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42nd World Shooting Championships

Showdown in Seoul
By William F. Parkerson, III, Editor

No one knew quite what to expect as shooters from 68 nations began practicing their sport last September in Seoul, South Korea. Without exception the Communist bloc countries boycotted the 42nd International Shooting Union World Championships, and this decision to practice politics rather than sport robbed competitive shooting's grandest gathering of many of the world's best athletes. No one cared to predict who would soon be wearing those medals that in recent years have hung from the necks of the Russians, Czechs and East Germans.

There was little doubt that the Americans would continue their dominance of the rifle events, but even that forecast was clouded by the fact that 10 shooters on the 14-member U.S. squad were competing in their first world championship.

American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979

Final Medal Standings
Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
USA 18 9 6 33
Italy 6 5 2 13
Finland 6 4 9 19
Germany 5 7 5 17
Switzerland 5 6 4 15
Sweden 5 3 7 15
Great Britian 4 3 2 9
Spain 1 1 2 4
Canada 1 1 0 2
Denmark 1 0 0 1
France 0 4 1 5
Korea 0 3 5 8
Australia 0 2 2 4
Norway 0 2 0 2
Brazil 0 1 1 2
Argentine 0 1 0 1
Austria 0 0 2 2
Colombia 0 0 1 1
Guatemala 0 0 1 1
Totals 52 54 50 156
Team Photo

U.S. Team Members

Rifle

John Akemon, Lanny Bassham, Becky Braun, Ray Carter, John Comley, Ed Etzel, Kurt Fitz-Randolph, Boyd Goldsby, Wanda Jewell, David Kimes, Karen Monez, Sua Ann Sandusky, Lones Wigger and Webster Wrigtht

Pistol

Michael Bonafed, Jan Brundin, Sallie Carroll, Kim Dyer, Ruby Fox, Don Hamilton, Bonnie Harmon, Ashleigh Liston, Melvin Makin, Charles McCowan, William McMillan, John McNally, Steve Reiter, Charles Wheeler, Darius Young and Jerry Wilder.

Running Target

John Anderson, Charles Davis, James Reiber and Michael Theimer

Trap

Lee Bannerman, Dan Carlisle, Loral I. Delaney, Audrey Grosch, Valerie Johnson, Randy Voss and Wally Zobell.

Skeet

Terry Bankey, Bill Clemmons, Matt Dryke, Eva Funes, Ila Hill, Al Mullins and Jeff Sizemore

Team Managment & Support

Joe Berry, Team Manager; Marie Alkire, Ass't Manager; Loyd Crow, Ass't Manager; Jimmie Dorsey, Ass't Manager; John Hunt, Ass't Manager; William Krilling, Ass't Manager; Laurence Mosely, Ass't Manager; Craig Langseth, Armourer; Jack Maple, Armourer and Jim Sizemore, Armorer

Range Map

Map of the Taenung International Shooting Range

News Photo

MARKSMAN TAKES BEAD ON INTERNATIONAL TITLE

BY PHIL GARLINGTON

The last time Bill McMillan was in Korea it was for a different kind of shooting match.

In 1952 McMillan was a Marine Corps staff sergeant when he went to ashore in Inchon.

But when he returns to Seoul Friday it will be not as a soldier but as a competitor in the World Shooting Championship.

McMillan, a retired marine lieutenant colonel, has been the weapons coordinator for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for the last four years.

He was twice a world champion pistol marksman (in 1954 and 1958) and was a winner of a Gold Medal in marksmanship at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

In Seoul, he will represent the United States in the rapid-fire pistol event, in which the marksman fires at five consecutive targets from a distance of 25 meters (about 27 yards).

"First you fire five shots at the targets in eight seconds, then five shots in six seconds, and then five in four seconds," McMillan said.

During the four second shot, he said, the competitor has about three-tenths of a second to aim and fire at each target, since it usually takes a least a second and a half to raise the pistol from the starting position.

EX-MARINE MARKSMAN

He said the marksman in the rapid-fire event use .22-caliber target pistols with special hair triggers that fire with three ounces of pressure.

In contrast, it takes about four pounds of pressure to pull the trigger of a standard .45-caliber pistol.

McMillan said the world record score for the rapid-fire pistol is 598 of a possible 600. His best score so far is 594.

"It's not commonly known, but in the Olympics more countries are represented in shooting events that any other sport except track and field," McMillan said. "And the 'English Match' for small-bore rifle draws more participants than any other Olympic event."

As a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Committee, McMillan said his group already has begun scouting locations in Los Angeles for the shooting events.

