Talladega, Alabama– November 2023 – The Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) annual Talladega 600 hit an impressive milestone as it marked its highest attendance ever, with over 300 adult and junior participants gathering on the rifle and pistol ranges of the Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama.
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The event was held Nov. 6-12 and featured a mix of vintage rifle and high-power rifle events, along with a series of pistol competitions. The Talladega 600 is open to those experienced in marksmanship as well as those just beginning in the sport – offering unique and fun challenges for enthusiasts of practically any age.
Leading competitors of the 2023 Talladega 600 included Brian Williams, 49, of Granby, MA, who recorded a new high score of 381-11X in the Carbine Rifle Match. Also marking new event records were SSG David Bahten, 34, of Phenix City, AL, who earned a score of 497-30X in the EIC Rifle Match, and SFC Richard Willis, 41, of Boonville, IN, who reached 350-4X in the EIC Service Revolver Pistol Match.
SSG Bahten went on to accumulate several overall titles during the 600, such as within the Service Rifle 800 Aggregate, Mid-Range 3×600 (service rifle), Congressional 30, and EIC Rifle Match. Additionally, he was a member of the winning team within the 4-Man and Dixie Double events.
In pistol, John O’Donnell, 66, of Saint Louis, MO, cleaned up the aggregate matches by claiming the Any Sight portions of the .22, Centerfire, and .45 900 Aggregates – leading up to a win in the culminating Pistol 2700 Aggregate. Likewise, SSG Robert Farrell, 37, of Mount Horeb, WI, led each of the Metallic Sights pistol aggregates.
Additionally, four individuals received their Garand Collector Association (GCA) Master Marksmanship Awards:
- #12 Michael Korff, 69, of Louisville, KY
- #13 David Graham, 55, of Louisville, KY
- #14 Steven Dekich, 66, of Auburn, AL
- #15 Chance Cavin, 36, of Madison, MS
Other top performers of the Talladega 600 (Note: There must be five individuals in a category for awards to be presented.):
Rifle Games Events:
- M16 Rifle: MSG Jerry Millan, 38, Pinehurst, NC – 372-9X
- M9 Pistol: Jared Sonti, 24, Kempner, TX – 242-1X
- Benchrest VMR Match: William Fairless, 69, Vienna, IL – 287-6X
- Garand Match: Michael Korff, 69, Louisville, KY – 285-4X
- Springfield Match: Geoff Bateman, 62, Powder Springs, GA – 289-7X
- Vintage Military Match: Chance Cavin, 36, Madison, MS – 288-3X
- Modern Military Match: Samuel Hartsock, 65, West Olive, MI – 291-11X
- Three-Gun Aggregate: Geoff Bateman, 62, Powder Springs, GA – 853-14X
- Four-Gun Aggregate: Kyle Kirschenmann, 59, Tellico Plains, TN – 1139-24X
- Carbine Match: Brian Williams, 49, Granby, MA – 381-11X
Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match:
- T-Class: CSM Steven Slee, 60, Dimondale, MI – 594-38X
- TU Class: Maj Matthew White, 39, Fort Walton Beach, FL – 574-19X
- Benchrest Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match:
- T-Class: Robert Bradley, 58, Selmer, TN – 397-17X
- TU Class: Walter Anderson, 71, Birmingham, AL – 394-18X
- Vintage Sniper Team Match:
- Manual: Casterlin-Godwin (Scott Godwin, Cpl Russell Casterlin) – 394-9X
- Semi-Auto: Henry County Gun Club (LTC James Lacy, William Fairless) – 364-4X
Rifle Highpower Events:
- 800 Aggregate Service Rifle: SSG David Bahten, 34, Phenix City, AL – 788-41X
- 4-Man Team: USAMU Achilles (SSG David Bahten, SPC Zevin Linse, SPC Dustin Carr, SSG Nathan Lockwood) – 1952-73X
- Mid-Range 3×600:
- Match Rifle: Paul Jackson, 34, Louisville, KY – 580-22X
- Service Rifle: SSG David Bahten, 34, Phenix City, AL – 589-21X
- Palma Rifle: SSG Verne Conant, 27, Cataula, GA – 597-34X
- F-Open: Barry Mize, 57, Morris, AL – 592-26X
- F-T/R: Cpl Russell Casterlin, 77, Odenville, AL – 540-6X
- AR Tactical: Michael Payne, 66, Rome, GA – 573-16X
- HP Dixie Double Match: Bahten/Linse (SSG David Bahten, SPC Zevin Linse) – 594-21X
- Congressional 30: SSG David Bahten, 34, Phenix City, AL – 296-11X
- EIC Rifle Match: SSG David Bahten, 34, Phenix City, AL – 497-30X
Pistol Events:
- Military & Police Service Pistol: SSG Robert Farrell, 37, Mount Horeb, WI – 377-13X
- As-Issued 1911 Pistol: John O’Donnell, 66, Saint Louis, MO – 379-9X
- EIC Pistol Match: SFC Richard Willis, 41, Boonville, IN – 271-8X
- CMP .22 Rimfire Pistol EIC: SSG Robert Farrell, 37, Mount Horeb, WI – 286-6X
- EIC Service Revolver: SFC Richard Willis, 41, Boonville, IN – 350-4X
- EIC Aggregate: Scott Godwin, 49, Auburn, AL – 1270-23X
.22 Rimfire Pistol 900 Pistol Aggregate:
- Any Sights: SFC Richard Willis, 41, Boonville, IN – 854-27X
- Metallic Sights: SSG Robert Farrell, 37, Mount Horeb, WI – 838-28X
- .22 Only: Scott Godwin, 49, Auburn, AL – 832-22X
Centerfire Pistol 900 Pistol Aggregate:
- Any Sights: John O’Donnell, 66, Saint Louis, MO – 838-27X
- Metallic Sights: SSG Robert Farrell, 37, Mount Horeb, WI – 817-11X
- .22 Only: Scott Godwin, 49, Auburn, AL – 840-18X
.45 Pistol 900 Pistol Aggregate:
- Any Sights: John O’Donnell, 66, Saint Louis, MO – 855-29X
- Metallic Sights: SSG Robert Farrell, 37, Mount Horeb, WI – 828-23X
Pistol 2700 Aggregate:
- Any Sights: John O’Donnell, 66, Saint Louis, MO – 2543-89X
- Metallic Sights: SSG Robert Farrell, 37, Mount Horeb, WI – 2483-62X
- .22 Only: Clyde Guidry, 67, Vestavia Hills, AL – 2459-46X
A complete list of results of the 2023 Talladega 600 may be found through CMP’s Competition Tracker page at https://ct.thecmp.org/Talladega600Nov23Results. Photos of the event are available for free viewing and download at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/f1042366457.
Several upcoming events will be held at the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park – make plans to join us on the firing line!
- Talladega Spring Classic, March 12-17
- Talladega D-Day Matches, June 6-9
- Talladega National Match Warm Up Matches, June 27-30
- Talladega 600 “A Southern Classic” – November 11-17
View a full calendar of events, including Shotgun, Archery, Action Pistol and more at https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=aWUwNGhmOTZpamdnbmxjODh0NHBkYm5ydmNAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ&pli=1.
We’d also like to thank our sponsors! Sponsors for the Talladega 600 included Dupage Trading, Criterion Barrel, the Garand Collectors Association, and ELO Tactical. Learn more about becoming a CMP sponsor at https://thecmp.org/sponsorship/.
By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearm safety and marksmanship training and to the promotion of marksmanship competition for citizens of the United States. For more information about the CMP and its programs, log onto www.TheCMP.org.
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