Shooter Spotlight: Bill Neff

The purpose of the “Shooter Spotlight” is to help shooters get to know their fellow competitors a little bit better. We cover a wide range of shooters from “Marksman to Master.” This is the 7th interview in the series.

Bill Neff

Where do you call home?
I grew up in Avon, CT and today I live in NJ and work in NYC.

How long have you been shooting?
I have been shooting competitively for 29 years.  This includes both smallbore and highpower (XTC & Long Range).

How did you get involved in shooting competitively?
I attended Boy Scout camp when I was 10 and during my Father’s visit we went to their 50 foot .22 range.  I shot a 5 shot group that impressed my Father and he let me know of his involvement with competitive shooting as well as his Sister and my Grandfather.  Then when I was 13, we joined a local club (Metacon) and here I am today.

What is a little known fact about yourself that your fellow competitors might not know?
I was a member of USAF High Power Team and shot for them at Perry during 1991, 1992, and 1993.

What do you consider your finest shooting achievement.
Earning my distinguished prone as there have not been very many awarded since their inception in 1966.

What is your favorite pre-match meal?
I do not have a favorite pre-match meal.

What is your favorite post match drink?
My favorite post match drink would be Diet Mt Dew.  With the exception of two match in NJ each summer, the closet range I shoot on is 90 miles away with several being at about 180 miles.  Needless to say I need the caffeine kick to help me on the drive home from a match.

Do you have a favorite shooting range?
I cannot list a single range as my favorite, but instead would include the following:
– Most beautiful – Douglas Ridge, Oregon – Everything is green
– Most nostalgic – Blue Trails as my Dad, Aunt and Grandfather started shooting their in 1947/48
– Most enjoyable  – North End, Seitzland, Palmyra, Wilkes Barre, Dauphin, Manassas, and Phoenix – Lost of history, good food, great competitors and friends
– Most Challenging Smallbore – Camp Perry – It seldom dissapoints
– Most Challenging Highpower – Medford, OR which is the only range on which I have seen the 300 and 600 yd flags flying in direct opposition of each other

What shooting skill are currently focusing your energy on?
I am focusing on shot to shot consistency to include NPA, sight alignment, trigger work, shot execution and follow-through.  I find that my diary has helped me with these as I can review what I have done correctly as well as what I need to focus on during the match/day. This allows the score to happen as oppossed to focusing on a desired score and then working on my technique.

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

About H

Dan started shooting competitive smallbore in 1986. During his Junior career, he earned two national junior team titles as well as local and regional wins. After a 10 year year hiatus to attend college and start a family, Dan returned to the sport and has added local, sectional and regional wins to his shooting resume. Dan is a Distinguished Rifleman, National Record Holder, U.S Dewar Team Member, Black Hawk Rifle Club Member, Digby Hand Schützenverein member, and is the founder of pronematch.com. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and 2 children.
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