US National Steel Championships 2013

Jessie Duff of Team Hornady® dominated the S&W US National Steel Championships, March 22-24, 2013 at the Titusville Rifle and Pistol Club in Titusville, Florida. Shooting Hornady® 9mm 115 grain XTP™ bullets, it was Duff's seventh consecutive Ladies Steel Master title win, and her fifth time winning all four titles, including Ladies 22 Open, Limited, Open, and Lady Steel Master.

Duff's choice of bullets for the match was an easy one to make. "When I shoot Hornady 9mm 115 grain XTP bullets, I can totally focus on my performance because I'm using the most accurate bullet by far," she said. "I've run these stages before, but I still have my favorites, and know which ones require my focus. This year I've implemented a new workout program, incorporating weights, cardio and upper body conditioning which has made a difference in my reaction time."

The eight-stage match uses standard Steel Challenge targets, set as close as eight yards and out to 35 yards. Competitors shoot seven of the stages five times, with their slowest run time eliminated. The final stage is shot four times, with three of their best run times counting. The remaining best times are added together to determine their final match scores.

Max Michel finished second overall in the Open Division shooting Hornady® 9mm 115 grain XTP™ bullets. "I like the accuracy and reliability of Hornady 115 grain XTP bullets," Michel said. "I also appreciate the reduced recoil they provide."

Michel loves this event for the adrenaline rush it offers. "The mental game that goes into this event is unbelievable," he said. "You'll do very well if you can handle nerves and pressure while performing consistently at a high level at every stage."

Doug Koenig finished second overall in the Limited Division, shooting Hornady® 9mm 90 grain XTP™ bullets. He also proudly watched his son Trevor, score a repeat Super Junior win in the main match. "We like the low recoil, quick recovery, and accuracy we get with this bullet," said Doug. "Plus it has great sound recognition on steel targets."