Phoenix AZ - 25m Rifle - October 17–18, 2026

[kelly42a]

What a great weekend at Ben Avery!

We welcomed 16 shooters to the line Saturday, with an impressive 15 returning Sunday. It was an excellent group that included several first-time Appleseeders, and everyone brought a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.

The cooler temperatures and mostly cloudy skies provided a welcome break from the usual Phoenix sun. The wind, however, was not content to wait for its customary afternoon appearance. It joined us early both mornings and kept things interesting, with mats, tarps, and targets bowing and shifting throughout the weekend. It never presented a safety concern, but it certainly slowed us down at times and gave everyone some extra challenges to overcome.

The persistence paid off. We welcomed three new Riflemen over the course of the weekend, and Saturday afternoon's Redcoat produced eight shingle hits. One of the weekend's biggest highlights came Sunday afternoon, when 11-year-old Milan cleared his Redcoat—an outstanding accomplishment!

We were also excited to hear that a couple of shooters are interested in joining the instructor cadre after attending their second event. We look forward to welcoming them back and helping them continue along that path.

Thank you to all the shooters and instructors who made this such an enjoyable and successful weekend. Congratulations to our new Riflemen and to Milan on that cleared Redcoat. We hope to see everyone back on the line soon!