Lee Hopgood MBE joins Team Blue for the 2025 Mini Rifle season!
Lee first found a passion for shooting in The Grenadier Guards in 1984 when he became a Skill at Arms Instructor. After 10 years of service he left the Army and joined the RSPCA as an Inspector and became the national lead for the humane dispatch of casualty animals by firearms, a sad but necessary role. The Worcester Norton Shooting Club offered it's facilities deliver training for his work which lead to him joining as a member in 2019 and becoming hooked on competitive shooting!
Lee is a Chief Range Office for WNSC and UKPSA National Squad Director for the 2025 Mini Rifle World Championships. He was UKPSA Mini Rifle Senior Champion in 2022 and 2023 and has competed internationally in Norway, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Spain.
Renowned practical shooter Nick Towndrow advised Lee not to focus on too many shooting disciplines as he prepared for the World Shoot, so currently he has been only shooting mini rifle and, at the other end of the spectrum, black powder muzzleloading, in which he also competes. In 2026 he looks forward to expanding his competitive shooting disciplines to include his .303 SMLE.
He will compete in Mini Rifle Open Division as a Senior and be running a Falcon Rimfire Rifle with custom Cerakote by Spartan Refinishing.
The full spec of the rifle is:
- Aero Precision Receiver Set
- Aero Precision Buffer Kit
- CMMG Bolt Group
- EBF .22 LR 16" Stainless Steel Barrel
- Falcon Design Rimfire Muzzel Brake
- Falcon Mini Rifle Handguard
- Falcon AR15 Trigger Guard
- Falcon Aero Magwell
- TriggerTech Adaptable Trigger
- TriggerTech 45 Degree AR Safety
- Black Rifle Ambidextrous Charging Handle
- Black Rifle Anti-Walk Pins
- Strike Industries Ambi Magazine Release
- Strike Industries Ultimate Dust Cover
- Magpul MOE Grip
Lee Hopgood joins Team Blue