Based in Idaho, Bennie has more than 25 years’ experience in counter terrorism and SWAT training, working with specialized units in the military, as well as federal, state and county law enforcement. With a long list of wins under his belt, Bennie has competed in 3-Gun, the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Multi-Gun, Tactical long-range rifle, Sniper Championships and Small Arms competitions. Not content with instructing and competing, Bennie has also developed technical mounting systems and training magazines for handguns. His company, Crisis Resolution Training Consultants, was founded in the early 1990s, and runs courses, produces instructional DVDs and develops specialist products for law enforcement, military and competitive shooters.

What age where you when you started to shoot?

I can’t remember when I didn’t shoot. When I got my first BB gun I’d do my chores and then search the borrow pits looking for coke bottles so I could buy ammunition. Then it was off to the woods to hunt.

Who introduced/taught you to shoot?

Allen Hall introduced me to competitive shooting and Doug Evancic played a huge role in getting me to the next step. Doug was a fierce competitor and one of the top USPSA handgun shooters in the world. He really helped me with the more intricate parts of shooting and gave me a solid foundation from which to work. I also learned a tremendous amount through the ‘school of hard knocks.’ My good friend Mike Voigt helped me polish things out in the handgun, long-range and 3-Gun world. Mike is extremely talented, and his knowledge base of shooting disciplines and associated equipment is off the chart. I continue to learn from people I shoot with and am always on the lookout for learning experiences.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned from them?

Each played an important role. Allen got me pointed in the right direction, encouraged me to push myself and helped me understand that having the best equipment isn’t nearly as valuable as having the desire to train. Doug helped to smooth out my shooting, exposed me to the USPSA, and helped me understand how to shoot handguns. His attention to detail, (whether breaking down a stage or preparing his equipment) has stayed with me and helped me tremendously. Mike elevated my understanding of the dynamics of shooting and equipment set up with 3-Gun shooting. His understanding of the visual and mental side of the game was absolutely critical in allowing me to be in the winner’s circle.

What would be the advice you’d pass on to your kids with regards to shooting and guns?

Two fold; First, I would want them to remember that the shooting industry is a great community with some of the most patriotic and down-to-earth people you’ll ever meet. Second, that the 2nd Amendment (like the rest of the constitution) has to be protected and maintained if America is to remain a free nation.

Why did you choose to specialize in 3-Gun matches?

3-Gun competition involved firearms that I used in my job within law enforcement. These matches allowed us to push each weapon platform, dramatically increasing our skill sets to a much higher level than we could have done on our own.

You conduct a lot of training, for both the military and law enforcement personnel. Does your training as a 3-Gun shooter help in this? Does it give you a different perspective on drills and techniques?

Any competition that is dynamic in nature will always be beneficial to law enforcement and military personnel. There is no doubt that the knowledge gained while competing has a huge impact on the tactical side of shooting. 3-Gun competition pushed us and allowed us to see what we were lacking in order to increase our accuracy and speed-on-target. Our weapon handling skills were enhanced to a much higher level than those who did not compete. Also, our ability to execute precise shots under stress increased tremendously. The majority of the drills in 3-Gun shooting easily translate into the tactical side of the house. Those that don’t are easily identified. However, we can still learn something from them and have fun while training. In fact, I’d dare to say that 3-Gun drills challenge the shooter to a much higher level than their required qualification course-of-fire.

What would you advise someone who wishes to start shooting 3-Gun?

What makes a good 3-Gun competition shooter? Tenacity, tenacity, tenacity! You have to be willing to put in time on all three guns and go the extra mile in everything you are doing. Initially, I wouldn’t worry about having the perfect equipment; that will come with time. For those on the top, you live, breath and eat 3-Gunning; there is no ‘off switch’ nor is there time for other hobbies. 3-Gun competitions have exploded across the US over the last 10 years, and I don’t see it slowing down. Great news for the new shooter — he can normally find a high-quality match close by.

Isn’t the mindset for long-range sniper techniques very different to those for 3-Gun? How do you switch between the two disciplines?

The mindset is the same, but the approach is different. You must be extremely methodical and detail-oriented in your equipment and load development in long-range shooting. You must also have a strong understanding of external ballistics and the effects of the environment, ‘wind calls.’ Long range is extremely precise and methodical in all aspects, with the caliber choice and load development playing a significant role in your success. What separates those who are at the top is their ability to call the wind.

