ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <meta name="description" content="Nicholas Neel Shooting USPSA National Champion Grand Master" /> <meta name="keywords" content="USPSA, Shooting, Pistol, Action, Stages, Junior, National Champion, Infinity Firearms, SVI" /> <meta name="author" content="Nicholas Neel" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="single.css" title="Nicholas Neel Shooting" media="screen,projection" /> <title>Nicholas Neel Shooting - Home Page</title> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="-kmNlqKBFLccEhmhrM8EdlWGHvPmf7V5ziWcC3dmtIs" /> </head> <body> <div id="wrap"> <h1><a href="index.html">Nicholas Neel Shooting</a></h1> <p class="slogan">2009 USPSA Open Nationals Junior Champion and 2010 USPSA Limited Nationals Junior Champion</p> <p class="toptabs"> <strong class="hide">Main menu:</strong> <a class="toptab active" href="../index.html">Home</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../about.html">About</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../equipment.html">Equipment</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../sponsors.html">Sponsors</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../schedule.html">Schedule</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../scores.html">Scores</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../photos/photos.php">Photos</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../videos.html">Videos</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../forsale.html">For Sale</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../training.html">Training</a><span class="hide"> | </span> <a class="toptab" href="../contact.html">Contact</a><span class="hide"> | </span> </p> <div id="maincontent"> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Custom made Thumbrest now available.</font></h1> <p><table width="100%"> <tr align="center"> <td class="nav">I now have available for sale some custom made Thumbrests. I wanted a professionally made version of what my dad had fashioned for me and I now have them in stock. See my <a href="http://www.nicholasneel.com/forsale.html">For Sale</a> page for more information. <table width="100%"><tr align="center"><td class="nav"><img src="../photos/thumb3.jpg" alt="Thumbrest 3 image" width="400" height="267"></img></td></tr></table> </td> </tr> </table></p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 5th at the 2011 Area 4 Championship</font></h1> <p>Well, the weather at the Double Tap Ranch was 100+ on on Saturday though on Sunday it was a cool 79 degrees. I had a pretty good match and finished 5th but I know I could have done better. I did win 2 stages though so there was some good going on! Overall it was a great match with a full range of challenging stages. Thanks to all who helped put the match on! Video is posted. </p> <br> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 2nd at the 2011 Hornady Area 3 Championship</font></h1> <p>Beautiful weather (82 degrees partly cloudy) and good friends make for a great weekend. Using my Hornady 125gr HAP bullets I was able to go one for one on the stage 1 poppers at 43 yards to take the stage win and 2nd place overall in Open. We drive again this year and again one of us had to be back to work at 8 AM Monday so we left right after the match was over. Thanks to everyone who helped put on the match, especially Hornady as this was a first class event. Video is posted. </p> <br> <br> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 5th at the 2011 Double Tap Championship</font></h1> <p>Well, at least it was not snowing or raining so this match was already far better than previous DTC's. It was however pretty warm. Saturday was about 95 with a decent breeze. I had a little fall on my first stage but was able to recover and finish fairly well. Our second stage was Stage 9 which had some pop-up disappearing targets on it. Doing a little math and seeing how long it took for the targets to appear I decided to just try to burn the stage down and fore go even shooting at them. I had the fastest time on the stage but dropped a few too many points and wound up second. Overall it was a great match and got to make a couple new friends and got to shoot the match with 4 Team Infinity shooters. As always, thanks to my sponsors....Infinity Firearms for the best Open guns available....to Hornady Bullets for a great product and Hodgdon Powders for the very consistent AutoComp! (In fact, my loads were used to test the chronograph as there was some concern it was running a bit low. The Chrono man knows how fast my loads are across my dads dual CED M2 setup...I told him my loads would be in the 1390's. The 3 rounds he used to test were 1397, 1395, and 1394, simply perfect). Video is posted. </p> <br> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas wins HOA at the 2011 Arkansas Sectional Match</font></h1> <p>This match was suppose to be an 8/4 stage format. When we got to the hotel Friday night we learned that very bad weather was expected for Sunday so we were to try to shoot all 12 stages in one day. It is drizzle most of the day with a period or two of real rain but for the most part we shot in the dry. I felt pretty good and shot all stages well (except for the classifier, I had 2 mikes and 1 N/S :-( ). Anyway, I was able to pull off High Overall and my dad came in second. I think this is the only time that a father and son have ever done that. Thanks to my sponsors....Infinity Firearms for the best Open gun available....to Hornady Bullets for a great product and Hodgdon Powders for the very consistent AutoComp! Video is