After eight weeks of competitive shooting in Montana, the pool of participants in the 5.11 Challenge has been winnowed down to three two-man teams that will compete in the finals on August 25.
The competition was very close this year. One team in week 7 missed third place by just one Pepper Popper target, while only 14 points separated third and fourth place.
The number one team for this summer is from the U.S. Border Patrol in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Charlie Exum and Dale Young posted a top score of 4,276 points. Charlie Exum had the best individual score of the summer with 2,214 points. Bill Berry, the event's executive director, says Exum is one of the fastest shooters he has seen compete in the 5.11 Challenge.
Second place is held by Bryan Weathers and Jason Stearns from the Edmond (Okla.) Police Department. They posted a score of 4,212 points, only 64 points below the Border Patrol team.
The third place team is from Pascagoula, Miss. If not for a procedural error, Brian Stout and Mike Sauls of Homeland Security would have been in second place. But for the finals, all scores from the past are wiped off of the scoreboard and everyone starts again as equals.
Unfortunately, the production company that was expected to film the finals will be unable to get to Montana and had to cancel. But Bill Berry says of the 5.11 team, "We'll do our best to record the event for all of our friends."
For more information visit www.511challenge.com.