Photo Credits: Hector Cibrian, Cibrian Production House
The 5th annual “Red Oktober: Cold War” action rifle match, hosted by Rio Salado’s Multigun team and Presented by IWI US, brought the spirit of Cold War era weaponry to life during the first weekend of October 2024. This unique event, governed by the International Multigun Association (IMA) rules, continues to draw competitive and recreational shooters from across the country. It offers a challenging and historically themed competition.
Event Overview
Date: First weekend of October 2024
Location: Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club, Mesa, Arizona
Format: 9 challenging rifle-only stages
Target Distances: 1 to 300 yards
Expected Ammo Count: Approximately 300 rounds (if shot clean)
Typical Round Count per stage: 40
Typical Stage Duration: 20-90 seconds
Scoring System: Time Plus – Points
Presenting Sponsor: IWI US
The Red Oktober: Cold War 2024 event was proudly presented by IWI US (Israel Weapon Industries), a fitting sponsor for this Cold War-themed competition. IWI’s legacy includes iconic firearms like the Uzi submachine gun and the Galil rifle, both of which played significant roles during the Cold War period.
Venue: Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club
Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club in Mesa, Arizona, was the perfect venue for this unique event. The club’s reputation for hosting innovative shooting competitions was further cemented by the success of this year’s Red Oktober: Cold War match. The match staff did an excellent job at making sure cold water was available to competitors at every stage.
Weather and Environmental Conditions
The 2024 Red Oktober: Cold War event took place during a weekend of record-breaking heat in Mesa, Arizona. Competitors faced challenging environmental conditions that tested not just their shooting skills, but also their endurance and adaptability.
Sunday, October 6th, saw particularly extreme weather:
- Record high temperature of 111°F (44°C), well above the historic average of 93°F (34°C) (with local reports up to 117°F at the match)
- Extremely low humidity, dropping to just 3-4% during peak afternoon hours
- Light to moderate winds, with speeds up to 10 mph
Similar conditions prevailed on Friday and Saturday, creating a consistently hot and dry environment throughout the event. These extreme conditions added an extra layer of difficulty to the competition, requiring shooters to manage heat stress, stay hydrated, and adapt their shooting techniques to account for the effects of high temperatures on their equipment and ammunition performance.
Red Oktober Cold War (ROCW) Divisions
The match featured five distinct divisions, each reflecting different aspects of Cold War armaments:
- Free World Irons (FWI): Any autoloading rifle derived from a NATO or Western Bloc weapon designed before October 3, 1990. Limited to battle-worthy iron sights and 30-round magazine capacity.
- Battle Rifle Irons (BRI): Any autoloading rifle derived from a battle rifle designed before October 3, 1990. Limited to battle-worthy iron sights, 20-round magazine capacity, and must be in a caliber such as 7.62x51NATO or 7.62x54R with a minimum power factor of 350.
- ComBloc Irons (CI): Autoloading rifles derived from Warsaw Pact or Eastern Bloc weapons, limited to battle-worthy iron sights only. Magazine capacity limited to 30 rounds after the start signal.
- ComBloc Open (CO): Any autoloading rifle derived from a Warsaw Pact or Eastern Bloc weapon designed before October 3, 1990. No restrictions on optics or supporting devices.
- Open “Non-Compliant” (O”): A flexible category for firearms that don’t fit into the other more historically accurate divisions, allowing for greater variety and modern interpretations of Cold War era designs.