posted. </p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">2011 Team Infinity IMM Open Gun</font></h1> <p><table width="100%"> <tr align="center"> <td class="nav">Here is a picture of my 2011 Infinity Firearms IMM Open gun I picked up 2-5-11. The fit and finish is FANTASTIC. Brandon did some custom xXx finish on the magwell and down the tri-topped slide. Simply beautiful. Thanks to Brandon and Sandy for their support! <table width="100%"><tr align="center"><td class="nav"><img src="../photos/2011teamgun.jpg" alt="2011 Team Infinity IMM Open Gun" width="800" height="514"></img></td></tr></table> </td> </tr> </table></p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas attended the 2010 MGM Targets/USAMU Junior Shooter Clinic</font></h1> <p>Just got back from the AMU Junior Clinic. It was nice to see a bunch of kids I met last year as well as receive instruction from the best shooters in the world. This years camp was structured a bit differently than last year but was still a great learning experience. There was a 4 stage match on Sunday, we didn't keep score but it was still fun and actually more enjoyable as there was no real pressure to perform. Thanks to Mike and Rhonda from MGM and ALL the Army personal who helped make it happen. I would love to go back next year but I will be too old :-(....now off to write those Thank You letters! </p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas will be on the US Open Junior World Shoot team!!!</font></h1> <p>Well, I got the email from Mike Voight, I have been offered and certainly accepted a position on the official US World Shoot Junior Open team. The World Shoot will be held in Rhodes, Greece in October, 2011. I have a lot of practicing to do! IPSC is just enough different I want to get really good at unloaded/table starts and quick 9 round CoF's. </p> <br> <h2><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas wins the 2010 USPSA Limited Nationals Junior Champion title!!!</font></h2> <p>The Limited match was even harder than the Open match. It seemed like EVERY shoot target had a no-shoot covering most of the A zone. I had a very rough day the first day. 9 Mikes and an FTE put a damper on things. For day 2 and 3 though I pulled it together and had no more penalties at all. I also only had 1 Delta for the whole match. I am glad I had an Infinity Sight Tracker and Hornady bullets to have the accuracy required for those long partial target shots . Thanks to my sponsors for allowing me to have a fantastic year, Infinity Firearms, Hornady Bullets, and Hodgdon Powders. They are great people with great products. I look forward to representing them again next year. Videos have been posted. </p> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 26th Overall and 2nd Junior at the 2010 USPSA Open Nationals</font></h1> <p>Well, I had a very rough match and did not obtain my goal of repeat Open Junior Champion. This was a very difficult (read, accuracy) match and I was just stuck in hoser mode. Too many Mikes to win it. Congratulations to Ben Thompson for taking High Junior this year! I am glad he will be on the World Shoot Junior team, I think the US Junior team will be a force to be reckoned with in Greece. I would also like to congratulate my dad...he made the Top 16 this year in Open...he was 15th Overall and that is quite a feat if I do say so myself. I hope I am able to do that next year. Videos have been posted. </p> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 5th Overall at the 2010 US IPSC Nationals</font></h1> <p>This was my first IPSC match and it was a bit different. Only being able to take an "unloaded" sight picture on a single target doesn't sound that hard but man, it made me a bit nervous. The range and weather were fantastic. IPSC matches do have one thing I did like....almost NO taping/resetting of stages. Apparently in IPSC they consider paying shooters like real sportsman. Anyway, I was able to focus pretty well and win 2 stages which to me was a big deal as Max, Chris, Shane, DiMac, and KC were there. My take away from the match is to shoot more of the turtle targets before my next IPSC match for sure...I ran Stage 7 smoking fast but I was 25! points down as I am not use to that A zone shape of the turtle target and I was a little sloppy on the aiming. Overall it was a great time and good final tune up before USPSA Nationals where I will have my tape gun with me! See you in Vegas! Videos have been posted. </p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 5th Overall at the 2010 North Texas Section Championship!</font></h1> <p>Well, the weather sucked AGAIN at the Double Tap Ranch. Robert had 8 fantastic stages setup for us but it dumped 2-3 inches of rain and turned the whole place into a soup bowl. The first 4 stages were simply an exercise in trying to keep from falling. As such all I could do was to try to keep from falling. I was able to win 2 stages somehow. I would like to thank my sponsors, Infinity Firearms, Hornady Bullets, and Hodgdon for their continued support. I have posted videos from the match if you want a good laugh. Lots of slip sliding around. Off to IPSC Nationals next, hopefully it will be dry and provide an equal playing field. </p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 8th Overall and High Junior at the 2010 Area 8 Championship!