Jim O'Young

I forgot all about his rather unorthodox "surrender" start position- high & wide... It certainly worked, drawing from that Hellweg holster. Do you remember the bandana he always wore around his neck?? Don't cry because he's gone; smile because he was here. I miss him already...

And loved BY his shooting gamily...

NOOOOO!!! Ted was one of the truly good guys and one of the early superstars of the Limited Division. He could really drive those iron sights! I remember him earning a spot in the Stee Challenge shootoff with his irons, after nearly everyone switched to the dot, as well as always being near the top in Montrose, using a single stack against all the hi-caps. Shooting steel was his passion, especially the American Handgunner World Championship Shootoffs in Montrose. He seriously considered buying the match & range from Paul Miller and put on his own matches at the Bullet Hole range near San Antonio. (Shred- It's been many years since I have seen Ted, so please chime in if I'm not recalling anything correctly) He was a pilot, loved his daughter dearly and couldn't wait to get back home from a match to see her. My fondest memory was from the 1998 (or was it 1999?) Steel Challenge in Piru, when Ted, Kerby Smith, Claudio Salassa, Ernie Langdon, Tom Yost & I were all having dinner together at the Claim Jumper. Ted had the biggest smile and said he was so happy to be surrounded & sharing the company all of his friends & sponsors (who were also his friends) and being at the Steel Challenge. As much as he was an incredible shooter, he was even a more incredible person and I will ALWAYS remember him fondly for being both. Rest in peace, my friend. I hope you're shooting steel in the sky and may your single stack never run out of magnetic bullets! Jim

"Hell, I was there"...

RELIABILITY, accuracy, fit/comfort and 9+1 rounds are the only qualities you REALLY need in a Steel Challenge pistol. Everything else is secondary.

Thanks, Nolan! Yes they DO, and they do it well!

Aaron Hogue tragically passed away in an accident at the 2022 Reno Air Races. He was the 2021 Rookie of the Year and competing as the top qualifier in the finals race of his jet's class. The 2nd generation owner of Hogue Inc., he & his team developed many innovative products for the shooting world and grew the company into THE industry leader. There is a very high chance that you have a pair of Hogue grips or stocks on your guns, or maybe a Hogue knife in your pocket. Likewise, you have probably seen Hogue products on the prize table and a member of the Hogue shooting team at most of matches you've attended. He was a generous sponsor, benefactor & patron of our sport, as well as a competitor himself. Aaron lived a full life, as well as one spent pushing the limits. And that is how he left this world. Fly high & fast, my friend and rest in peace.

Actually, it was in 2017 in Morro Bay...

At the 2017 WSSC in Morro Bay, Troy made HIS decision to allow wheelchair shooter, Anthony Spinelli to shoot Outer Limits from the center box WITHOUT INCURRING ANY PROCEDURAL, OR TIME PENALTY. Guess who WON the stage?? Hint: It WASN'T Max, KC, BJ, or ANYONE WHO WAS REQUIRED to move between boxes... I was there and on the same squad as Anthony, who incidentally, shot quite well.

It was Jim McMahon, (aka JM Custom) a local gunsmith in San Jose, who originally got his start at the now, long-gone Powder Horn gun shop. He built some really nice guns (both pistols & wheelguns) in the late 80s- early 90s. I lost contact with him and have no idea of his current situation.

Just received word that Marc Halcon passed away from complications due to Covid. Marc had served as the Section Coordinator for Linea de Fuego and as the USPSA Area 2 Director. He also supported & sponsored the Steel Challenge WSSC in Piru. Marc was an old school guy who contributed more to our sport than he ever received in return. RIP

It is with GREAT sadness that I inform you of Jim Duncan's passing. Jim was a fixture in both the SoCal & national Steel Challenge communities. He was the Outer Limits RO at the Steel Challenge WSSC in Piru from 1998-2011 and then an RO every year at the West Coast Steel Challenge & Briley West Coast Steel Championships from 2011-2016. Additionally, he was the MD for the Palm Springs Gun Club Steel Challenge matches. He was a joy to shoot & compete with and was ALWAYS willing to help out a fellow competitor with his time, advice, ammo or equipment. Jim was especially helpful & giving to beginners & new shooters entering our sport. He certainly contributed more to our sport than he ever received from it. Jim was a true friend and made everyone a better person for having known him. In addition to serving our sport, Jim loved & served his country & community with honor, both in the US Army as a Special Forces Green Beret and as an LEO in the Inglewood, CA PD. Last year, Jim & his wife Janet (who was the Speed Option scorekeeper at the Piru WSSC) escaped California and moved to Kansas, where they had bought & began to settle into their dream home. He was so happy to finally have a property where he could setup his own shooting range. Although we are GREATLY diminished with Jim's passing, Heaven has welcomed home another RO from the Golden Age of the Steel Challenge. Jim (Outer Limits) has been reunited with Loren Neill (Roundabout), Gene "Gunny" Ramey (5 to Go) & Jim Owen (Smoke & Hope). They will be there, waiting to call us to the line when it's our turn to join them. Rest in peace, Jim.

I have been told specifically that it weights just over 10 oz., but have not measured it myself. I have also found this to be the case and this is why I shoot CCI SV in both my Briley Raptor rifle and S&W pistol.

10 rounds CCI SV, 80 round mag dump into the upper AB zone to heat up the barrel, then 10 rounds to the original POA. Result: NO POI shift. Again, this was shot using a 4 MOA red dot, which translates to 1" dot reticle at 25 yds. If you do your part with your rifle & magazines clean & properly setup and use good ammo, it, along with the Briley Raptor barrel, will go bang every time. The accuracy is more than sufficient for my purposes. If you can outrun the accuracy of this barrel, you're a better shooter than I. And if the actual weight is important to you, please know that Claudio at Briley weighted it on a calibrated analytical scale at just over 10 oz.

10 rounds CCI Std. Velocity, 25 yds., sandbag rest, 4 MOA red dot, slow fire for accuracy. The group is well within the 1" dot reticle at 25 yds. I have NO experience with, nor can I speak with any first hand knowledge about either the accuracy or reliability of the Wiland barrel.