Vlieger also took home Second Overall at the 2026 Bluegrass USPSA State Championship, held June 19 – 21, 2026, in Wilmore, Kentucky.
Eubank, KY (June 2026) – Shell Shock Technologies, LLC. (SST), a leading innovator in the ammunition industry, is proud to announce its sponsored shooter, John Vlieger, finished 1st in the Carry Optics Division, as well as Second Overall, out of 91 competitors at the 2026 Bluegrass USPSA State Championship, hosted by the Blue Grass Sportsmen’s League. The match, held June 19 – 21, 2026, in Wilmore, Kentucky, featured 269 competitors across multiple divisions, with Vlieger completing 11 stages, totaling 157.15 seconds, and earning 997.5887 match points—96.85% of the available points.
“The Bluegrass State Championship was another great reminder of why I trust Shell Shock Technologies’ NAS³™ cases,” commented Vlieger. “My match ammo produced a 5-fps extreme spread and performed all weekend flawlessly, allowing me to focus entirely on execution. That consistency helped me secure the Carry Optics title and finish second overall.”
SST NAS3 cases are engineered for enhanced strength, corrosion resistance, and reduced weight compared to traditional brass casings. These benefits have made them a preferred choice among top-tier competitors like Vlieger, who demand peak performance from their gear.
“Taking first in Carry Optics and second overall in a field this competitive demands real skill and discipline, and we’re proud that shooters of John’s caliber trust NAS3 cases to deliver the consistency they need, round after round. His success reflects both his dedication and what NAS3 technology brings to the line,” said Peter Foss, Managing Partner and CEO of Shell Shock Technologies.
Vlieger has fired over 200,000 rounds of ammunition with SST’s NAS3 cases since first becoming a sponsored shooter in 2017. His next match appearance for the 2026 season will be at the 2026 Cheely Custom Gunworks Area 5 Championship, presented by S3 Range Carts, in Lyons, Michigan, from July 23 – 26, 2026.
About Shell Shock Technologies NAS3 Cases:
NAS3 pistol cases are 50 percent lighter than brass cases, offer greater lubricity, and will not abrade, clog, foul, wear out, or damage breach and ejector mechanisms. The cases offer greater corrosion resistance, tensile strength (2x stronger), and elasticity than brass. NAS3 cases will not split, chip, crack, or grow (stretch). The pistol cases are fully reloadable (using S3 Reload dies) and can be reloaded many more times than brass cases. NAS3 cases can be picked up with a magnet.
NAS3 is “Best in Class” for maintaining consistent velocity between rounds. In an independent test performed by H.P. White Laboratory (a major munitions testing facility), rounds fired using NAS3 cases achieved a velocity standard deviation of 0.093 FPS (124-grain FMJ bullet, 4.2 grains Titegroup powder, ten rounds, extreme variation 3fps).
Keep up with Shell Tech’s advanced ammunition on the website and social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
About Shell Shock Technologies and Shell Tech Ammo:
Shell Shock Technologies, LLC (SST), headquartered in Eubank, Kentucky, is a leading innovator in advanced ammunition case design and manufacturing. The company’s patented NAS3™ technology platform combines stainless steel and aerospace-grade aluminum to create lightweight, durable, and high-performance ammunition cases designed for demanding military and commercial applications.
For more information, please visit www.shellshocktechnologies.com or follow @shellshocktech on Instagram.
About John Vlieger:
John Vlieger is a USPSA National Champion, U.S. Army veteran, and practical shooting competitor based near Lexington, KY. He began competing in 2014 while serving on active duty with the US Army and has since established himself as a top performer in Open Division. In addition to his Open Division success, Vlieger also competes at a high level in Carry Optics and Single Stack divisions, pushing to excel with multiple platforms.
With more than 150 state, regional, and national championship matches completed, Vlieger has earned numerous state and regional titles, along with one national title, through a disciplined training regimen. His results in USPSA competition have placed him among the nation’s best and earned him selection to represent Team USA at the 2025 IPSC Handgun World Shoot, where he helped secure a 1st Place Team finish in the Open Division on the world stage and 6th place overall.
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