</font></h1> <p>Wow, the competition was thick at this match, Max, JJ, Chris, Shane, DiMac, and KC all showed up. I had a pretty good match except for a mike on a wide open target on stage 3 as I was rushing to get the bear trap targets and a mike on stage 5 of the left swinger and then I had a jam before my last shot on the right swinger...that hasn't happen in about 8k rounds. Oh well, stuff happens sometimes and I was at least aware enough not to attempt a load and make up the shot 3-4 seconds later. Overall the match was very good. The stages were mostly static targets and shoot it as you see it types with only 2 stages having moving targets. Nice range and great weather made for a very good event. I would like to thank my sponsors, Infinity Firearms, Hornady Bullets, and Hodgdon for their continued support. I have posted videos from the match as well. </p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 4th Overall and High Junior at the 2010 Area 3 Championship!</font></h1> <p>Ok, back with my baby (Infinity IMM Open gun) and loving it. This year's Area 3 was one heck of a match. 14 stages and I think 371 rounds minimum. The match was sponsored by one of my sponsors, Hornady and was a first class event. Thanks for their support of such a fine event in their home town. The match was held at the Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, NE. This range is fantastic. 12 very good sized bays all in a row with a giant common back berm. The match was a mix of up close and personal and 20+ yard shots on the move. Thrown in with a few quickie stages made for a GREAT match. I had a great match with 12 Top 10 finishes out of 14 stages. In the end I really only had 1 stage which I completely hit the brain ejection button on and did not shoot well but it did not really have an impact to the overall finish as Max shot it SO fast no one did better than 75% of his performance. My dad shot ALOT of video of the match including most of the Super Squads shoots on Friday. I will post as soon as he is done editing them down. Thanks to all the staff who made this match happen. It is one to remember and we will be back next year. </p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 1st Master and High Junior at the 2010 Texas State Limited!</font></h1> <p>Somehow I came in 1st Master overall at this year's Texas State Limited. I completely foobared the last stage and we left early as I didn't believe my performance was good enough to win and we had a 3 hour drive. My favorite stage was the Standards, my 180gr Hornady FMJ-FP bullets gave me the accuracy required to place second, and I think I was one of only two people who got all their hits on this Freestyle/Stronghand/Weakhand 50 yard standards type stage. My Infinity Sight Tracker Limited gun also ran perfectly despite the rain and mud. The stages were a good mix of close and far targets and had many 6" plates at 15+ yards. Videos have been posted. Now, where the heck is my Open Gun?</p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 5th Overall and High Junior at the 2010 Area 5 Championship!</font></h1> <p>I came in 5th overall at this year's Area 5 Championship. I had a screw come out on my CMore mount on stage 6 and I had (4) Mikes! My favorite stage was Stage 2, a large, long field course. I had a Mike on the stage but it was still fun. I finished 3rd on stages 3 and 9 but 3 was a very quick stage with dual swingers and my 125gr Hornady HAP bullets gave me the accuracy required get those hits. My Infinity IMM Open gun ran like a top except for the screw and that stuff just happens some times. The weather was not great, started off on Stage 11 in the rain and it rained off and on throughout the match. 5 minutes after we finished our last stage the heavens opened up and dumped on us big time. Overall it was a good time and I will try to attend next year. Thanks to everyone who helped put the match on, I appreciate all the effort. I put up some video as well.</p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 3rd Overall and High Junior at the 2010 Area 4 Championship!</font></h1> <p>I came in 3rd overall at this year's Area 4 Championship. My best finish yet at an Area match. My favorite stage was the Field of Steel, my 125gr Hornady HAP bullets gave me the accuracy required to run at 97.40% of Max who also shoots Hornady bullets. My Infinity IMM Open gun also ran flawlessly as usual. The stages were not a bunch of movers and shakers but there were many 20+ yard shots and of course 50 yard Standards to deal with. Thanks to everyone who helped put the match on, I appreciate all the effort as it was Hot and Sticky! I put up video from all the stages except the Standards, it wasn't my best stage and all you could see was me shooting at something.</p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes 3rd Overall at the 2010 Arkansas Sectional!</font></h1> <p>I came in 3rd overall at this year's Arkansas Sectional. We left last year's match due to lightening but decided to stick it out this year even though the weather looked like it might be the same. It was raining pretty good when we got to the range but just before we started shooting it cleared up and was beautiful ALL day. We knew everyone in our squad and had a great time. Great quality stages and I won three of them, the last stage was an especially cool win as it kinda made up for several mistakes I made during the match. This was the first major match that I used my new custom made Thumbrest...my dad had made the one I have had on my gun for the last year or so but this is a top quality unit and works fantastic. I will have them available for purchase on my website soon. Check out my pictures page for look. I will also have some videos from the match up in a day or two. These HD videos take a while to edit! Thanks to everyone who helped put the match on, I will be back next year and plan on winning!</p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes High Junior at the 2010 Area 6 Championship!