Training & practice produce luck & wins for San Antonio Policeman

San Antonio Police Department's Lee Biegert stands with Greg Foster from SIG SAUER after winning a P250

San Antonio, Texas - "I've never won anything in my life."

Those were the words of San Antonio Police Officer Lee Biegert after breaking the drought. And this win was just the beginning.

More on Biegert and his new winning ways ...

Shot in 2011 Police Shooting Championship Open Revolver 1500

A .38 Caliber Bob Jones Revolver - owned by Border Patrol Agent Robert Vadasz

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Around this time last year, we were going over the guns used by U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Vadasz to win his third National Police Shooting Championship title in four years. Specifically, his Bob Jones .38 revolver.

To get the entire story, take a look at our post from 2011 as NRAblog Rewind brings back the Bob Jones PPC revolver.

NRA Club holds a Military Surplus Rifle Match in New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Our friend Patrick Hernandez from the New Mexico Military Surplus Rifle & Pistol Shooters Club (NRA Club # B82119) dropped us a note the other day. Seems Patrick and the crowd at the club recently held a customized match. Not an NRA sanctioned match mind you, but a match that suits the mission of their club — the use of vintage military surplus firearms at long ranges.

More on the Guns of August 1914-1918 Match in Albuquerque ...

Friends of NRA host takes two divisions and retains Steel Master title in Florida

Fairfax, Virginia - Earlier this month, Friends of NRA television host and professional shooter Jessie Duff captured the Ladies’ Limited and Open division titles for the 2012 Steel Challenge World Championships at the Universal Shooting Academy in Frostproof, Florida.

No stranger to the winner's circle, Jessie's history at the Challenge includes four Ladies' Open and Limited titles along with three Ladies' .22 Open titles. No small feat as the Steel Challenge calls on some of the fastest shooters in the world. Luckily for Jesse, she happens to be one of them.

Of the many divisions available, Jessie entered the Limited, Open and .22 Open whose aggregate determines the Steel Master. After her impressive performance this year, Jessie is now a four-time, consecutive, winner of the Steel Master title. At the level Jessie is currently shooting, you can bet on her adding quite a few more of those to her resume in the future.

Like in the MidwayUSA/NRA Bianchi Cup, the Open division is home to the most fiercest of competition. Unlike the Bianchi Cup, however, the shooter's score is also matched against the time it takes them to run the course. Jessie's winning time in Ladies' Open was 99.90 seconds, good enough for 17th overall.

More on the Jessie Duff's win at the Steel Challenge World Championships ...

Pageant participants practice improving personal protection

Five years ago the women vying to be crowned Miss New Mexico were taught the NRA's life-saving Refuse To Be A Victim course in preparation for the big event. Read on to see how they did and what they learned.

Rio Rancho, New Mexico - The 2007 Miss New Mexico contestants participated in the NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim® seminar on April 1 in Rio Rancho, N.M., as part of their annual pre-pageant workshop. A total of 19 Miss New Mexico contestants and 14 of their adult sponsors took part in the seminar taught by Refuse To Be A Victim® instructor Richard Barbaras.

Christina Hall, the 2006 Miss New Mexico, was on hand to describe situations that had occurred to her, both during her official duties as Miss New Mexico as well as in her private life, that had caused her concerns about her personal safety. Using this as a springboard, Instructor Barbaras was able to relate the material in the Refuse To Be A Victim® seminar to what the contestants could be facing as they pursued not only the Miss New Mexico competition activities, but in their daily lives as well.

More on Miss New Mexico contestants taking Refuse To Be A Victim ...

When on the Amazing Race, fat and slow overcomes thin and fast

That stupid sled.

U.S. Border Patrol Agents Art and J.J. had no problems stacking watermelons, landing helicopters or rappelling down side scrappers, but when asked to ride a sled ... that's where everything began to unwind.

"When I got up there, I never thought there would be a problem," explained Velez at the 2012 NRA National Police Shooting Championships in New Mexico. "I needed to pick a sled with the thinnest rails so I could go as fast as possible. The idea of trying to balance on that thing never even crossed my mind. Thought it would be a piece of cake.

"They guys were holding all these sleds. I thought the one with the thinnest rails would go the fastest. If I had picked the other sled that had the wider fat rails, I would have made it down the hill in a flash. But I went for the thin rails. That’s what ended up killing me."

More on Art's final leg on Amazing Race ...

Three years ago this week, Lisa Metheny filed a report about her time working at the NRA's Women's Wilderness Escape in Raton, New Mexico. Here's a look:

NRA Hosts Women's Wilderness Escape

For nine days this fall, a diverse group of homemakers, teachers, nurses, a district judge, commercial pilot, veterinarian, and even a doctor all shared a common desire: the longing to experience something unique, unexpected, and challenging. Something that would force them to step outside their comfort zones. Many of the women received an encouraging nudge from a supportive spouse, while others made the decision entirely on their own. But each eventually chose to venture to the Land of Enchantment for an adventure camp for women, the National Rifle Association’s Women’s Wilderness Escape (WWE).

More on Lisa's report ...

Smith & Wesson PPC 9 six-inch at NRA's Police Championships

Albuquerque, New Mexico - A couple of weeks ago, we began a review of guns. The guns used by Chase Blohm to win High Sheriff at NRA's 2012 National Police Shooting Championships in Albuquerque. Since last time we looked at a revolver, I thought now was the time for a semi-automatic. Presenting the Smith & Wesson PPC 9 six inch.

"About four years ago I purchased this PPC 9," said Blohm. "Originally I shot a five inch and just worked my way up. When I made the change, my points jumped up at least ten."

More on Blohm's Smith & Wesson PPC 9 six-inch semi-auto ...

Ever think of Cowboy Action Shooting? This is where it all started

Although most episodes of Curator's Corner are shot right here at NRA Headquarters, there are times when we're whisked away to exotic locations for a look at an equally exotic firearm or two. Last week's show, for example, we got a look at Patrick Hernandez's War Surplus rifles while in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the National Police Shooting Championships. Well they didn't stop there.

For just down the road a piece (about thirty miles west to be exact) is the town of Edgewood, and in Edgewood is the World Headquarters for SASS — the Single Action Shooting Society. Which, for those of you wondering, explains the period garb worn by Senior Curator Phil Schreier there on the right.

More on Curator's Corner at Single Action Shooting Society's headquarters ...