Hunter Neal: Taking His Shot
9:45 a.m. March 29, 2026
Editor's Note: Moore County’s Hunter Neal is headed to the world stage. The United States Precision Rifle Association has named Neal an official Team USA representative for the 2026 IPRF World Championship, set for September in Texas. Neal was featured in the Moore County Observer on April 2, 2025.
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
Most teenagers spend their weekends playing video games, hanging out with friends, or playing sports. But for Hunter Neal, weekends mean precision, patience, and practice.
Whether this up-and-coming shooter competes in high-stakes shooting matches or tracks game in the woods, marksmanship defines his life.
“Hunting and shooting are two different things,” he explains. “When I hunt, I don’t shoot as far, and I don’t have to think as much about wind and movement. But if I miss, I rarely get a second shot.”
Following in father John Aaron Neal’s footsteps, Hunter started hunting at 4 or 5 years old. His first kill, a doe taken down with a muzzleloader from 30 yards behind his house, sparked a lifelong passion. But hunting was only the beginning.
Competitive shooting demands a new level of skill. In long-range matches, targets sit as far as 1,000 yards away. Even the most minor adjustments in wind, elevation, and bullet velocity determine whether a shooter hits or misses.
“In competition, I have to think more about distance,” Hunter notes. “A muzzleloader can’t shoot as far as a .22 or a centerfire rifle, so I have to plan every shot carefully.”
Unlike hunting, where shots happen quickly in unpredictable conditions, competition requires precision, strategy, and the ability to make quick corrections. A millimeter off can mean a miss. “When I shoot at a deer and miss, I just know he’s not dead – that’s about it,” he deadpans.
Neal Family Photo
Hunter Neal was the feature interview for the April 2, 2025, edition of the Moore County Observer.
• Download V1No22
The Science Behind the Shot
A great shooter stands apart from a good one through consistency. That’s why Hunter takes control of his ammunition. While many competitors use factory-made rounds, he and his family reload their bullets, fine-tuning them for maximum accuracy.
“We do it so the bullets are more accurate and consistent,” Hunter explains. Factory ammunition has slight variations in powder loads and bullet weight, which affect shot placement. By hand-loading each round, he ensures every bullet performs the same.
Hunter follows a meticulous reloading process. First, he cleans the used brass casings to remove
residue from previous shots. Then, he anneals them, heating the metal to extend its lifespan. After resizing the casings to fit snugly in the chamber, he seats primers and measures a precise amount of gunpowder.
“It takes about five hours to reload a full batch, but it’s worth it,” he says.
Hunter shoots factory-made .22 rounds and loads his centerfire rounds himself. His competition rifle, a 6 GT, fires rounds built with an Alpha Munitions casing, a Berger bullet, and a CCI primer.
Holding up a carefully assembled round, Hunter says, “I loaded this one myself.”
Hunter’s dedication to the craft sets him apart from shooters his age. It elevates him to the highest levels of competition.
Life Beyond the Range
Shooting doesn’t consume all his time. When he’s not training or competing, he works on the family farm, caring for Black Angus cattle and cutting hay. “I rake and used to tedder, but we don’t tedder anymore.”
Hunter also spends weekends practicing basketball and wrestling and considers playing football – if his schedule allows.
His coaches understand Hunter’s shooting commitments. Even though he won’t play football this season, he still works out with the team.
“That’ll help keep me in shape,” he says. More importantly, it keeps him connected with his teammates and prepares him for the endurance required in competition.
Competitive Shooting
Competitive shooting isn’t just about hitting targets. It demands performing under pressure while maintaining strict safety standards. Matches follow rigorous rules, and one mistake can lead to the shooter’s instant disqualification.
“If my gun goes past a certain point or goes off when it’s not supposed to, I’m out,” Hunter explains. Competitors must follow strict safety protocols, including inserting a chamber flag – an empty chamber indicator – to show their firearm is not in use.
His next big event, a two-day match in Carver Hill, Ala., will pit him against some of the best shooters in the country, including Levi Wilson, a highly respected competitor who has mentored Hunter.
Levi also started in the sport at a young age and has become both a mentor and friend. But does Hunter ever talk smack?
“Not to Levi – he’s way better than me,” Hunter admits. “But there’s one guy I talk a lot to.”
That “one guy” is a grown man, a professional architect. “It’s hilarious to see a 14-year-old giving a grown man a hard time at a match,” jokes mom, Amber Neal.
With countless hours of practice, a deep understanding of ballistics, and an unwavering passion for shooting, Hunter stands out as more than just another young shooter. He competes, pushes himself, and strives to be the best.
