Recruit Austin Farrell has been shooting, building and machining rifles all of his life, so when he arrived to Chosin Rifle Range aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, he felt right at home.
Farrell anticipated performing well on the range but never expected to walk away with the highest rifle score in the history of the depot. He would score a near perfect 248 out of 250 on Table One of the Department of Defense’s toughest basic marksmanship challenge, the Marine Corps rifle qualification test.
“I grew up with a rifle in my hand; from the time I was six I was shooting and building firearms with my dad, he was the one that introduced me to shooting, and when I got to Parris Island, what he taught me was the reason I shot like I did,” said Farrell.
The Marine Corps Table One rifle qualification includes shooting from the prone, kneeling and standing positions at distances of up to 500 yards with the M16A4 Service Rifle, using the Rifle Combat Optic.
“I would go out to a family friend’s range five days a week and practice shooting from distances of up to a mile, it’s a great pastime and teaches you lessons that stay with you past the range.”
When asked how he was able to break the Depot’s record, Ferrell responded: “Practice before I got here was definitely a big part of it, but getting into a relaxed state of mind is what helped me shoot… after I shot a 248 everyone was congratulating me, but when I got back to the squad bay my drill instructors gave me a hard time for dropping those two points,” said Ferrell with a laugh.
Recruits are introduced to a more relaxed environment on the rifle range, and taught basic heart rate control and breathing methods to improve their accuracy.
Ferrell’s father George Ferrell said that his son has always given his all into whatever he put his mind to, and that he knows Austin is going to have a promising career in the Marine Corps because of his dedication to success.
“I’m so proud of him, no matter what I’m proud of him but this is above what I expected,” said George. “I always told him to strive to be number one, and the fact that he was able to accomplish that is just a testament to his hard work.”
Ferrell is scheduled to graduate Sept. 4, 2020 with Kilo Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion.
Original Marine Corps Story
Story by Cpl. Shane Manson
Add another deadly weapon added to the Marine Corps inventory! Good luck recruit Austin Farrell!
I am a combat wounded Marine, earned two purple hearts during my service in
Viet Nam. I earned the rank of Sergeant. While I congratulate Austin Farrrell on his accomplishment, the facts in the article are erroneous. I achieved the score of 248 in October of 1966 at Parris Island by earning the same score of 248 on qualifying day – I qualified as the high shooter and was promoted to PFC The article is incorrectly stating that Austin Farrell is the first one to achieve this distinction. I don’t want to take anything away from him, but I also feel if he did this feat, we share this accomplishment; he is not the the first one to do it. I would rather the article had stated that the previous record was in 1966, my record, and it took 54 years to match it.
If anyone wants to verify this information, I was in Platoon 1045, graduated October 1966.
Sergeant Ray E. Taylor
Assuming all goes well for the next month, this young Private should have a very promising future after recruit training. What’s that you say?!?? He’s on an aviation guarantee contract… ahhh shit!!! LMAO, just speculating. I wonder what it’s like to use that “Rife Combat Optic,” how much does it change your sight picture? I fired expert six straight times with the M14 & M16 using iron sights, and wonder if the RCO would have made a difference. The last time I fired on a rifle range was about eight years ago with my stock Springfield ’03. Still dingin-em, but this range only had 100-200-300-400 yard lines. Oh, well, congratulations to Private Ferrell for a job well done. Wishing him success in all future endeavors. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
The “Rife Combat Optic” is 2x. I’d like to see him fire with just iron sights. I’d bet he’d do almost as well. And I have a feeling that regardless of his MOS he will garner interest from the Raiders.
Na;
he’s headed to marine rifle team, I knew a guy that shot 243 / 250 back in 78 he was swooped away and spent the rest of his time on the MRT. I was told by a Gunny on the MRT back then that anyone that shot over 240 got a shot at the MRT.
Just my 2 cents, but good shooting with a scoped rifle. evern at 2x it easier that lining up peep sights.