</font></h1> <p>I just got in from the Area 6 Championship last night. I won High Junior and came in 14th overall of 384 shooters! We ended up driving and I got to watch the Super Squad shoot Friday. My dad and I were in a squad that we didn't know anyone but Kert Gaskill and Bill Cochran (fellow Infinity shooters!) but we got to make a few new friends. Everyone was super nice and it was a great time. I look forward to shooting this match again next year. Top quality stages and they had ALOT of help. 2-3 stages we were not even allowed to tape and reset. The staff went way beyond the call of duty. Thanks to everyone who helped put the match on.</p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas takes High Junior at the 2010 Double Tap Championship!</font></h1> <p>I just got in from the Double Tap Championship late last night. I won High Junior and came in 14th overall of 276 shooters! Not my best performance but the mistakes I made are mine solely and I learned a thing or two from it. I was able to squad with Max Michel and know what humble pie tastes like now. Dang he is fast and smooth as butter. The weather Thursday/Friday was great, Saturday was COLD, raining, then snowing, terrible. Sunday was better but still ~35 degrees and 20-30 mph winds. I worked the match Saturday and Sunday helping RO stages and run printers/Palms to different stages for scoring. I am glad to give back to the sport but man, it was COLD!</p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="5">Nicholas makes Grand Master in Open!</font></h1> <p><table width="100%"><tr align="center"><td class="nav"><img src="http://www.nicholasneel.com/assets/nicksgmcard.jpg" title="USPSA Classification Card" width="261" height="408"></img><br>Officially Grand Master in Open!</td></tr></table></p> <p><table width="100%"><tr align="center"><td class="nav"><img src="http://www.nicholasneel.com/assets/nickgm.jpg" title="USPSA Classification" width="300" height="305"></img><br>December 2009 USPSA Classification</td></tr></table></p> <p>Well, after ALOT of hard work and practice I was able to make my goal of making Grand Master in Open before turning 18. I want to thank all those who have provided tips along the way and especially my dad for all the gear and ammunition.</p> <br> <h1><font face="arial" color="BLACK" size="6">Nicholas attends USAMU/MGM Junior Camp</font></h1> <p><table width="100%"><tr align="center"><td class="nav"><img src="http://www.nicholasneel.com/assets/usamu.jpg" title="USAMU Picture" width="450" height="391"></img><br>2009 USAMU/MGM Junior Camp Picture</td></tr></table></p> <p>My dad and I just got back from Fort Benning. The weather was fantastic, we got to see some old friends and we had the best instructors in the world.</p> <br> <p> I was placed in a group of A class and up kids. The camp started off with the kids doing a rotation amongst the instructors. The parents (ALL of THEM) were made to leave the range for a field trip to the Army Infantry Museum. This was done as apparently last year some of the parents "helped" with the instructors and they wanted to have at least one full day with no interruptions. Anyway, my dad said the museum was great and he got to watch an IMAX movie on Lewis and Clark.</p> <br> <p> Ok, back to the shooting........the kids were instructed Friday and Saturday with a 6 stage match shot on Sunday with their designated coach. My coach was a guy who seems to know what he is doing....let me think......oh yeah, his name is Travis Tomasie.</p> <br> <p> While the parents were "out" of pocket on Friday, they were treated to a class with Rob Leatham on Saturday. While he spent most of his time with the newer shooters my dad was able to learn a few things from him. He was also able to win a plate rack man on man shootoff. Pretty cool.....</p> <br> <p> The kids shot the 6 stage match on Sunday with all the parents doing the taping and resetting.....While I had (1) Mike on each of the first two stages I actually was able to pull it together and have what turned in a fantastic performance. Great trip, great training and very good to build those relationships.</p> <br> <h2>Nicholas wins the 2009 USPSA Open Nationals Junior Champion title!!!</h2> <P><table width="100%"><tr align="center"><td class="nav"><img src="http://www.nicholasneel.com/assets/nationalsFSJuniors.jpg" title="Oct/Nov 2009 Front Sight Juniors Section" width="366" height="336"><br>Oct/Nov 2009 Front Sight Juniors Section</td></tr></table> <p>Though I had a few rough stages, I was able to focus the last two days and pull out the win. Unfortunately my closest competition this year got DQ'd by an overzealous RO. Sorry Nick S. it would have been a good battle. I hope to use what I learned from this match to win it again next year.</p> <p></p> <h3>Equipment manufactures I used to help me win:</h3> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.infinityfirearms.com/">Infinity Firearms - Simply the best fit guns available....</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.hornady.com/">Hornady Bullets - When accuracy matters, use the best. Hornady...</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.hodgdon.com/">Hodgdon Powder Company - This is where I get my </a><a href="http://www.wwpowder.com/">Winchester AutoComp.</a></li> </ul> </div> <p class="footer">Copyright &copy; 2009-2011 <a href="index.html">Nicholas Neel Shooting - Page Last Updated:</a> <script type="text/javascript"> <!-- document.write(document.lastModified); // --> </script> </p> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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