Pro shooter and DFX Pro Staffer Brian Zins is inarguably one of the best shooters in the world. His career has spanned 25 years, from the Marine Corps, the NRA, private security contractor, to multiple national shooting titles. He knows pressure and he knows what it takes to win.
Here is what Brian has to say about his DFX products:
"I’m Brian Zins and I am from Poland, Ohio. I’ve won 10 national shooting championships and that pressure never really got to me. The gyro for me was a real life saver I had actually developed a severe case of shooters elbow (aka tennis elbow) a few years back and I took off after the shooting season of 2010. I didn’t shoot for about 18 months up until this shooting year and the only reason I was able to come back as strong as I was is because of that little device, the DFX Powerball. I was able to get my grip strength back I got rid of the pain in my forearm from shooting. I been doing it for a long time and i was really worried it was going to be the end of my shooting career but it was a saving grace. I’ll tell you what the DFX Powerball really helped me out this year and brought me back and actually won me my 11th national championship. I have a DFX Platinum Powerball where you can actually get a visual simulation and visual effect that you can actually pick up and see, the faster you get going the brighter the light gets going and I’ll tell you what that power that you’re feeling back, is amazing! I mean there’s nothing I’ve ever done for forearm or grip training before that…that quick I actually start to get a little bit of that burn. You can just feel the blood coursing through the forearm into the hand and no kidding in just a couple of minutes you start getting a good burn, a real workout like you’ve been doing wrist curls all afternoon."
Brian Zins was raised in Canfield, Ohio. He grew up playing baseball and also learn how to juggle at a young age, both of which he credits for his good hand-eye coordination in shooting. After graduating from high school, Zins went to college to study Law Enforcement. However, he decided to join the United States Marine Corps in 1988.
Military career
After completing the Recruit training program at Paris Island, South Carolina, Zins attended the Military Police School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. During that time, he received the Top Gun Award for having the highest qualification score with the M1911 pistol.
Through his career of 20 years at the Marine Corps, Zins served in various capacities, such as:
- Primary Marksmanship Instructor
- Assigned to Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico, Virginia
- Permanent member of the Marine Corps Pistol Team
- Mobile Training Team at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
- Military Police Patrol Supervisor, Watch Commander, and Hostage Rescue Team’s designated marksman in Iwakuni, Japan (1994)
- Recruiter in the Detroit area for three years
- Doctrine developer with Marksmanship Program Management Section (2004)
- Staff Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge of the Pistol Team (2006)
During that time, he participated in various competitions, setting several records:
- 1991, first Lance Corporal to become Pistol Distinguished
- 1992, 2nd Place at the NRA National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio
- 1993-1994, 1st Place at the Inter-service Pistol Championship with the Pistol Team
- 2006, set National Records for the Center Fire 900 and Center Fire Timed Fire
- 2006, tied National Record for the .45 National Match Course
- 2006, 2nd Place at the NRA National Matches
- 2007, set National Record Score for Military Police Corps Trophy
- 10x National Pistol Champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010)
Post-military career
After retiring from active duty in the Marine Corps in 2008, Zins has worked as National Manager of NRA Pistol Programs in the Competitive Shooting division. He also works as an independent security contractor. Zins also started his own line of ammunition called Gunny Zins Ammo. In 2011, he was hired by Cabot Gun Company as spokesman and ambassador.
In 2011, Zins appeared in the second season of History Channel’s marksmen competition Top Shot. During the first half of the competition, Zins competed as part of the Red Team. His team ended up winning six challenges, and Brian was never nominated for elimination during that period. During the final half of the competition, Zins won three of the last individual challenges before the final. In the final, he lost to Chris Reed.
