Join us as we delve into his experiences, insights, and the invaluable lessons learned throughout his shooting career.
Tell me a little bit about yourself and when you first started shooting.
I’m Texas born and raised, and I still live there with my family. I work as a veterinarian and shooting is a hobby that’s brought me so much joy over the years, and a fair amount of success too. I’ve been USPSA Grandmaster in three divisions, a four-time USPSA area Open Champion and the five-time USPSA Texas State Open Champion — among other wins.
I first started shooting at around eight years’ old when I was given my first gun, a Savage Stevens 410 single shot. I eventually upgraded to a 22 Remington bolt action rifle and hunted birds, rabbits, squirrels, just whatever I could find!
When did you start shooting competitively?
As I progressed to hunting larger animals, I got interested in becoming more proficient with my shooting. That search for perfection led me to the world of competitive shooting — I think I was in my mid-twenties or so at the time. I kicked off shooting steel matches and so on at local clubs. That progressed to USPSA pistol competitions, then to sniper competitions and then onto 3-Gun.
When did you get supported by Hornady?
I think it was around 2009, and I’ve been a part of Team Hornady ever since.
Was there anyone in particular who influenced your shooting?
It was personal for me rather than being influenced by anyone else — my journey was really based on what I liked to do. I did around eight to 10 years of USPSA pistol shooting and then decided I wanted to shoot rifles. I’m competitive and wanted to try my hand at long-range rifle shooting. That naturally graduated onto 3-Gun, because of the obvious overlap.
How do you prepare for competitions?
When I get to a match, I find we’re always presented with a new scenario or dynamic, like they’re trying to throw you a curveball! So, my whole goal becomes to focus on the shooting and not getting caught up in whatever gimmick that they’re trying to use to shake things up. If it goes well then obviously, I’m happy, if it goes badly that informs my training going forward.
What’s the most valuable lesson shooting has taught you?
You need to be proficient with your shooting platform of course, but it’s the mental game that is most influential and bleeds into everyday life. It’s the most fundamental aspect of it. USPSA and 3-Gun are very dynamic sports and different, you’re never doing the same thing twice so being mentally prepared is vital. Plus, my mantra is to practice what you’re weak at; those areas in matches where you struggle. Everybody wants to practice what they’re good at because it’s fun, but that won’t help you move forward. Work on your weak areas.
What is your greatest achievement in your shooting career to date? If it’s possible to pick one!
The standout win would have to be being crowned USPSA Multi-Gun Heavy Metal Division National Champion in 2010. The goal is always to be national champion, you’re building toward that with the regional wins, and this one was special. I have boxes full of plaques and trophies but that one is still out on the shelf.
Can you share a typical competition setup with us?
Sure, so my AR15 is a JP Enterprise rifle with a Leupold Mark 6 1–6x20 scope on top. I shoot Hornady 75 gr Match hollow point ammo. I know lots of people shoot the newer stuff, but I love it and have had such good luck with it, so I keep shooting it. I shoot an Infinity 9mm pistol and use 115 gr American Gunner ammo from Hornady in that one.
Do you hand load your ammunition?
I don’t hand load anymore — once I started using Hornady products I found that they are just so good that I just didn’t need to spend the time on that.
Any hunting trips planned?
Not right now. I got to go to Utah two years in a row in 2021 and 2022 and took some really good mule deer. I shot those with Hornady 6.5 PRC 143 gr ELD-X® Precision Hunter and they performed flawlessly. Perhaps I should get planning again!
What one person, dead or alive, would you love to meet and why?
I don’t idolize sports figures or actors to be honest. I think if I could sit around a campfire tonight with a group of people alive or dead it would be with someone like Fred Bear who was a pioneer in his field and listen to stories about his hunting exploits.
