VIDEO: A local Frum firearms instructor came in 1st and 2nd place in a recent shooting competition –  not uncommon for the instructor – but not something you would expect from your tyical Frum father.

Kosher Firearms instructor Daniel Kastelanski, featured on TLS several months ago, is amongst the top shooters in a Jackson Steel Shoot shooting competition, which involves approximately 100 contestants with various types of shooting experience.

At the Steel Shoot compeitions – which consist of several different ‘stages’, and contains static or ‘knock down’ targets of all  shapes and sizes – time is added for each run on the stage, then all the stage times are added together. Misses result in large amount of time added. The contestant with lowest time after the match, wins.

Ammunition is not limited to commercial, so most shooters use very low recoil self made rounds that give one faster recovery and hence more speed. Holsters are not limited either, so a lot of contestants typically use competition holsters that barely hold the gun in place, but allow for very quick draw.

Despite using commercial ammo and a standard holster – to emulate real-life scenarios – Daniel is still from the winners, although it doesn’t mean much to him.

“I attend these matches for practice, I don’t care that much about winning”, Daniel Kastelanski tells TLS. “That’s why I sometimes even shoot from concealment, from under a shirt or jacket – the same way I carry – which often surprises other shooters in the match”.

Kastelanski frequents these competitions, and will often bring along a friend, or students.

“A few shoots ago, I took one of my students, a Rabbi from Lakewood, with me and he had a blast and improved greatly”. “This time, I took my Chavrusa, who is a very nice guy, and the difference between his first and last stage was tremendous”, Daniel says.

 Kastelanski says he enjoyed the shoot with Cops, Department of corrections officers, security officers, former army personnel, TSA and regular civilians, but seeing an Orthodox Jew in full gear – beard, Peyos, Yarmulke, suit and tie with his Tzitsis out – shoot through the stages, does a great service to the community and its relationship with the gentile population amongst us.

Kastelanski, an EMT, has been a gun owner for about 15 years, and has already trained dozens of homeowners in basic safety and self defense with guns. (See earlier story on Daniel here).

Daniel currently gives classes and one-on-one lessons in Lakewood and Philadelphia areas, and can be reached at 732-806-0466, or by email: [email protected]. TLS.