Author Archives: Hap Rocketto

About Hap Rocketto

Hap Rocketto is a Distinguished Rifleman with service and smallbore rifle, member of The Presidents Hundred, and the National Guard’s Chief’s 50. He is a National Smallbore Record holder, a member of the 1600 Club and the Connecticut Shooters’ Hall Of Fame. He was the 2002 Intermediate Senior Three Position National Smallbore Rifle Champion, the 2012 Senior Three Position National Smallbore Rifle Champion a member of the 2007 and 2012 National Four Position Indoor Championship team, coach and captain of the US Drew Cup Team, and adjutant of the United States 2009 Roberts and 2013 Pershing Teams. Rocketto is very active in coaching juniors. He is, along with his brother Steve, a cofounder of the Corporal Digby Hand Schützenverein. A historian of the shooting sports, his work appears in Shooting Sports USA, the late Precision Shooting Magazine, The Outdoor Message, the American Rifleman, the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s website, and most recently, the apogee of his literary career, pronematch.com.

A Quartering Wind

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto I was desperate to get out of the infantry. It is not that I ever been to the field in the ten years I was a member of “The Queen of Battle.” I had been attached to … Continue reading →

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James Fenimore Cooper and NRA Rule 16.1

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto One of the defining activities of my youth was my participation in the Scouting movement. It neatly tied into my preoccupation with rifle shooting allowing me to spend a handful of carefree and pleasant teenaged summers running … Continue reading →

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A Legion of Targets

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto An appreciation of good marksmanship is prehistoric and can be traced back, via archeological finds, to all corners of the earth. For example, the oldest archery artifacts in Europe date from the late Paleolithic Era, about 9000-8000 BC. In … Continue reading →

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Bristol Wrap-Up

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

The 2015 Smallbore Championships closed out today with the Metric Any Sight Match. The conditions changed remarkably from metallic sights with a benign wind and comfortable temperatures. A 398-28X shot by Howard Pitts won the meter match with the Dewar … Continue reading →

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Bristol Metric Prone Day One

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto Perhaps Aeolus had grown upset by the cavalier attitude of the many riflemen and women who, grown complacent during the any sight phase of Conventional prone, presumed that Metric’s only challenge would be the smaller target. The 71 shooters … Continue reading →

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Bristol Conventional Prone Wrap Up

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

Conventional Prone Wrap Up by Hap Rocketto Anysight competition was tough. There was rain and wind and heat, and humidity, delays but the competition seemed to be inured to the discomfort. Octogenarian Joe Farmer took day one of any sights … Continue reading →

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Bristol Day Two Conventional Prone

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

On the second day of metallic sights the wind took a 180 degree turn, metaphorically speaking. The unpredictable gusts and let offs of Day One gave way to a more readable and consistent wind. Newport Rhode Island Rifle Clubs, Michele … Continue reading →

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Bristol Position

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

Virginia Thrasher, who will attend West Virginia in the fall, led the youth movement at the position matches by sweeping metric. After the first day she had a 30 point lead on the field and never looked back. Around 75% … Continue reading →

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When I am dead and opened…

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto Calais lies just 21 miles across la Manche from the White Cliffs of Dover. The closest French territory to England, it was annexed by Edward III in 1347, and would remain an important English economic entity for the next … Continue reading →

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RI: 3P Regional Results

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

2015 RI NRA Regional and Epstein Trophy Match by Hap Rocketto In collaboration with the National Rifle Association, and the International Olympic Committee, the Rhode Island Revolver and Rifle Association sponsored the 2015 NRA Rhode Island Three Position Regional and RIRRA’s … Continue reading →

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Jacksonville and Bristol

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto Being a New Englander one can never be far from some of the nation’s greatest philosophers and writers. Not only because Bay State author John Cheever once proclaimed that all literary men are Red Sox fans, but … Continue reading →

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2015 JORC – Men’s Air Rifle

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto Men’s 10 Meter 2015 Junior Olympic Rifle Championship New England sent 11 rifleman to Colorado Springs for the Men’s 10 Meter 2015 Junior Olympic Rifle Championship with only Vermont being absent. Massachusetts fielded the largest contingent featuring Brenden … Continue reading →

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The Emperor’s New Clothes…

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto It has been more than six decades since I wiled away lazy days in the cradle of my education, Mrs. Levinson’s kindergarten class, at Harbor School. The boxy three story red brick building, known to its inhabitants … Continue reading →

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2015 JORC – Women’s 3P

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto 2015 National JORC Women’s 3P While most of the New England lady air rifle shooter took to, well, the air to return home to school or the last few days of spring break a few stayed behind and … Continue reading →

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2015 JORC – Women’s Air Rifle

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto 2015 National Junior Olympic Championship Women’s 10m Air Rifle Eleven New England women traveled west to compete in the 2015 National Junior Olympic Championship Women’s 10m Air Rifle event held at the Olympic Training center in Colorado … Continue reading →

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Imponderable Questions

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto For over a half of a century I have been involved in various shooting sports and from time to time I have come across things that seem imponderable. By definition that means a question or situation that … Continue reading →

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RI: Melcher Trophy Results

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

George Melcher Trophy By Martin Lord The George S. Melcher Trophy, emblematic of the Rhode Island Revolver and Rifle Association’s Indoor Three Position Individual State Championship, was contested on March 22, 2015. The match is shot in honor of George S. … Continue reading →

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Tunes of Glory

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto Smallbore rifle shooters, particularly prone ones, actually all shooters, are always on the hunt for something that will reduce group size. The quest for the Holy Grail of a ten shot 0.50 inch group at 100 yards … Continue reading →

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Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Me

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Me As both a pilot and Boston Red Sox fan the New York Yankees draw my attention. From an aviator’s point of view Red Sox left fielder and the “Greatest Hitter Who … Continue reading →

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In Memoriam: Art Jackson

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Charles Jackson USAFR(RET) passed away on January 6, 2015 at the age of 96. The Olympic bronze medalist and World Champions participated in three Summer Olympic Games, 1948, 1952, and 1956,  three ISSF World Shooting Championships, 1949, … Continue reading →

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Because it is there….

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Hap Rocketto

by Hap Rocketto Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor of General of India, had not been able to enter either Nepal or Tibet because they were closed nations and, therefore, could have had no idea that Peak XV was known to … Continue reading →

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