In the 3-Gun world, accuracy details are important, but nothing close to the level required of long- range shooting. In the 3-Gun arena, you start with your hair on fire and pour gasoline on it at the buzzer hoping to “Burn it Down!” 3-Gun is all about speed; proficiency gets you there; you’re constantly looking for ways to increase your efficiency, pushing the limits, all while trying to avoid “falling off the cliff”. The scoring for 3-Gun competition has changed dramatically over the last decade. In my opinion, it requires less accuracy now. Technical shots are rare, and because of this everyone is running wide open, at the buzzer.

Also, once you have your loads dialed in for long-range shooting, the maintenance is rather simple as compared to 3-Gun. The 3-Gun side takes a lot of time, preparation and practice to become proficient in all three platforms. As an example, if you make a bad load with your handgun or rifle, it may cost you a second. However, making a bad load with the shotgun can cost you 3–5 seconds.

What are your favorite three guns (rifle, shotgun, handgun) to compete with?

I tend to favor the rifle. Whether it’s my Christensen Arms AR or TFM bolt gun, the rifle has always been my strength and passion. Because of the vast amount of 3-Gun competitions, I rarely get to shoot a “handgun only” match. When I do, I always think how easy it is not to have to drag around my rifle and shotgun. My second favorite is the handgun. I love my STI and Sig P320. My relationship with the shotgun could be described as a love/hate connection mainly because my success is largely contingent upon how fast I can load it.

What ammunition do you like to use for competing?

For 3-Gun competitions, along with my Christensen Arms VTAC 3-Gun, I use a variety of target destroying projectiles and ammunition from Hornady. The mainstay when shooting Scoped Tactical is the 75 gr BTHP, which crushes the longer targets and really helps with managing the wind. I also blend in the 60 gr V-Max and 55 gr BTHP Steel Match loads for targets at distances under 200 yards. If I am shooting Limited (Red Dots), I lean hard toward Hornady’s 53 gr V-Max Superformance ammunition. Their trajectory is like a laser and the newly designed 53 gr V-Max bullet has a very high ballistic coefficient for its weight, making life a lot easier with long-range targets.

For handgun shooting, nothing beats Hornady’s XTP Bullets for consistency and accuracy. I favor the 147 gr XTPs in 9mm because they are softer recoiling and hit hard on steel targets. The 180 gr XTPs are a favorite for my STI 40. The XTPs are the most accurate bullet I have ever shot out of a handgun; they are simply incredible. When it comes to personal defense and law enforcement operations, nothing beats the Critical Defense line of ammunition. Simply put, this line of ammunition is hard-hitting and extremely accurate, with bullet performance maintained across the board in various calibers.

For long-range competition, I favor the 6.5 and 6 Creedmoor; they are my “go to” calibers. Both are amazingly accurate and easy to shoot. Hornady’s 140 gr ELD Match and 143 gr ELD-X loaded ammunition has hand-loaded accuracy and is a hard-hitter on long-range targets.

In the 308 platform, I’m partial to TAP ammunition in both the 168 gr A-Max and 178 gr BTHP loads. I am also looking forward to shooting the 178 gr ELD-X ammunition. When I’m using my 300 Win Mag, nothing beats Hornady’s 208 gr ELDs and 212 gr ELD-X bullets; they are the definition of ‘hard hitting.’ Both bullets ballistic coefficients are extremely high and you never have to worry about bullet or loaded ammunition variations as their consistency is outstanding! From a spotter’s perspective, the 308 projectiles leave a great vapor trail to the target. There is never any doubt as to whether or not the target was hit at extended ranges.

How long have you been a Hornady sponsored shooter?

I have been with Hornady all my life in one way or another. On a professional basis, I’ve been with them since around 2000. Hornady is a great company — one that gives back to the local community and across the US. They are constantly pursuing cutting-edge performance, and best of all, they’re all shooters. I’m proud to say that Hornady stands behind their products, the shooting industry and our nation and those who protect it.

You also design accessories for shooting, such as the safety magazine and the co-witnessing mount. How did you go about getting into the design process?

I have always looked for better ways to shoot and the equipment side of that plays a vital role. I have helped design a variety of equipment through my relationships with my sponsors so it is a natural path for me. I have also developed a one-piece scope mount designed around the automatic rifle platform that filled the void for what I thought was lacking by other manufactures, it is called the BC Sniper Assault Mount (BC-SAM). I have a very innovative piece of equipment that is going to be a game changer for long-range engagements that will be show casing at the 2017 Shot Show, so stay tuned!

For more information on Bennie’s latest products, competition results and news, visit www.benniecooley.com.