Final Results
The event saw impressive performances across all divisions, with a total of 246 competitors participating. Here are the top three finishers in each division:
Free World Irons (FWI) Division
- Brandon Schilling (100%) – Military, LEO
- Caleb Dutton (96.756%)
- Jojo Vidanes (93.508%) – Senior
Battle Rifle Irons (BRI) Division
- Mike Beddow (100%)
- Ross Haney (97.277%)
- Jeremiah Stevens (86.375%)
ComBloc Irons (CI) Division
- Steve Ngo (100%)
- Klay Owens (87.521%)
- David Skelley (80.690%)
ComBloc Open (CO) Division
- AJ Anthony (100%)
- Nils Jonasson (85.496%)
- Ron Fuchs (85.262%) – Military
Open “Non-Compliant” (O”) Division
- Austin Ridener (100%)
- Chris Temme (79.036%)
Category Winners
In addition to the division winners, several shooters stood out in specific categories (please note that the Match may or may not actually recognize these Category winners, but we find them significant and worth mentioning in either case):
High Lady
Claudia Vidanes (ComBloc Open) – 485.8489 points, 61.240%
Claudia’s performance in the highly competitive ComBloc Open division was particularly impressive, outscoring many of her male counterparts.
High Senior
Jojo Vidanes (Free World Irons) – 673.2591 points, 93.508%
Jojo not only took the High Senior title but also secured a podium finish in the Free World Irons division, demonstrating that age is no barrier to excellence in this sport.
High Junior
Cooper Shepherd (ComBloc Open) – 255.7029 points, 32.231%
While there were few junior competitors, Cooper’s performance in the challenging ComBloc Open division shows promise for the future of the sport.
High Military
Brandon Schilling (Free World Irons) – 719.9984 points, 100%
Brandon’s perfect score in the Free World Irons division secured him not only the division win but also the High Military honor, showcasing the high level of skill among service members.
High LEO (Law Enforcement Officer)
Brandon Schilling (Free World Irons) – 719.9984 points, 100%
Brandon pulled double duty, also taking the High LEO title with his outstanding performance, highlighting the crossover skills between military and law enforcement shooting.
These category winners demonstrate the diverse range of competitors attracted to the Red Oktober: Cold War event, from young enthusiasts to seasoned professionals across various fields.
Notable Performances and Trends
Brandon Schilling’s dominance in the Free World Irons division, as a Military and Law Enforcement competitor, was impressive. His performance continued to show his strength from previous years.
The Battle Rifle Irons division saw close competition between the top two finishers. Mike Beddow edged out Ross Haney by a narrow margin.
Steve Ngo’s commanding lead in the ComBloc Irons division shows exceptional skill with iron-sighted ComBloc weapons. He significantly improved from his previous years’ performance.
AJ Anthony’s near 15% lead in the ComBloc Open division is remarkable. It solidifies his reputation as a top performer in this event.
The Open “Non-Compliant” division, though small, continues to offer opportunities for competitors with unique or modified firearms. It adds diversity to the competition.
The event saw strong participation across all divisions. A mix of Military, Law Enforcement, and Civilian shooters participated. Various age categories (Junior, Senior, Super Senior, Grand Senior) were represented, highlighting the inclusive nature of the competition.
Challenging Course Design
Competitors faced 9 diverse stages that pushed their abilities to the limit, with most of the stages requiring around 40 rounds of ammo to engage every target. The course design, praised by participants for its ingenuity, included a mix of short, medium, and long courses with a variety of target presentations and shooting positions.
Looking Ahead
As the Red Oktober: Cold War event concludes its 5th year, it has firmly established itself as a premier action rifle match with a unique historical twist. The continued success and growing popularity of the match highlight the enduring fascination with Cold War era firearms and the skills required to operate them effectively.
The event’s ability to attract talent from across the country, including top shooters and returning champions, speaks to its national significance.
Conclusion
The Red Oktober: Cold War 2024 event has once again proven to be a thrilling and nostalgic experience for shooting enthusiasts. It combines challenging courses of fire with historically significant firearms, providing a unique blend of competition and appreciation for the weapons that shaped an era.
As part of the diverse lineup of events at Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club, Red Oktober: Cold War contributes to the club’s reputation as a hub for innovative and exciting shooting competitions. The event’s success highlights the club’s commitment to providing varied and challenging experiences for shooters of all interests and skill levels.
As the shooting community looks forward to future iterations of this event, Red Oktober: Cold War stands as a shining example of what’s possible when tradition meets modern competitive spirit in the world of action shooting sports.
