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The purpose of the “Shooter Spotlight” is to help shooters get to know their fellow competitors a little bit better. We plan to cover a wide range of shooters from “Marksman to Master.” This is the first interview in the series.

Kent Reeve
Cary, North Carolina

How long have you been shooting?
I started shooting smallbore prone in 1998 as a training aid to make the USA Palma Team.

How did you get involved in shooting competitively?
As mentioned above, initially my smallbore shooting was just a training aid to make the USA Palma Team.  Most of my smallbore shooting was conducted by myself during 1998..  Nearly 11,000 rounds of smallbore prone shooting was done that year to prepare for the final tryouts (October 1998) for the USA Palma Team.  My standard practice routine was to shoot 100 rounds a day at 100 yards on the conventional 50 yard target.  I had to cut the bulls out and place them further apart (left to right) because if not, at 100 yards, they are too close to one another for a proper sight picture.  It was a natural progression to transition into smallbore prone competition.

What is a little known fact about yourself that your fellow competitors might not know?
From my limited number of smallbore prone competitions, I see very few smallbore prone shooters who shoot the sport I’m most actively involved with (Highpower).  There is very little cross over. Consequently, many smallbore prone shooters don’t know much, if anything about me.  In their eyes, they probably wonder if I “came out of the wood work”!  From conversations with smallbore prone shooters, it has become very clear to me that I think my way through a match much differently than the norm.  Most of my fellow competitors don’t know this.  Glancing at my equipment reveals that my roots are not smallbore.

What do you consider your finest shooting achievement.
From an individual point of view, being one of two people to shoot a perfect score during 700 meter portion of 2007 World Long Range Championships, going head to head in the shoot off for the Gold medal, and winning it.  From a point of view of helping others, helping young Megan Lee who knew nothing about mental training when I started working with her, mentoring her, and less than a year later having she becomes the J3 Gold Medalist at the Junior Olympics!  That moment will always hold a special place in my heart.  I suppose the finest achievement I’ve accomplished in smallbore prone was setting a new 160 shot outdoor Metric prone metallic sight Civilian record earlier this year, a record previously belonging to Edie Reynolds (now Edie Fleeman). Edie held the record for 20 years which is a fine tribute to her shooting ability!!!

What is your favorite pre-match meal?
I don’t eat much before shooting.  Maybe I’m part Monkey cause I do enjoy bananas!

What is your favorite post match drink?
An ice cold Schlitz beer (if range rules allow), sharing laughter with friends, otherwise some cool water.

Do you have a favorite shooting range?
My home range(Butner NC 1000 yard range) is likely tops because the people are so friendly and we always have a great time at the matches.  Whittington Center, 1000 yard range, Raton New Mexico is a very close second (maybe a tie!).  I love that area and the values of the people in that part of the country.  The range is located about 10 miles out of town and one can stay at housing on the range, nice and quiet at night with the exception of bears who sometimes come dumpster diving.  Low humidity and calm in the morning but frequently psychotic wind in the afternoons.  I enjoy challenges and Whittington in the afternoon can deliver very challenging wind conditions.

Do you have any short term and/or long term goals?
Yes, I do.  But shooting goals remain in my mind as I don’t see value in sharing them with others as they just belong with me.  I’ll laugh and talk to just about anyone on the range, but do have a very quiet and private side and goals are part of that.

What shooting skill are currently focusing your energy on?
I don’t have much use for a scope on a rifle.  The few who saw me shoot at smallbore Perry this year (my first ever smallbore prone Nationals) noticed that my rifle wore iron sights the entire event, even during scope phase.  My scope scores are no better than my iron scores and I am focused on changing that and that won’t happen by worsening my iron scores!

Thanks Kent for sharing a little bit about yourself with the pronematch.com community!