The 2025 TEXtreme Grand Prix And State Championships match was held on June 6-8 at “Ranchito Robinson” in Clifton, central Texas – that’s 20 Miles North West of Waco, TX.
In the photo above, we see Caleb Dickenson, Derrick Wall and John Tafoya having fun at the shoot.
Read on as 2025 TEXtreme Match Director Ron Robinson tells us the story in his own inimitable style – as always. Yes, it’s a long report, but it’s worth the read! Take it away Ron…
2025 TEXtreme Grand Prix And State Championships Overview:
The last few TEXtreme Grand Prix and State Championship competitions having suffered precipitation, thankfully the weather was relatively kind to our 2025 Grand Prix and State Championships (combined) weekend.
Weather-wise, the worst that can be said is the mid-90s temperatures might have been slightly hotter than usual for early June in Texas.
So the only precipitation suffered was that pouring out of the shooters
The Pistol Shoot:
Eleven pistoleros and one Fun Rifle shooter took on Friday’s Pistol course featuring a low 40s pistol Troyer course in typically tricky TEXtreme winds. Upon reviewing the scorecards it became obvious the always-notorious Lane 7 did a great job of dividing the perennial pistol favorites enough to decide the Pistol podium results and prize-list.
Only the top two pistoleros managed to tip-toe through the tulips of Lane 7 without getting snake-bit by aforementioned winds; those two being the only pistoleros to post all (six) Xs on Lane 7.
And although it’s (otherwise) difficult to visualize him doing much tip-toeing through tulips, Caleb Dickenson did so to not only clean Lane 7, but six of the other ten lanes in posting an awesome 57/60 score to claim the 2025 TEXtreme Pistol Champion title and prizes!
Caleb used his Athlon Midas Tac scoped .177 BRK Pathfinder shooting 13.43 grain JSBs at 795 FPS to separate himself from the rest of the Pistol field. That fine effort netted CD another excellent Athlon scope; a $737.95 MSRP 4.5-27X Athlon Midas BTR model. In doing so he added another TEXtreme State Champion engraved wall plaque and pellet tin to his ever-growing collection.
Phenomenal shooting, Caleb!
Largely virtue of also cleaning Lane 7, Billy Davison captured Pistol Second Place with an excellent 53/60 score. Billy also shot 13.43 JSB pellets, also in a .177 BRK Pathfinder, and also topped with an Athlon scope; in this case a 6-24X Athlon Heras model. BD not only went home with a $450 Airguns Of Arizona gift certificate, but also the Second Place engraved wall-plaque and pellet tin; both of his own making.
Great shooting Billy! And many thanks for your help with the wall plaques, pellet tins, and everything else you do in support of TEXtreme, Bud!
Although bit hard by the Lane 7 prairie dog for three zeros on his score-card, Paul Bracaglia’s strong performance elsewhere for a 52/60 score was good for Third Place in the Pistol competition. Pablo shot 15.9 grain JSBs at 740 FPS in his Benjamin Marauder, to pocket a $250 Airguns of Arizona gift certificate and the Third Place engraved wall-plaque and pellet tin. Good shooting, PB!
Derrick Wall Wins The Rifle Match:
Weather-wise the Saturday and Sunday 60-shot Rifle matches were virtual carbon copies, with mid-90s temperatures and gusty winds.
Given the lucrative prizes on the line in the 120-shot aggregate Rifle competition, the battle for the top five podium places proved as heated as the Rifle course. In fact settling the second through fifth Rifle podium places required two tie-breaking shoot-offs.
Derrick Wall posted a 57/60 in the Saturday Rifle match, and a 56 on Sunday for an awesome 113/120 aggregate to capture the 2025 TEXtreme Rifle Grand Prix and State Champion title and bounty.
That’s Derek in the photo below right, being awarded his prize by Match Director Ron Robinson.
Derrick shot an Athlon Ares scoped .30 caliber Kalibrgun Cricket 2 Tac rifle, firing 56 grain Zan pellets at 890 FPS. For that fine performance he won a $1,437.49 MSP 15-60X Athlon Ares ETR rifle scope, $1,000 in Airguns Of Arizona CASH, the 2025 TEXtreme Grand Prix and State Rifle Champion wall-plaque and pellet-tin, and three Grand Prix points.
Congratulations on your fantastic shooting, DW!
Then It’s Shoot-Off City!
Both posting 110/120 Rifle aggregate scores, the tie for Second and Third places between John Tafoya and Caleb Dickenson had to be decided by shoot-off. And by both posting 104/120 aggregates, another tie between Paul Bracaglia and Brian Stafford to decide Fourth Fifth place was settled by shoot-off, as well.
Choosing to employ aforementioned notorious Lane 7 for the shoot-offs, the ever-nefarious match director moved the shaded shooting line farther back from the 3” triangular kill-zone deer at 83 yards… right into direct, 95 degree sun! The sane might wonder what I was thinking.