McMillan said he had no particular interest in marksmanship before joining the Marines. "I started competing in 1949 when one of the sergeants came around recruiting a team. It just turned out that I was a natural."

Most U.S. competitors in international marksmanship events come from the military, McMillan said, but their showing against European shooters has not been remarkable.

"European shooting is much different than the shooting we do here. It's apples and oranges. In international competition we have had better luck with youngsters who have been trained at college rifle ranges."

But, McMillan said, Americans may begin to do better in international shooting competition after an Olympic program in the pistol events begins in San Antonio, Tex.

And what attributes will the American world-class pistol champion have to have? "He has to be dedicated to the sport and work hard," McMillan said. "He has to have good coordination, fast reflexes and superb motor control."

"And, of course, cold steely eyes."

Los Angeles Times, September 14, 1978

DM resident aims for Olympics

Only three Americans have competed as members of six U.S. Olympic Teams. One is a lady fencer, one as an equestrian, and on as a pistol shooter. The latter is Bill McMillan, Del Mar resident and weapons coordinator for the San Diego Sheriff's Department.

"I'll try out for the 1980 team and if I make it, I'll be the only American to be on seven Olympic teams," the 50-year-old retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel declared.

At the moment McMillan has his eye on another target - the World Shooting Championship now being held in Seoul, Korea. He left San Diego September 15 to compete as a member of the U.S. Shooting Team and will return October 5.

This is also McMillan's sixth time to be a member of the U.S. World Shooting Team which competes every four years, half-way between the Olympic games. He has also competed in four Pan-American games as a marksman. They are held the year prior to Olympic games.

During his nearly 30 years of competition shooting McMillan has accumulated four individual gold medals and "more team medals that I can count," he said.

McMillan won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympic in Rome, in 1954 and 1958 World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela and Moscow and the 1967 Pan-Am in Winnipeg, Canada.

He was on Olympic Teams in 1952 in Helsinki, 1960 in Rome, 1964 in Tokyo, 1968 in Mexico City, 1972 in Munich and 1976 in Montreal.

Although he has served on several different types of shooting teams, he now competes only in rapid fire pistol events.

"In this event we use .22 caliber pistols and shoot at five targets 25 meters (about 27 feet) away."

"We begin by having eight seconds to shoot at the five targets. Then the time is reduced to six seconds and finally to four seconds. We go through the routine a second time and then come back the next day and repeat the whole procedure," he explained.

There are a total of 60 shots fired and a perfect score is 600.

"The world record score is 598 and my best so far is 594," McMillan said.

McMillan is not only looking past the World Championships in Seoul and the 1979 Pan-Am Games in San Juan to the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, he has also been named a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Committee and is beginning the search for shooting locations for the games to be held six years from now in Los Angeles.

Unknown newspaper, September 1978

News Photo

Marksman Takes Aim At World Championships

Only three Americans have competed as members of six U.S. Olympic Teams. One is a lady fencer, one as an equestrian, and on as a pistol shooter. The latter is Bill McMillan, Del Mar resident and weapons coordinator for the San Diego Sheriff's Department.

"I'll try out for the 1980 team and if I make it, I'll be the only American to be on seven Olympic teams," the 50-year-old retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel declared.

At the moment McMillan has his eye on another target - the World Shooting Championship now being held in Seoul, Korea. He left San Diego September 15 to compete as a member of the U.S. Shooting Team and will return October 5.

This is also McMillan's sixth time to be a member of the U.S. World Shooting Team which competes every four years, half-way between the Olympic games. He has also competed in four Pan-American games as a marksman. They are held the year prior to Olympic games.

During his nearly 30 years of competition shooting McMillan has accumulated four individual gold medals and "more team medals that I can count," he said.

McMillan won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympic in Rome, in 1954 and 1958 World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela and Moscow and the 1967 Pan-Am in Winnipeg, Canada.

He was on Olympic Teams in 1952 in Helsinki, 1960 in Rome, 1964 in Tokyo, 1968 in Mexico City, 1972 in Munich and 1976 in Montreal.

Although he has served on several different types of shooting teams, he now competes only in rapid fire pistol events.

"In this event we use .22 caliber pistols and shoot at five targets 25 meters (about 27 feet) away."

"We begin by having eight seconds to shoot at the five targets. Then the time is reduced to six seconds and finally to four seconds. We go through the routine a second time and then come back the next day and repeat the whole procedure," he explained.

There are a total of 60 shots fired and a perfect score is 600.

"The world record score is 598 and my best so far is 594," McMillan said.

The pistol is hardly the type worn by deputies McMillan has been helping train in shooting for the past four years. He has two, each made in France and costing about $500 each. They are five-shot automatics, light as a feather and have a trigger pull of only three ounces.

