Profiles of some of 2012`s top sporting clays shooters

WINNERSCHOICE
BRIAN
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HUGHES
PROFESSION: Manager of Four Oaks Shooting Sports in Feona (TX). AGE: 30 years old.
GUN OF CHOICE: Shoots a Blaser 32" flat rib Super Luxus with a Jim Greenwood custom gunstock.
Kicks Comp chokes. Been shooting it for three years – the dynamics and versatility of the gun are
great. You can adjust the weight however you want – you can make it work for any shooter.
AMMO OF CHOICE: Gamebore White Gold 1oz. in FITASC and Blue Diamond 1 / oz. for Sporting.
SUCCESSES IN 2011: RU in .410 at US Open; Zone 5 & 6 HOA; Kansas State HOA and HOA in Prelim
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at US Open.
FUTURE GOALS: Hopefully can make a living at the new club in Mound Creek. I think everyone has
the goal of winning the National Championship. Would someday like to win the World Sporting and
World FITASC as well.
Did you ever wonder what the top sporting
clays shooters have as their guns and
shells of choice? And why? Here you get a
chance to find out from some of the best.
Their selections are not based on whim or
fashion. Rather, they are guided by purpose
and objective. And that’s what makes
their individual choices interesting.
ZACHARY
KIENBAUM
PROFESSION: Professional shooting instructor. AGE: 33 years old.
GUN OF CHOICE: I shoot a 31 / " Perazzi MX2000 with custom stock by Perazzi.
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Barrels ported by Rhino. Believes Rhino is the best porting on the market and
really does reduce recoil – especially when shooting 32 gram loads. 15 3/4" LOP, a
relaxed pistol grip. Extreme chokes. Shoots it because balance, feel and
pointability are unparalleled in the sporting gun market. I’m proud to be affiliated
with the winningest competition shotgun maker in the World.
AMMO OF CHOICE: Shoots Gamebore Blue Diamond 32 gram for Sporting,
28 gram for FITASC.
SUCCESSES IN 2011: RU Nationals; RU US Open; Targetline Cup RU;
AK Champion and CA Champion.
FUTURE GOALS: Want to win the Nationals.
CLAYSHOOTINGUSA
WINNERSCHOICE
CORY
1
KRUSE
PROFESSION: C&G Boat sales for the gas and oil industry. AGE: 27 years old.
GUN OF CHOICE: Shoots a 32" Blaser F3 with Rhino porting and choke tubes.
Shot it for four years. Swings good, feels good in the hands and is very reliable.
AMMO OF CHOICE: Gamebore White Gold 1oz 1300fps. for both sporting
and FITASC.
SUCCESSES IN 2011: FITASC RU at Nationals, won Sporting and FITASC at
Player’s Championship and M1 in 5-Stand at Nationals.
FUTURE GOALS: Would like to win a World Sporting Clays Championship and
World FITASC.
MIKE
WILGUS
PROFESSION: Environmental Consultant. AGE: 43 years old.
GUN OF CHOICE: Have shot a Blaser Super Sport 32" barrels for three
years. Semi-Custom stock by Blaser and Wenig. Extreme Titanium choke
tubes.
AMMO OF CHOICE: Gamebore White Gold 1 / oz. @ 1280fps. White Gold
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1oz. at 1330fps. for FITASC.
SUCCESSES IN 2011: 2011 US Open HOA; WA State Champion; OR State
Champion; 3rd at World Sporting and MT State/Kruger Challenge HOA.
FUTURE GOALS: Wants to win the National Championship.
BRAD
KIDD
PROFESSION: Professional shooting instructor and Oil Field Service Sales.
AGE: 30 years old.
GUN OF CHOICE: Shoots a 32" Zoli Z Sport Bilanx. Rhino porting and
choke tubes. Stock by S&S Plus fit by Larry Feland. Been shooting it for one
year. Love the ‘between the hands balance’, great triggers and the lack of
felt recoil.
AMMO OF CHOICE: Shoots Remington Nitro 27s 1235fps. 1 / oz. for
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Sporting, usually 8s – but 7 /2 s when windy. Remington 1oz. 1290fps. for
FITASC.
SUCCESSES IN 2011: Seminole 3rd; RU at World Sporting and US Open M1.
FUTURE GOALS: Would like to win World FITASC, World Sporting and US
Open to go along with my National Sporting title.
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WINNERSCHOICE
DERRICK
MEIN
TODD
1
SIMMONS
PROFESSION: General Manager of Powder Creek Shooting Park, Lenexa, KS.
AGE: 26 years old.
GUN OF CHOICE: 32" flat rib Super Luxus Blaser F3. Stock made by Jim
PROFESSION: Construction worker.
AGE: 47 years old.
GUN OF CHOICE: 32" Browning Citori Ultra SX with standard factory stock.
Greenwood with an Isis recoil reducer. Forcing cones lengthened and porting by
Rob Roberts Custom Gunworks. Using Clear View (Steve Baldwin) choke tubes.
Been shooting the gun for about 2 1/2 years. Love the feel, balance and handling
of the gun. Also love the triggers. It throws the most consistent pattern of any
gun I’ve ever owned.
Have shot Brownings most of my career. Like the way they handle. Have shot
Pure Gold choke tubes for several years.
AMMO OF CHOICE: Gamebore White Gold 1 / oz sporting, 1oz. for FITASC.
SUCCESSES IN 2011: FITASC Champion at 2011 US Open; Zone 5 Champion
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and 5-Stand RU at Nationals.
AMMO OF CHOICE: Usually Remington Nitros 1 / oz. 7.5s for sporting and 1oz.
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1350fps. for FITASC.
SUCCESSES IN 2011: Big Kahuna HOA; S. Carolina State HOA and Lobster
Classic HOA.
FUTURE GOALS: Would love to win the Nationals and the US Open.
FUTURE GOALS: Would like to make Team USA and someday make the Olympic
Bunker Trap team.
CURT
MAULDIN
PROFESSION: Lead shot reclaimer.
AGE: 42 years old. LIVES: New Haven (MO).
GUN OF CHOICE: 34" Krieghoff K-80. Custom Wenig
stock. Fit and balanced the stock myself. Factory
Krieghoff choke tubes. Been shooting it for 1 1/2 years.
Gun is “utterly reliable”.
AMMO OF CHOICE: Remington Nitro Sporting 1 / oz.
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7.5s for Sporting and 5-Stand, Remington Nitro Sporting
1350fps. 1oz. 7.5s for FITASC and Compak.
SUCCESSES IN 2011: RU Super Sporting 2011
Nationals.
FUTURE GOALS: Would love to win the National FITASC
(been RU three times) and the Nationals.
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WINNERSCHOICE
KEVIN
1
DeMICHEL
PROFESSION: Interior Trim contractor for residential
construction.
AGE: 35 years old. LIVES: Macon, Georgia.
GUN OF CHOICE: Krieghoff Pro Sporter, factory stock, 32"
barrels. Pure Gold chokes. Have shot it for 2 1/2 years.
AMMO OF CHOICE: 1 / oz. Super Sport Winchester for
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sporting clays.
SUCCESSES IN 2011: Won Florida State Championship;
NWTF in Georgia; Zone 4 HOA; Georgia State Championship;
FITASC at S. Carolina State and 5-Stand event at US Open,
FUTURE GOALS: Want to get into shooting a lot more and
wear my tool belt less!
CLAYSHOOTINGUSA