He’s not a Marine Yet, So lets not make him into a legend yet…
Sgt Kroen
75-79
Amen Msgt
I did PI starting in August of 1962
The qualifying course was the same except I was using an M14 with open sights (blade & aperature) no optics, you doped your own range and wind and qualified with a DI standing on your back because you weren’t low enough, I shot 225 expert there. Other qualifications were expert as high as 338 on Chappo Flats at Camp Pendleton. We did a quick qualifying in 1965 on the way to Vietnam and that was in the rain, no alibis since it was for battle sights. No score kept since it was all at 200 yards at MCRD San Diego before we loaded on ships on to Okinawa .
I still shoot weekly with my match M1A and can shoot “ possibles” at 100, 200 & 300 yards with decent ammo (not 148 grain ball
Semper Fi
I’d old guys weren’t that bad. I was a farm kid busting “chucks” with a .22 LR for rifle training before the Corps. I just never had a PR story.
What about the really great shooters like Gunny Hathcock and others
That is amazing! Never had to actually” qualify” with the 16. The best I ever did was Sharpshooter with the 14. Boot Camp was awarded the “Pizza Box” UGH!! at least I qualified. Harry 1371.
I loved the rifle range. I had been hunting and shooting from the time I was 12 years old. After I came back from Vietnam I was stationed at 29 Palms. I was a coach on the rifle range. I loved EVERY day would have shipped over but my wife would not go along with it.
Shot a 241 in 1981 , no combat optics, guess I could do a 250 with .
Just wanted to know if his dad, George, was ever in the military? Semper Fi, from Platoon 2081 Recruit in Summer of 1984.
The word “Deadliest” jumped out and thought this would be about Carlos Hathcock. It was not, but still a really good story. Austen Farrell will be wearing the EGA come September, so here’s offering him an advance SEMPER FIDELIS!
I made Marksman in 1966 with an M14 with iron sights. I did hit 9 of 10 from 500 yards. My old eyes would have a hard time even seeing that far today. I am nowhere as good as a 248 but I can still shoot well. Good job Marine. Semper Fi!!!
Bullseye! I would think Sniper school is in his Future. As a fellow Marine who first qualified with a 240 at P.I. in 1980 and stayed a Rifle Expert for 11 more times to include tryouts for the Marine Rifle Team. Conrats on a job Well Done…
I challenge Recruit Austin Farrell to a shoot-out (provided he spots me 40 points and I get to shoot at every distance prone)
What the heck is a pizza box ? We called them Toilet seats and you didn’t want one. Shot expert out of boot. 75/79
Pizza box, toilet seat, whatever, still better then an UNC! What was a miss? Maggies Draaws?! Harry 1371
After leaving the Corps, I joined a CA sheriff’s office and, in 1970, became their first ‘official’ certified firearms instructor. We still had a few Korean War vets but most deputies had little or no formal firearms training and often less shooting experience.
On the revolver course (they still used S&W wheelguns), we qualified at 7, 15, 25 and 50 yards using the B27 (FBI/PPC) silhouette target.
I would always point out The Obvious: You’re shooting at a stationary paper target that’s not concealed and is not shooting back. The only ‘stress’ is making the time limits, trying to reload without dumping the loose rounds in the dirt, and not shooting yourself or the deputy in the next lane.
Scoring ‘Expert’ isn’t all that hard if you adhere to The Basics but being a crack shot on the range doesn’t mean you’re the “Deadliest” Cop, Marine or civilian. That only proves out when the excrement hits the ventilation system, you’re fanny-deep in alligators, and The Ogre’s already decided to kill you and you’re in reaction mode.
As my Old Gunny used to say, “Shoot ’em in the left eye and watch the expression change in the right … the fight’s over.”
Job well done Marines alway shoot for number one Congrads keep up the good work
My brother was a “Disneyland” recruit, too…They had brick barracks, maid service, banker’s hours, and girl friends after 4:00pm….they were just trying to stay up with the people out in San Diego … 248 out of a possible 300…that is some very nice shooting…if I were the DI I would want to see each and every target that he shot….can you imagine… all of the DI’s from that platoon and all of the PMI’s got to drink for at least a week, until another series qualified, on the largess and the loss of the bet of the rest of the series DI’s….at the local slop shoot…..and only the “good stuff” need to be supplied…. it is going to happen…somebody is going to do a “possible”…. that is great that somebody got that close this time….