Author: Tom Davis

In 2020, the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) continued to break records for the largest action shooting event in the world. The Centerfire Discipline continues to be a popular choice for youth action shooting competitors as they grow in skill level. Using equipment survey data, we have compiled a list of the top pistol brands being used in the SASP Centerfire Discipline, beginning with the most commonly used brand centerfire handgun used at the 2020 SASP National Championship. A list of approved models for the SASP Centerfire disciplines can be found on the Approved Stock Service Pistol Weights document.

GLOCK, INC., SASP Founding Partner Sponsor

GLOCK continues to be the dominant brand among SASP Centerfire Discipline athletes. Known for paving the way for reliability in a striker-fired handgun, several different GLOCK models are used by youth athletes throughout the season. Most commonly seen at a SASP match are the big 3 for GLOCK 9mm models: the compact G19, full-size G17, and the competition-focused G34. With the addition of the MOS line of popular GLOCK models, these popular handguns are also excellent out of the box option for the new SASP Centerfire Optics discipline.

SIG SAUER, SASP Silver Sponsor

Offering a wide variety of models suitable for the Centerfire discipline, SASP athletes often use the P320 line of handguns to compete. With a variety of full size, compact, and competition models, the P320 series offers many options of the SASP Centerfire athlete, including the M18, the winner of the US Military’s Modular Handgun System competition.

Ruger, SASP Founding Partner Sponsor

Originally a concept for the US Military’s Modular Handgun System competition, the Ruger American Pistol rounds out the top 3 used Centerfire Discipline brand at the 2020 SASP National Championship. With a chassis fire control and pre-tensioned striker system, the Ruger American gives youth shooters a powerful striker spring for positive ignition without a heavier trigger pull.

CZ-USA, SASP Founding Partner Sponsor

Known for metal-framed centerfire handguns, SASP athletes often choose the CZ-75 and Shadow models to make their mark on steel in competition. For a lighter handgun, athletes also turn to CZ-USA for their plastic frame offerings of the P09 and P07 models. The P10 gives a striker fire option for SASP Centerfire athletes with varying barrel and grip lengths. CZ-USA’s Optics-Ready Shadow 2 also looks ready to make its mark on the SASP Centerfire Optic discipline.

We are thrilled to announce the following SASP student-athletes have been awarded scholarships for college!

Our program sponsors Tandemkross, Tippmann Arms, Walker’s Hearing Protection, and Taurus USA helped make this possible, awarding these graduating seniors with $500 scholarships. Congratulations!

Taurus USA Scholarship

Lauren Snyder, IA

Walker’s Hearing Protection Scholarship

Clara Dorman, TX

Kyle Koenig, WI

TandemKross Scholarship:

Henry Edward Bell, WI

Ashton Marr, TN

Konrad C. Zimmermann, AZ

Tippmann Arms Scholarship

Connor Guysky, WI

Matthew Freeman, TX

Keith C. Redell, WI

Jacob Phillips, TX

SASP Founding Partner Sponsor, Ruger has resumed scheduled firearm auctions with all proceeds to benefit SASP. These auctions feature rare firearms from the Ruger vault and will help support youth shooting sports.

This week’s auction item is a .223 Remington caliber, single-shot rifle. The serial number, 132-32765, tells us this rifle was roll marked on March 27, 1981. This rifle has never been sold. The .223 Rem. caliber first appeared in the 1978 Ruger Firearms catalog and was described as, “A modern rifle in the classic style . . .(with) a fast-to-use American style lever. The No. 3 is compact, lightweight and powerful.” Features include: a 22 inch barrel; American walnut stock; barrel band forend attachment; curved buttplate; gold bead front sight and folding leaf adjustable rear sight. It has a sliding tang safety and the barrel is drilled and tapped for Ruger bases and rings. Please Note: The stock has some tiny blemishes. Additional photos of this rifle can be viewed on our website at Ruger.com. The Ruger No. 3 Carbine will be shipped in its original rifle box along with an original instruction manual, original marketing materials and locking device. The rifle is being sold “as is.” The purchaser assumes all liability for its safe and proper ownership, storage, use, and resale. The rifle is a part of the Ruger factory collection in Southport, Connecticut. A Certificate of Authenticity will be mailed to the winner of the auction. Note: the winner of this auction will be responsible for paying the Federal Excise Tax of $17.45.

THIS AUCTION ENDS 9/30/2020 12:30 PM. VIEW AND BID ON THIS AUCTION AT GUNBROKER.COM

SASP Founding Partner Sponsor, Ruger has resumed scheduled firearm auctions with all proceeds to benefit SASP. These auctions feature rare firearms from the Ruger vault and will help support youth shooting sports.