The Blade-Tribune, September 21, 1978

25 Meter Center-Fire Pistol
Individual Scores
Place Name Country Total Points
1st Seppo Makinen Finland 592
2nd Jong Kil Park South Korea 588
3rd Seppo Saarenpaeae Finland 588
14th Jerry Wilder USA 584
17th Charles E. Wheeler USA 583
27th Donald Hamilton USA 582
35th Michael Bonafede USA 580

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979


25 Meter Center-Fire Pistol
Team Scores
Place Country Team Members Total Points
1st Finland Olavi Johannes Heikkinen
Seppo Makinen
Hannu Paavola
Seppo Saarenpaeae
2347
2nd Switzerland Marcel Ansermet
Philippe Klay
Reinhard Ruess
Alex Tschui
2343
3rd Sweden Ove Gunnarsson
Boo Levin
Staffan Oscarsson
Ragnar Skanaker
2334
4th USA Jerry Wilder
Charles E. Wheeler
Donald Hamilton
Michael Bonafede
2329

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979


Smallbore Pistol (Ladies)
Individual Scores
Place Name Country Total Points
1st Kim Dyer USA 590
2nd Beccarelli Switzerland 584
3rd Lepparnaki Finland 584
10th Ruby Fox USA 574
28th Sallie Carroll USA 560

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979


Smallbore Pistol (Ladies)
Team Scores
Place Country Team Members Total Points
1st Denmark - 1726
2nd Australia - 1725
3rd USA Kim Dyer
Ruby Fox
Sallie Carroll
1724

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979


25 Meter Standard Pistol
Individual Scores
Place Name Country Total Points
1st Fagnar Skanaker Sweden 583
2nd Seppo Saarenpaeae Finland 580
3rd Hannu Paavola Finland 577
13th Bonnie Harmon USA 568
17th Charles McCowan USA 567
26th Jerry Wilder USA 565
28th Michael Bonafede USA 562

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979


25 Meter Standard Pistol
Team Scores
Place Country Team Members Total Points
1st Finland Seppo Makinen
Hannu Paavola
Paavo Palokangas
Seppo Saarenpaeae
2297
2nd Italy Giuseppe Quadro
Alberto Sevieri
Robert Vannozzi
Renato Zambon
2280
3rd Switzerland Marcel Ansermet
Otto Keller
Reinhard Ruess
Alex Tschui
2276
4th USA Bonnie Harmon
Charles McCowan
Jerry Wilder
Michael Bonafede
2262

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979


25 Meter Rapid-Fire Pistol
Individual Scores
Place Name Country Total Points
1st Ove Gunnarsson Sweden 595
2nd Werner Beir West Germany 595
3rd Gerhard Petritsch Austria 594
6th Melvin P. Makin USA 591
7th Reinhard Ruess Switzerland 591
8th Juan Segui Spain 591
38th John H. McNally USA 582
56th William W. McMillan USA 577
71st Darius R. Young USA 571

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979

25 Meter Rapid-Fire Pistol
Team Scores
Place Country Team Members Total Points
1st West Germany Werner Beier
Alfred Radke
Helmut Seeger
Heinz Weissenberger
2366
2nd Italy Rolando Comazzetto
Roberto Ferraris
Gianfranco
Alberto Sevieri
2353
3rd Sweden Curt Andersson
Ove Gunnarsson
Boo Levin
Ragnar Skanaker
2353
10th USA Melvin P. Makin
John H. McNally
William W. McMillan
Darius R. Young
2321

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979


50 Meter Free Pistol
Individual Scores
Place Name Country Total Points
1st Moritz Minder Switzerland 577
2nd Ragnar Skanaker Sweden 569
3rd Karl-Otto Westphalen West German 565
14th Steve Reiter USA 552
32nd Donald Hamilton USA 545
33rd Darius R. Young USA 544
37th Jerry Wilder USA 543

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979


50 Meter Pistol
Team Scores
Place Country Team Members Total Points
1st Switzerland Herbert Binder
Roman Burkhard
Moritz Minder
Arno Rissi
2203
2nd Japan Chikafumi Hirai
Mamoru Inagaki
Fumihisa Semizuki
Shigetoshi Tashiro
2202
3rd West Germany Klaus Bolbrock
Alfons Messerschmidt
Udo Scharf
Karl-Otto Westphalen
2200
8th USA Steve Reiter
Donald Hamilton
Darius R. Young
Jerry Wilder
2184

Source: American Rifleman, Vol. 127, No. 1, January 1979



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