Around the NPSC: High Sheriff’s 9mm STI Springfield Pistol

November 20, 2014 | Category: Articles / Blogs / Videos | By: NRABlog

Springfield pistol almost perfect as Peoble wins 2014 President’s Match

Right side of Doug Peoble’s STI Springfield 9mm at the 2014 NPSC in New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico – Doug Peoble grew up in a small mining town in Southwest Arizona. A close community, there were often opportunities to embrace the tradition and passion of the shooting sports. For Doug, it was his father that lead the way. The way that lead this Pinal County Officer to earn the title of High Sheriff at the 2014 NRA National Police Shooting Champion.

One of the firearms he used to accomplish this feat was a 9mm STI Springfield pistol.

“I bought this from Border Patrol Agents Jeremy David for a good price,” he said with a smile. “First thing I did was send it back to Springfield Armory for a new barrel and tightened the slide.”

Left side of Doug Peoble’s STI Springfield 9mm at the 2014 NPSC

Whether it was new barrel or tightened slide, something did the trick to vault Doug into the top marksman echelon. The extra practice probably didn’t hurt much either.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of time with the Border Patrol Team,” said Peoble. “Picked up quite a bit.”

How much is yet to be determined. After all, to come out of no where and claim several titles, including the President’s Match, is quite an accomplishment. If he continues to perform on such a level then there’s no reason to believe he can’t give Vadasz and the rest of the Team Border Patrol a run for the title.”

“I don’t know about that,” he mumbled while turning away with an aw shucks grin. “But we’ll see, we’ll see.”

Doug Peoble’s STI Springfield 9mm from the 2014 NPSC

Though his score may not mirror that of our 6-time champion Robert Vadasz, his performance during the President’s Match certainly did.

On the final day of competition, Vadasz’s gun jammed. He had to clear it and fire before time ran out. The same thing happened to Doug during the President’s Match.

“It was with this gun, the STI Springfield.

“I was shooting a clean match until the 25-yard line. On the third shot of a quick 6, the hammer fell and the round didn’t fly. I retracted the handgun, cocked the hammer, came back up and shot 4 rounds as fast as I could. I ended up dropping 1. Otherwise I would have shot a perfect score of 600.”

Though it may not have been perfect the performance was enough win the match and turn a few heads. There’s a real shooting future for this small town mining boy. And if the STI Springfield behaves next year, there might be more to talk about than a High Sheriff title.