Up for auction is a blued steel Old Army® .45 cap and ball revolver with serial number 148-12525. This revolver was rollmarked on May 14, 2009. The revolver was never sold and has not been fired beyond normal test firing during manufacture. This model Old Army® (BP-5F) first appeared in the 2003 Ruger® Firearms Catalog and last appeared in the 2007 Ruger® Firearms catalog. Features of this revolver include a 5-1/2” barrel with fixed sights; 6-round cylinder; and American walnut grip panels with silver and black Ruger “SR” eagle logo medallions. The Old Army® will be shipped in the gray plastic handgun case it had been stored in along with a nipple wrench, appropriate instruction manual, and locking device. The revolver is being sold “as is.” The purchaser assumes all liability for its safe and proper ownership, storage, use, and resale. The revolver is a part of the Ruger factory collection in Southport, Connecticut. A Certificate of Authenticity will be mailed to the winner of the auction. Please Note that the winner of this auction will be responsible for paying the Federal Excise Tax of $28.07. ALSO NOTE: It is Ruger’s policy to ship ALL its firearms, including the blackpowder revolvers, through a FFL.

THIS AUCTION ENDS 9/23/2020 12:30 PM. VIEW AND BID ON THIS AUCTION AT GUNBROKER.COM

SASP Founding Partner Sponsor, Ruger has resumed scheduled firearm auctions with all proceeds to benefit SASP. These auctions feature rare firearms from the Ruger vault and will help support youth shooting sports.

This week’s auction item is a 308 Winchester caliber Ruger® M77® Standard rifle. The serial number on this rifle is 770-03172, and the rollmark date is March 4, 1985. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. introduced the M77 bolt-action rifle in 1968. It was advertised as, “The World’s Leading Hunting Rifle. . .” This rifle was never sold and has not been fired beyond normal testing during manufacture. This M77R rifle features a tang safety and a hinged, quick-release floorplate with a staggered integral box magazine that holds four rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. It also features a 22-inch blued barrel with no sights, but does have integral scope mount bases machined to accommodate the included one-inch Ruger scope rings. Other features include an American Walnut stock hand-checkered in a sharp diamond pattern on the forend and pistol grip. The pistol grip cap inset and the black, rubber recoil pad both feature the Ruger “SR” Eagle logo design. The M77® Rifle will be shipped in the rifle box it had been stored in along with an appropriate instruction manual, marketing materials, and locking device. The rifle is being sold “as is.” The purchaser assumes all liability for its safe and proper ownership, storage, use, and resale. The rifle is a part of the Ruger factory collection in Southport, Connecticut, and a Certificate of Authenticity will be mailed to the winner of the auction. Please note that the winning bidder of this auction is responsible for paying the Federal Excise Tax of $40.15.

This auction ends 9/16/2020 12:30 PM. View and bid on this auction at Gunbroker.com

The NSSF’s First Shots and +ONE initiatives have aimed to introduce new groups and individuals alike to shooting sports. With August being declared National Shooting Sports Month, these resources have been utilized by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation’s SASP and SCTP members as a means to grow their teams for the upcoming season.

The SASP team, WildGats at the University of Arizona got their start in 2015 thanks to an NSSF grant and have been an enthusiastic partner for NSSF initiatives ever since.

This youth shooting sports team has been focused on sharing their sport via First Shots events for several years and just put on their latest introductory event on August 22nd. Along with event partners Southeast Regional Park Shooting Range and Pima County Parks and Recreation, the WildGats put on a wildly successful event.

“We had a 127 sign up in the first hour before we could announce that it was full,” said WildGats Head Coach, Bill Perkins. “Talking to our guests, I was surprised. At our first five events, we have had ~50% new shooters.  When I asked for a show of hands at our latest First Shots event, ALL the hands went up in all three groups. We also saw very high participation by women.  I would guess over 80% this year.”

Event staff greeted participants, with each group signing in and going through a quick temperature check. From there, new shooters were oriented by a First Shots powerpoint, staff introductions, gun safety rules, and future shooting opportunities.

From there, the University of Arizona WildGats athletes taught new shooters the fundamentals of grip, stance, sight alignment, and trigger squeeze with visible laser SIRT trainers. NextLevel Training, Platinum Sponsor of the Scholastic Action Shooting Program, manufactures training tools, especially helpful for new shooters.

Once given an introduction, First Shots participants were taken to the live fire range, receiving 1:1 guidance with a Coach, Instructor or RSO.

During this year’s SASP National Virtual Championships, athletes from 17 states competed from home ranges to help their state become the top state in pistol or rifle and have bragging rights for the next year.

Athletes of their respective SASP State Championships were considered in the following disciplines:

• Rimfire Pistol Iron
• Rimfire Rifle Iron or Optic
• Centerfire Iron
• PCC

At the National Virtual Championship, the 2020 All-State Athletes not only competed for the National title with their team, but also represented their state in Rifle and Pistol teams to crown the top states in the nation.

The Missouri All-State Pistol Team, edged out Tennessee by just over one second to become the top state in the nation for SASP pistol disciplines.

Ohio All-State Rifle Team members claimed their title by over four seconds, becoming the top state in the nation for SASP rifle disciplines.

2020 SASP All-State Finals