Department of Minnesota Annual Pistol Shooting Competition |
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The 2024 Minnesota VFW Pistol Shoot is scheduled to be hosted by the Uptown VFW in Minneapolis. The earlier announced mid-April date was incorrect. Stay tuned for when the new date and time are announced.
The Brainerd VFW has been well represented at this event since 2018.
The Brainerd VFW has been well represented at this event since 2018.
February 13, 2022: The Brainerd VFW sent four people to the annual Minnesota VFW Pistol Shooting Competition in Osseo, MN. In the .22 class, Quartermaster Pat Wing was first in women's shooting. Jr. Vice Commander Mike Williams took second place. Guest Dale Ray Thiesen, a Navy veteran, took third. Chaplain Mark Persons tied for last place.
(l-r) Brainerd VFW Chaplain Mark Persons, Jr. Vice Commander Mike Williams, Quartermaster Pat Wing, and guest Dale Ray Thiesen, a Navy veteran.
22 Class (l-r) Post 3915 Post Sr. Vice Commander Janet Schaak, John Metzdorff from New Prague taking first, Mike Williams from Brainerd took second and Dale Ray Thiesen from Brainerd was in third place.
Open Class (l-r) Post 3915 Post Sr. Vice Commander Janet Schaak, John Metzdorf from New Prague was in first place, Shawn Woods from Redwood Falls took second and Gabriel Thomas from Minneapolis was third.
Optics Class (l-r) Post 3915 Post Sr. Vice Commander Janet Schaak, Mike Leonard from Hastings took first, John Montague from Palmer Lake was second and
John Giesen from New Prague took third place.
February 6, 2022: The Brainerd VFW Pistol Shooting Team practiced at Bill's Gun Shop and Range in Brainerd, getting ready for the state VFW pistol shooting competition on February 13th.
(l-r) Brainerd VFW Chaplain Mark Persons, Jr. Vice Commander Mike Williams, Quartermaster Pat Wing, and guest Dale Ray Thiesen, a Navy veteran.
April 18, 2021: Brainerd VFW was represented at the annual Minnesota VFW Pistol Shooting competition in Rogers, MN. Junior Vice Commander Mike Williams took third place in the 22-caliber class. He was first in left-hand shooting. Post Chaplain Mark Persons was 13th. When asked about it, Mark said, "Being a U.S. Army Sergeant didn't automatically make me a marksman!"
Representing the Brainerd VFW were Mark Persons and Mike Williams
February 23, 2020: Four members of the Brainerd VFW participated in the Minnesota VFW Pistol Shooting Competition in Rogers, MN. They were Commander Chip Borle, Junior Vice Commander Mike Williams, Quartermaster Pat Wing and Chaplain Mark Persons. It was a good opportunity to meet with veterans from around the state and share ideas. None of the local crew came home with an award although Mike Williams said he scored 800 out of 900 possible points in the .22 class. That would have put him in 4th place, but there was no award for that! Mark Persons said, "Serving in the military doesn't guarantee we are good shots." There is always next year!
Brainerd VFW members Pat Wing, Mike Williams, Mark Persons and Chip Borle
February 23, 2019: Jenkins VFW Post 3839 and Brainerd VFW Post 1647 hosted the 2019 Minnesota State VFW Pistol Shooting Competition on Saturday, February 23, 2019. This was an indoor activity, held at Bill’s Gun Shop & Range in Baxter. Event coordinator was Randy “Tex” Stafford from Jenkins.
Nine shooters completed in Open Class and six in the 22 Caliber Class. Four participated in both.
The winners were as follows;
.22 Caliber Class Open Class
1st Ray Cowan, Post 3839 Jenkins 1st Dennis Maddox, Post 5518 Elk River/Rogers
2nd Doug Koenig, Post 6033 Audubon 2nd Michael Gutz, Post 1260 Bemidji
3rd Paula Persons, Post 1647 Brainerd 3rd Doug Koenig, Post 6033 Audubon
The award for the best overall score, for those competing in both classes, went to Doug Koenig from Post 6033 in Audubon. Congratulations to all the winners and competitors for a job well done. Safety rules were followed properly and all went well. There were two Emergency Medical Technicians on hand. Thanks to the many volunteers, from both posts, who handled registration, did the scoring and cooked food for the participants. The 2020 VFW State Pistol Shoot will be held in Rogers, MN.
Nine shooters completed in Open Class and six in the 22 Caliber Class. Four participated in both.
The winners were as follows;
.22 Caliber Class Open Class
1st Ray Cowan, Post 3839 Jenkins 1st Dennis Maddox, Post 5518 Elk River/Rogers
2nd Doug Koenig, Post 6033 Audubon 2nd Michael Gutz, Post 1260 Bemidji
3rd Paula Persons, Post 1647 Brainerd 3rd Doug Koenig, Post 6033 Audubon
The award for the best overall score, for those competing in both classes, went to Doug Koenig from Post 6033 in Audubon. Congratulations to all the winners and competitors for a job well done. Safety rules were followed properly and all went well. There were two Emergency Medical Technicians on hand. Thanks to the many volunteers, from both posts, who handled registration, did the scoring and cooked food for the participants. The 2020 VFW State Pistol Shoot will be held in Rogers, MN.
Photos below are from February 17, 2018, when the competition was held in Brainerd. It was a joint effort between the Brainerd VFW and the Jenkins, MN, VFW. Competition officials/range officers were Tex Stafford and Tim Brastrup (seen in yellow jackets) from the Jenkins VFW. Fifteen shooters competed in 22 caliber and Open Class shooting. The event went off without a hitch. The most heard comment was they'd like to do it again next year. Ladies from the Brainerd VFW Auxiliary prepared a great lunch for the hungry crew of about 30. A big thanks to the many volunteers involved. Winners: Ray Cowan, Post 3839, Jenkins; Tommy Johnson, Post 246, Minneapolis; Mike Williams, Post 1647, Brainerd; John Gieson, Post 5145, New Prague; and Chad Solheid, Minneapolis.
