. C. F. Pitchford

For competitive shooters this week all roads lead to the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio

The firing program began last Monday as pistol shooters were called to the firing line. By August 6 pistol shooting at the national level will be over for another year.

Small-bore rifle follows the pistol competition, and on August 14 high-power rifle firing starts, holding the spotlight until August 29 when the curtain falls on the 1959 edition of the national matches.

Let's hope that August 29, which marks the end of a long road of hard work, will find Marine shooters firmly entrenched at the top of the heap in all the important matches.

Over the past weekend both the Marine Corps Pistol Team, headed by Lt. Col. W. R. Walsh, and the MCS Pistol Team, captained by Maj. J. Jagoda departed Quantico for Camp Perry. The Marine Corps Rifle Team will maintain practice headquarters at Quantico for another week.

En route to Camp Perry the MS Pistol Team sidetracked to South Bend, Ind. for the annual 2700 Aggregate Tournament. At press time no results were available. But on their way down they delayed long enough to fire in a 2700 aggregate match at Camp Lejeune. Individually and team wise the locals made a good pre-Perry showing.

Maj. Jagoda won the individual aggregate with a 2568. Close behind in second place was Maj. John Conroy with 2556. In the .45 caliber team match, the 1110 score fired by Maj. Jagoda, Maj. Conroy, ActSgt. Hutson and ActSgt. Lasher took top honors.

At Camp Perry the chances of a Marine Corps victory in the pistol matches will depend on a five-man group: Capt. W. W. McMillan, 1stSgt. Jones, ActGySgt. Pietroforte, ActSSgt. Sarver and ActSgt. Hausman.

From this 5-man contingent will be formed the number one Marine entry in the important .45, .38, and .22 caliber team matches. They could win any or all three; however, they will be stronger with the .45.

Roughly, it adds up to this: if these five are hitting, the Marines will be contenders in the team matches. If this first line team has an "off" moment our lack of a good second team will just about cancel our chances.

The next two weeks will tell.

We have the capability; all we need is a little Marine Corps luck.

For those of you who would like to make the trip to Camp Perry next year; the club range is open daily from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Quantico Sentry, July 31, 1959

Shooters Arrive For Matches

CAMP PERRY - More than 6,000 pistol and rifle shooters will unlimber their shootin' irons beginning July 27 for the National Rifle and Pistol Matches here.

The first wave of competitors for national marksman honors has started arriving for the pistol matches - nearly 2,000 will fire in the two-week-long competition.

Competitors won't really need to "unlimber" their weapons since practically all of them practice or shoot in competition the year round. The National Matches, sometimes called the "world series of marksmanship," offers the shooters the stiffest competition they face all year. Originally established by an Act of Congress in 1903, the matches were limited to teams from the regular services and state National Guard organizations.

With the passage of the National Defense Act in 1916, participation by civilian, police and military reserve units was authorized by the Department of the Army.

Natural Location

Camp Perry, located in Vacationland-Ohio on scenic Lake Erie, eight miles west of Port Clinton, is a natural for the matches, having the largest pistol range in the history of shooting. Five hundred electrically operated targets are being readied for the big league shooters.

The firers will vie for three major goals - the small bore rifle, high-power rifle and pistol titles.

The 1958 pistol champion, James E. Clark, Shreveport, La., will defend his title against some 2,000 pistoleers including Marine Capt. William McMillan, Jr., San Diego, the 1957 pistol champion; Army M/Sgt Huelet L. Benner, West Point, N.Y., five-time pistol champion and Detroit Police Lieutenant Harry Reeves, six-time winner.

Pistol matches held from July 27 to August 6 will also see Mrs. Gertrude Backstrom of Hoquiam, Wash., defend the women's title which she has held since 1955.

In the high-power rifle matches set for August 20 through 29, Marine T/Sgt V. D. Mitchell, San Diego, Cal., will defend his M-1 rifle title and Middleton W. Tomkins of Los Angeles, his sporting rifle crown. Returning to defend her title will be WAC 1st Lieut. Clair Archambault, 1958 National Women's Service champion.

