Triumphing in the NRL young guns series during his high school junior year and successfully defending his title in his senior year. With a plethora of top 10 finishes and multiple top five accolades in National Rifle League (NRL) and Precision Rifle Series (PRS) national matches, he has proven his mettle in the field of precision shooting. As a Hornady sponsored shooter since 2021, he relies on Hornady A-Tip Match bullets, and with his sights set on the future, Carson aims to excel further in the sport he holds dear.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am from Oklahoma and I started into long range competitive shooting about six years ago. In my junior year in high school I won the NRL young guns series and defended my title in my senior year. I have accumulated many top 10 finishes and multiple top five finishes in NRL and PRS national matches.
What age were you when you first started shooting?
I have been shooting guns since I was a little kid. I loved to go hunting with my dad for anything, mainly deer, coyotes, and birds. My first long range rifle was a Ruger Precision 6.5 Creedmoor that I used for hunting and targets. When I started taking competitions seriously, I switched to a 6.5x47 Lapua built by Wildcat Precision, with an Impact action and XLR chassis. My first match I shot with the new gun was a club match that I ended up winning, and so the addiction started.
Who introduced you to shooting?
I got introduced to shooting by my dad. We both got into long range shooting through a family friend who had experience shooting matches. I entered the Oklahoma Practical Precision Shooter’s young guns match with the 6.5 Creedmoor and had a lot of fun. So, I came back the next year with more experience and the 6.5x47 Lapua and won the match the following year.
What’s been the most valuable lesson you have learned from shooting?
The most valuable lesson that shooting has taught me is to have a short memory. If you have a bad stage, figure out what went wrong then move on. You can’t go back and reshoot it, so learn from your mistakes and go into the next stage with a positive outlook.
Why did you choose to specialize in your discipline?
I chose to specialize in long range shooting because I found it very interesting. Not only do you have to train your skills as a shooter, but you must know what the wind is doing and how it will affect the flight of your bullet.
What advice would you give to anyone interested in shooting competitively?
Practice makes perfect. When I was shooting a lot is when I was able to be the most successful. A lot of times I was very busy with school and would only be able to shoot matches, but when I was able practice more, my scores were noticeably better.
Tell us about your competition set up.
My current competition setup is a 6 BRA chambered by Wildcat Precision on an Impact action. I run the XLR Envy Pro chassis and a Tangent Theta 5–25 scope. I shoot Hornady 110 A-tips that I hand load.
How do you prepare for competitions in terms of training and practice?
I spent four years at Oklahoma State University which was about three hours from home and my rifle, so it was hard for me to practice a lot, but when I was able to, it was usually by dry firing off random stuff I could find in the barn.
What has been your greatest achievement in your shooting career?
My greatest achievement would have to be winning the NRL young gun title two years in a row.
What goals do you have for the future?
I have just graduated college and I am starting my career. Once I get going with work, I would like to have time to practice more and get back to the top of the sport.
What one person dead or alive, would you love to meet and why?
I think I would choose Elon Musk. As an engineer I think it would be very beneficial for me to be able to have a conversation with him. He is one of the greatest minds of our time with some interesting opinions on space and travel.
How long have you been a Hornady sponsored shooter?
I started shooting for Hornady in early 2021. I like using Hornady bullets because of their performance. In my opinion, the A-Tip bullets are the best-made long range competition bullets on the market.
