Travis, what disciplines are you currently competing in?

As usual, I’m still competing in 3-Gun when there are matches, but Covid-19 has slowed things down and I’ve continued competing in some long range bolt gun matches. I really like long range matches but as it’s not my primary focus, I usually just shoot them for fun and don’t spend a ton of time practicing for them. Let’s just say I go into those matches with realistic expectations!

Tell us what you’ve been up to over the past three years.

I’ve been focused primarily on 3-Gun, while competing in some team and some long range bolt gun matches. The team matches aren’t as prevalent as they used to be which is really disappointing, as these are my favorite type. Most of the team matches have a “figure it out on the clock” style which I really enjoy.

Since we last spoke, what competitions have you won and which are you most proud of?

I’ve actually had some good finishes considering the low number of matches I’ve shot since we last spoke. Some of the highlights are listed below:

• 2020 Surefire World MG Championship 2x4 Open Champion
• 2020 Hornady Precision Rifle Championship Tactical Division Champion
• 2020 S3 Sniper Team Championship Tactical Division Champion
• 2019 Cedar Valley UML District 2 Championship 2 Gun Division Champion
• 2019 Safariland Expedition UML National Championship 2 Gun Division Champion
• 16th Annual Idaho Glocks Only Championship “Sub Compact” Division Champion

How has your shooting style changed or improved?

I think the biggest change to my shooting style is that I’ve really significantly changed my preparation and outlook in getting ready for matches. What I mean by this is I quit practicing. HAHA! When it was at its peak, I competed at a fairly high level in the 3-Gun professional circuit. I put a lot of time, money, and effort into getting to that level, and while I had a great time doing it, I’ve come to the conclusion that shooting professionally is probably never going to be ‘the gig that pays the bills’. When I realized that, I also realized that the reason I started shooting in the first place was because it was fun and I got to hang out with really good people.

The other thing I realized is that I don’t have to work really hard and have a good finish to make that happen! For the last couple of years, I’ve mostly been relying on a good attitude and residual skillset to get me through. Somehow it still seems to be working!

Tell us about your current competition set up.

For 3-Gun matches I’m currently running a Caracal USA Versus rifle in 223. I shoot a lot of 55gr Hornady Frontier ammo for most stages, but for the longer stages, I’ll use 75gr BTHP Match or some of the old steel cased training ammo I’ve squirreled away. My rifle has an 18" Proof Research carbon fiber barrel and it’s topped with a Vortex Razor Gen III scope held in place by a Warne Scope RAMP mount. I’ve also got a Vortex Razor Red Dot mounted for an offset site.

My pistol is an EMG Customs Open division pistol in 9mm with a Vortex Razor Red Dot mounted on it as well. I primarily shoot Hornady’s 124gr XTP +P American Gunner ammo out of it.

My shotgun is a Remington Versa Max with an X Rail holding up to 29 rounds of 12-gauge ammo. Just like the rifle and the pistol, I’m running a Vortex Razor Red Dot on this gun as well.

The belt I use to carry around mags and other gear for all of these firearms is made by Safariland. I’m also using their new open division holster which I absolutely love.

What are your goals for the future?

To shoot the same matches I won last year and try to defend my titles. I also had some finishes that weren’t up to par which I’d won championships at before. One of them is the Wyoming Governors Cup in Cody Wyoming. I’m also going to try to find a couple longer range team matches to shoot. Those are a ton of fun and I really miss shooting them.

What do you think is important to keep our sport alive and what are you doing to encourage this?

I don’t know what the most important thing to keep our sport alive is, but one thing that’s important to me is getting juniors and new shooters involved. I’m hopeful that the MGM Targets Junior Shooter Camp will come back. This is something I’ve been involved with at some level since its inception in 2009. I’ve been coaching at the camps the last four or five years. The gentlemen that took over running it took last year off for some work training but the rumor is he’ll be reviving it this year, so fingers crossed.

What mental tool do you use under pressure?

I think the biggest mental tool I use when I’m under pressure is apathy. I know that may not sound like it makes sense, but it seems to work for me. What I mean by that is this… I figure at the point I need to be stressed out there is NOTHING I can do to fix the situation. All of the preparation I needed to do to be at my best in this moment should have already taken place. If I’m not prepared at the point when I’m starting to get nervous, worrying about it is really NOT going to help. At that point in time, the only thing you can do is have a good positive mental attitude and do your best. What happens will happen and there’s nothing you can do to change it at this point in the game, so have fun and let the lead fly!

What challenges did you come across in getting to where you are today?

Some of the challenges I came across getting to where I am today had a lot to do with lack of information. When I started shooting competitively, even registering for an event was five years down the road, so figuring out how to practice for 3-Gun, or what equipment to use, or even who to talk to about taking a class was really hard to do. I made a lot of stuff up as I went along. This includes everything from practice sessions and drills to actual equipment. Literally I made some of the equipment I used back then. It’s really weird to think about how disconnected everything was.

What motivates you to continue improving?

Honestly, I don’t know that I am motivated to improve. At this point in my life, I’ve got three things I focus on when I’m shooting competitions…

1. Be safe
2. Be a good representative of my sponsors, which includes helping educate new shooters on skills and equipment
3. Have a good time!

Tell us a bit about what else you enjoy doing away from shooting.

Outside of shooting and competing, I enjoy riding snow bikes with my son and wife, fly fishing, and I’ve recently re-taken up golfing which I think I might enjoy.