Sandusky Register, July 24, 1959

AMONG HIS SOUVENIRS - Capt. William W. McMillan Jr., MTU's Marine Corps rifle and pistol champion, shows off just a few of the many shooting awards which crowd his Clairemont home. The captain will gun for individual rifle-pistol honors in the National Matches which start Monday at Camp Perry, Ohio.

McMillan Aims At Grand Slam Crown Win At Perry

by ActCpl. Wayne Woodlief

A Depot Marine will aim for a shooting "Grand Slam" in the giant National Rifle and Pistol Matches beginning Monday at Camp Perry, Ohio.

More than 4000 shooters from all parts of the United States will flock to the Army National Guard camp on the banks of Lake Erie for the 1959 event. They will fire in 82 individual and team matches for trophies with such picturesque names as Daniel Boone, Rattlesnake, Minute Man, Soldier of Marathon, General Custer and Celtic Chieftian.

Captain William W. McMillan of the Marksmanship Training Unit, is the hottest bet in years to sweep both the National Individual Pistol and Rifle events in the month-long competition.

The 30-year old Leatherneck officer won the National Pistol title in 1957 and the World .38 caliber pistol crown last year in Moscow. This year, he is competiting with the rifle for the first time since 1955, and last month captured the Marine Corps Championship with both weapons, a history-making feat.

Local officials of the National Rifle Association recall no man ever winning National titles with both guns, but conceded that McMillan could be the man to break that precedent too.

The San Diego shooter won the Corps rifle championship with only a week's practice. He may get no more than that at Perry. He will coach and fire with the Marine Corps Pistol team through Aug. 6. The National High Power Rifle events begin Aug. 14.

One-hundred-and-sixty Marine marksman will shoot in the 56th edition of the National Matches. Six of Capt. McMillan's MTU teammates are returning to defend titles they won in 1958. They are ActGySgt. Michael Pietroforte, first man in history to win the National Trophy Individual Rifle event with a perfect 250 score; ActSSgt. Frank O. Wright, National Trophy Individual Pistol champion; ActGySgt. V. D. Mitchell, National Service Rifle titlist; Capt. Thomas Mitchell and 1stSgt. R. O. Jones, who won pistol honors, and ActGySgt. Charles Ainscoe, a rifle award winner.

In many of the matches, "any ammunition," as defined in NRA rules, is permitted. Thus, for several months, Marine Corps hand loading specialists have been stripping factory ammo and reloading it to meet the Corps' own precise specifications.

With such hand-loaded ammunition, the Marine Corps captured four team matches last year, including three matches at ranges from 600 to 1000 yards. The Leathernecks established National Match records in two of the events.

Photo by ActGySgt. Robert F. Wheeler
MCRD Chevron, Friday, July 24, 1959

Army Colonel Leads Perry Pistol Matches

CAMP PERRY, Ohio (AP) - William Hancock, an Army lieutenant colonel from Columbus, Ca., took over the lead of the national pistol championship race here at the three-quarter mark with a score of 1,742 points out of a possible 1,800.

To leaqd the field of 1,800 competitors he fired an 873 out of a possible 900 points to win the .38-cal pistol to go with his 869 fired with the .22-cal on the previous day.

Early leader, Los Angeles policeman, John Hurst, dropped into second place, one point behind Hancock with 1,741.

Coming up from nowhere was five-time national champion Army MSgt Huelet Benner, of West Point, N.Y., who took over third place with 1,740. He was followed by U.S. border patrolman Presley O'Gren, of El Paso, Tex., with 1,739.

Marine Capt William McMillan, of Turtle Creek, Pa., the 1957 national champion, moved into a fifth place tie with Army Sgt. Richard Stineman, of Columbus, Ga., with 1,737.

James Clark of Shreveport, La., the 1958 champion, after a bad first day, moved back into contention, posting a two-day aggregate score of 1,736, just six points behind the leader.

