For as long as I can remember, I have been surrounded by the shooting sports or outdoor activities involving firearms.  My family has been involved in the shooting sports through many different organizations, coaching, hunting and recreational shooting since I was little, and I really enjoy that aspect of life. I grew up watching my older brothers shoot trap and my dad coaching, but as I got older and tried trap shooting, I knew that it was not my thing. I went on to shoot for the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) since 8th grade and It really formed my love for the shooting sports. 

Abby Jackley in action during a pistol competition.

Now, being in college, I am a coach for the SASP team I formerly shot with in High school, and I hold several State and National titles in SASP High School & Collegiate divisions. Towards the end of my second year of SASP I started shooting USPSA, Steel Challenge and Rimfire Challenge with my dad. I then started to work with Junior Shooters magazine as a published writer and sponsored team member and have now joined with Team Ruger. One of the most exciting opportunities I have had is to attending  SHOT Show and meet with other shooting professionals and marketing specialists in the industry. Being able to work with shooting industry leaders, try out and market new products and write about them in Junior Shooters gave me the confidence to continue writing and sharing my experiences with others both on and off the range.

With my publications in Junior Shooters magazine, I was excited to be awarded the “Toyota 2021 Let’s Go Places” scholarship for young upcoming writers to attend the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association national writer’s convention. Traveling there took me on some great adventure to Summit Bechtel Reserve and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, meeting more outdoor enthusiasts and writers and broadening my connections to the marketing and journalism communities. I have gone on to publish over 15 additional articles on youth and families in the shooting sports including several cover feature articles. Getting the opportunity growing up and being involved in recreational shooting  and writing has been so important for me and has truly made me decide I want to be a part of the shooting sports community forever. 

The author showing a young shooter how to handle a pistol.

Once I decided that this was my focus, I wanted to put more time and effort into deciding how I can use my love for the outdoors and competitive shooting and then make it a career. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to do an internship in Marketing with MidwayUSA Foundation and speak at the MidwayUSA Youth Shooting Sports Conference in Columbia, Missouri. I have continued using social media and my enjoyment of content creation to show and encourage other women and young shooters to try new things in the shooting sports and help bring what I had accomplished in SASP to the USPSA and Steel Challenge events.

I believe that the being active in the shooting sports involves so much more than just being on the range. Being a part of the shooting sports community and taking on roles that promote youth development and encourage other through writing and social media has changed me so much and gave me confidence to talk to others, be more outgoing and do more for young kids and women in the outdoors community. 

Abby Jackley is a USPSA and Steel Challenge shooter for Team Ruger and holds several national titles. She’s a coach for her local youth shooting team and an active supporter of young girls and women in the shooting sports. 

Abby  Jackley 

Abby Jackley is a USPSA and Steel Challenge shooter for Team Ruger and holds several national titles. She’s a coach for her local youth shooting team and an active supporter of young girls and women in the shooting sports.