Shooting a perfect pistol score — 400 out of 400 — once is remarkable. Doing it twice is amazing. But three times? You've got to be kidding.
One South Carolina-based gunny recently shot a perfect pistol score, of 400 out of 400, during annual qualifications — again.
Gunnery Sgt. Mark McBride, the subject of a Marine Corps Times story last year after twice shooting he shot a perfect score twice, repeated the astounding feat for a third time on Aug 26.
"I just want people to know the gunny is still here and still perfect," he joked recently.
It is hard to say if it's a feat no other Marine has ever achieved. Others have certainly shot perfect pistol scores before, but the Marines in McBride's unit at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort — including the two pistol coaches who observed his qualification — have never seen it done so many times.
"To shoot as well as he did, I have not yet seen somebody do that," said Sgt. Jennifer Bailey, a field wireman and marksmanship coach with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273. "With the way his groups were, – I've not seen anybody come close to that."
McBride, an engineer equipment chief with MWSS-273, shot a perfect score during pre-qualifications and qualificationstwice in 2014 when he was based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during pre-qualifications and qualifications. This year he threw two shots during pre-qualification, but hit the mark each and every time when it mattered.
His 2014 feat was born of a rivalry with a captain who goaded him by saying there was no way he could record a perfect score score perfect more than once. Both of them did just that during pre-quals, but McBride pulled ahead on the actual qualification.
This year, he was driven to prove it wasn't luck. While some Marines around him were rooting him on, others expressed skepticism, saying McBride's achievement last year was a fluke. The unit's pistol coaches, however, said they quickly realized knew quickly that he was an exceptional shooter.
"He didn't really need any help," Bailey said. On the practice day leading up to qualifications, "he was just knocking out the center of the target. He was shooting smiley faces at the 25-yard line."
McBride's other coach was among the initial skeptics, but was quickly convinced.
"Honestly I didn't think he would be able to pull it off," said Cpl. Jarrett Lettieri, a combat engineer with the unit. "There is always that one factor that changes. Usually something happens. But his shooting on the table prior was proving that it was going to happen."
A target bears witness to Gunnery Sgt. Mark McBride exceptional pistol shooting prowess.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Mark McBride
McBride and his coaches said there is nothing mysterious about his successin the end there is no magic involved.
"Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals — that's all it is," Lettieri said.
The key to a perfect shot every time will be different for every Marine because each person has different weaknesses, said McBride, who has been informally coaching other Marines. For him, that weakness was anticipating shots and yanking them low.
"I just focus on that slow steady squeeze, let that trigger surprise you," he said, referring to a sound principle of shooting that prevents marksmen from anticipating a pistol's recoil and compensating by yanking the barrel downward at the last moment.
It also prevents shooters from "slapping" the trigger and pulling the sights off target.
For other Marines their problem might be breath control which can lead to inconsistent shots — likely above or below their point of aim.
"He had incredible breath control," Littieri said. "Normally you notice, even with exceptional shooters, up and down, but his shots were going through the same three-inch circle. Every time he was firing at the natural respiratory pause."
McBride makes time to mentor other Marines in the art of pistol shooting. He now wants to begin competing and try out for the Quantico, Virginia-based Marine Corps Pistol Team,
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mark McBride
McBride was eager to spend extra time at the range to help others seeking asking for his advice, his coaches said.
"He took time after shooting one day to help some other shooters who were having problems," said Bailey. "He stayed and explained what he does to help them out."
Now McBride has aspirations to begin competing and try out for the Quantico, Virginia-based Marine Corps Pistol Team. He didn't last year because he was approaching eligibility for the master sergeant board and wanted to maintain MOS credibility while also mentoring Marines in his unit. But this year, he is ready.
"I think he would do very well if he got the opportunity," Bailey said.
Soon, he could be the Marine Corps' secret weapon as its shooting teams go head-to-head with other military and civilian competitors across the nation.