Stars & Stripes, August 5, 1959

Benner Takes Perry Shoot Pistol Title

CAMP PERRY, Ohio (UPI) - West Point Army MSgt Huelet L. "Joe" Benner won his sixth national pistol championship, scoring 2,615 out of a possible 2,700 during three days of firing to withstand the determined challenge of Marine Capt. William W. McMillan, Jr., of San Diego, Calif.

Benner fired in the third squad and posted his score before McMillan, in the fourth group went to the firing line.

Title Trail

McMillan, 1957 champion from the Marine Corps' marksman training unit, dropped four points in the slow fire, shot a perfect score in the timed fire and hi 9 bulls and one 9 in rapid fire to be one point behind the U.S. Military Academy's Benner.

Army 1st Lt David Cartes, of Ft. Benning, Ga., was third with 2,610 and Army MSgt Richard Stineman, also of Ft. Benning, was fourth with 2,603.

Defending champion James E. Clark of the Detroit Police Department shot 2,602, four points better than the socre which won last year, to place fifth.

Stars & Stripes, August 6, 1959

Army Shooter Wins At Perry

CAMP PERRY, Ohio (AP) - SSgt James H. McNally, an Army pistol shooter from Seattle, Wash., won the National Trophy match for individuals here with a score of 293 of a possible 300.

The four-man team title went to a Marine team, which fired 1,127 points out of a possible 1,200.

Navy Petty Officer Gasper P. DeFino of San Diego, Calif., and Marine Sgt Lowell T. Cassidy of Ashland, Ky., was behind McNally with identical scores of 290. DeFino placed second because 14 of his 30 shots were within the small X-ring of the bull's-eye while Cassidy had only 12 inside the small ring.

Members of the winning Marine team, and their scores, were Sgt Robert O. Jones, Cardiff, Calif., 291; Capt William McMillan, Turtle Creek, Pa., 287; Sgt Robert E. Herrington, Oceanside, Calif., 275 and Sgt Donice R. Bartlett, Simpson, W.Va., 274.

Stars & Stripes, August 8, 1959

American Rifleman, Vol. 107, No. 10, October 1959

M/Sgt. Huelet L. Benner, USA is congratulated on winning the National Pistol Championship by Capt. William W. McMillan, Jr., USMC. Benner beat McMillan by only one point for the title

American Rifleman, Vol. 107, No. 10, October 1959

Here are all living National Pistol Champions since 1938: (kneeling, l.-r.) Capt. William W. McMillan, Jr., USMC; James E. Clark; M/Sgt. Huelet L. Benner, USA; (standing, l.-r.) Al W. Hemming; Harry Reeves and William T. Toney, Jr.

Top Pistol Firers

M-Sgt. Joe Benner Wins 1959 National Crown

A quiet-mannered 42-year old Army master sergeant whose name has been synonymous with pistol shooting championships for the past 20 years, has compiled a 2615 three-gun aggregate score to win the 1959 National Pistol Championship at Camp Perry, Ohio.

For Sgt. Huelet L. "Joe" Benner, who trained with the Army team at Fort Benning, it was the sixth national title since 1947.

In winning, Benner defeated three of the nation's best pistol shooters, including Capt. William McMillan, Army Lt. David Cartes and Army MSgt. Richard Stineman.

In more ways than one, it was a gallant bid for victory by a man, who, for the past many months, had been ridden by sickness and ill health.

SERIOUSLY ILL

EARLIER this year, Sgt. Benner was stricken seriously ill, suffering from a heart condition affected by complications, at his home at West Point, N.Y. The illness was so severe and of such a serious nature that many people, including Benner, thought that his days of competitive marksmanship were over.

It would indeed have been a heavy loss to the shooting world.

During his marksmanship one which started in the 1930's, Benner won six National Pistol Championships, six National Mid-Winter titles, three World pistol crowns, and a 1952 Olympic Gold Medal.

But the people who thought him finished were sadly mistaken.

