Editorial Pomp and Circumstance – the 6TH Annual Warrior Competition’s last day David Reeder May 5, 2014 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. The 6th Annual Warrior Competition ended today with a massive final challenge, held on the range – the Top Gun Event. Using rifle, shotgun and pistol, contenders went head to head for several hours until just one shooter was left – this year's Top Gun, Sami K. from the Jordanian GID. Khaled H. of the Lebanese Special Forces took 2nd and Askat M. of the Kazakhstan Special Operations Unit took 3rd. As you can imagine, with over 200 team members watching, participating, shouting encouragement and shrieking curses in multiple languages, it was chaotic. Happily between watchful Jordanian instructors, all the MissionX judges and an implacable Rangemaster things were kept well in hand. After Top Gun came the award function, with all the fanfare and ceremony you only see in a monarchy. Parachutists jumped from a helicopter with giant flags, there was a silent drill team, bagpipes and camel riders in traditional uniforms from early in Jordan's history…you get the idea. China's “Snow Leopards” took first place for the second year in a row (they took 4th the first time they competed in 2012 so it didn't take them long to climb to the top). Another Chinese team, the Special Operations Unit of the PAPF Sichuan Corps, took 2nd place and the Royal Jordanian Guard took 3rd. The differences in time and points on all 3 was incremental – the competition was very close. Overall it was a good day – perhaps the funniest thing we observed was when a Jordanian SOF soldier broke the top of their trophy's helmet. One of his teammates looked over at a Chinese competitors seated nearby and asked if the trophy was made in China. The Kazakhs, so stand-offish in the beginning, turned out to be among the friendliest and most effusive competitors there (though one of them stole my hat and wore it the rest of the day). We were invited to come to Kazakhstan and train with them. Lastly we got a hint of who might be coming next year. We'll tell you more about that soon. There were lots of SOF operators and special forces from around the world here to compete – We wanted to get a look at all of them at soQ took the perfect picture for it. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