By dictating the sudden-death shoot-off protocol be three shots per highly-skilled shooter, while baking in full sun, my hope was the shoot-offs might prove ‘memorable’ for the tortured participants. Also highly entertaining for spectators already ‘rehydrating’ with cold brews. I nailed it!
Caleb and John both cleaned their first three shots, sending their shoot-off into a second round. So in order to better insure the shoot-off wouldn’t drag on too long, for the second round I shortened the shooters time-limit to take their three shots from three minutes, to two. That worked to perfection; John prevailing for Second Place in the second round with 3/3 hits, to Caleb’s two hits for Third Place.
Leaving the two-minute time limit in place for the Fourth and Fifth Places shoot-off limited that tie-breaker to a one-round battle. Paul felled the target twice, to prevail for Fourth Place over Brian’s one hit for Fifth Place.
For his Second Place Rifle result John Tafoya shot an Arken-scoped .30 caliber BRK Ghost, firing 50.5 grain AEA pellets 928 FPS. His awards included the Second Place engraved wall-plaque and pellet tin, a $700 Airguns of Arizona gift certificate and $500 in AoA CASH, and two Grand Prix points. Fine shooting, John!
Caleb claimed Rifle Third Place with his .30 Scout Evo wearing a Sightron S6 scope, and shooting 50.5 AEA pellets 905 FPS. CD pocketed a $350 Airguns Of Arizona gift certificate and $250 in AoA CASH, the Third Place Rifle engraved wall plaque and pellet tin, and one Grand Prix point. Excellent shooting, CD!
Paul Bracaglia used a Riton-scoped .30 Cricket rifle, shooting 56 grain Zans to claim the Fourth Place $250 Airguns Of Arizona gift certificate. Great shooting, Pablo.
In capturing the final, Fifth Place Rifle podium position, Brian Stafford used a .30 Cricket Tac scoped with a Night Force NX8, and firing 56 grain Zans 870 FPS. He took home a $100 Airguns Of Arizona gift certificate. Good shooting, Brian.
Thanks To The Sponsors:
In total, TEXtreme Airgun Sports’ original and primary sponsor Airguns Of Arizona provided $2,000 in gift certificate value and $1,750 in cash sponsorship support for the 2025 TEXtreme Grand Prix and State Championships!
I can’t thank AoA enough for all their TEXtreme support, however will point out some recurring themes among the podium winners’ equipment choices that are available from Airguns Of Arizona; namely Athlon Optics, BRK (Brocock) and KalibrGun Airguns, and JSB, Zan and AEA pellets. One need not be a national-caliber competitor to enjoy and benefit from these world-class products available from Airguns Of Arizona, that consistently dominate TEXtreme podiums. THANK YOU, AIRGUNS OF ARIZONA!
MANY THANKS also to TEXtreme’s 2025 exclusive optics sponsor, Athlon Optics. The Rifle and Pistol Champions both used Athlon scopes, Pistol Second Place as well. Folks, that speaks volumes! Athlon’s line includes an impressive array of fantastic optics, spanning a wide price range, and boasting features to satisfy virtually any shooting demand. Visit airgunsofarizona.com for details, and tell ‘em TEXtreme sent you when ordering your new scope(s). Thanks again, Athlon!
Jerry Cupples donated a certificate for a Pelletgage R, to award the highest Standing lane shooter in the winner’s caliber of choice. PelletGage is an effective tool for sorting pellets by head diameter. More details at pelletgage.com. John Tafoya won the Pellet Gage virtue of his excellent, 11/12 aggregate Standing lane marksmanship. Impressive shooting, JT!
Rudy Smith generously donated four items on behalf of SAGE (the Southern Airgun Enthusiasts)- an SOG range bag for the door prize drawings, a Smith & Wesson knife special prize for the lowest scoring shooter that finished both Rifle matches, and two extreme field targets for TEXtreme Airgun Sports target inventory. Carlos Garza won the S&W knife, and TEXtreme will make good use of the targets. Many thanks for the donations, Rudy!
Brian Stafford donated another very nice SOG range-bag/backpack for the door-prize drawings. Greg Surber was the lucky winner. Many thanks, Brian.
In closing I want to thank many other shooters that donate to the TEXtreme cause in so many ways. However, one request. Please support our sponsors with your purchasing power, as they make all this possible.
Happy Shooting,
Ron & Maggyy 2025 TEXtreme Grand Prix And State Championships Match Directors.
NOTE: The 2025 TEXtreme Grand Prix was part of the Extreme Field Target series run by Airguns of Arizona. These points will be added to their EFT score at the Extreme Benchrest Competition (EBR) to be held in Phoenix, AZ in October 2025.
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