They failed to reckon with the qualities of a champion such as Joe Benner and the fighting heart which makes him tick.

Joe started on the rough and tumble roads to recovery earlier this year when he pushed his way into the National Mid-Winter Championship at Tampa, Fla., and then went on to the annual Flamingo Pistol Tournament at Miami in March. He shot well in both events and through the determination for which he is known, continued his daily practice sessions at West Point until the All-Army pistol Matches at Fort Benning in June.

"WHEN A SHOOTER enters the National Matches," Joe said, "he finds something he never encounters in the other areas, regional, state or sectional matches."

"The pressure that bears down here is one of the toughest things I have even encountered in the shooting game," he stated.

"I don't think that any man who ever won the National Match can say for certain at what point in the game he knew that the title was his," Joe continued. "You've got to wait until the last shot is fired."

He added. "Certainly I wanted to win. That's why I came to Camp Perry and when I got here I decided that I would put everything I had into the match and shoot the best score I possibly could. But, at the same time, I knew, too, that I would be up against the best . . . the pistol masters of the country. Guys like Capt. McMillan, Lt. Cartes and Sgt. Stineman are tough. They know their business and they have proven themselves to be the equal of any pistol shooter in the country."

MSGT. JOE Benner did more than live up to his self-made promise. He not only shot the best score eh was capable of shooting, he shot the best score of the match and in so doing earned the 1959 championship.

He also insured that the record for National Match competition, established by him in 1951 (2629) will remain intact for a least another year.

Sgt. Benner entered the Army in September, 1935. His present military assignment is that of pistol coach and instructor at the U. S. Military Academy, West Point.

Joe's plans for the future . . . at least so far as the pistol shooting industry is concerned . . . are brief and to the point: "I have no intentions of slacking off or slowing down now," he declared.

The Bayonet, August, 13, 1959

Marine Pistol Team Sets 5 Records At Camp Perry

The Camp Matthews Marine Corps "Blue" .45 caliber pistol team fired an 1127x1200 last Thursday to win the coveted National Trophy Pistol Match at Camp Perry, Ohio.

Marksmanship Training Unit's 1stSgt. Robert O. Jones was the squad's "big gun" as he tallied a 291, 9 x to record the highest score by a competitor in the match. His effort won him the Military Police Corps Pistol Trophy.

The "Blue" team led the closest squad, an Army contingent, by five points to regain the gold tankard which last year lay in the Army's trophy chest. Lt. Gen. Merril B. Twining, Commandant, MCS, Quantico, presented the cup to the Marine team.

First Sgt. Jones' team-mates were: Capt. W. W. McMillan, Sgt. Donice R. Bartlett, both of MTU; and ActMSgt. Robert E. Herrington of Camp Pendleton.

The National Trophy victory climaxed a week of grueling pistol competition which saw Marines set five records with the .45. The only record which did not fall to the marksmen was established last year by Capt. T. R. Mitchell in .45 slow fire.

However, with Capt. Mitchell's mark, Marines now claim all Camp Perry records fired with service weapons.

Capt. McMillan set two records with the .45: aggregate, 877x900 with 45x, topping the 875 set in 1955; and National Match Course record with 290, 16x.

The "Blue" team, while winning the U.S. .45 Caliber Pistol Team Championship in earlier competition, topped the old record by one point. They posted an 1156 score, breaking the 1155 mark set by the Marine Corps "Gray" in 1955.

Two more individual records fell to Marines with the .45 caliber side-arm. ActSgt. Larry L. Hausman outpointed rivals with a 200, 11x score to set a new Timed Fire National Match record. ActSSgt. Edmond S. Sarver racked a 199, 6x in the exacting rapid fire shoot to destroy the previous record of 198 set last year.

The Marines competed with a field of some 1700 civilian and military shooters during the week-long National Pistol Matches.

Riflemen this week take to the huge Camp Perry ranges and bid for National Individual and team honors.

MCRD Chevron, Friday, August 14, 1959