Will Switching Rifles Lead to More Success For Sam Gozo?

Not to say Samuel Gozo, isn't one of the most successful drillers ever (spoiler: he is), many have speculated that after his World Championship in 2014, Gozo has fallen into a kind of monotony in his drill. Granted, this monotony is powerful, explosive, and better than most can hope to reach, but when Sam walks on the floor, we generally know what we'll see. That seems to have changed, and I for one, am very excited about it.

On his personal Instagram, Gozo has revealed that he is now training with a bladed, demilitarized M1 instead of the customary Springfield M1903. The new setup made it's debut at the Lone Star Championships in San Antonio, Texas and helped Sam take home 1st place. As a premier competition, just behind WDC itself, LSC was the perfect place to test out the setup.

While there's not much to go on, just a couple of Instagram videos and one solo, the possibilities of the switch look tremendous. One of the main "issues" with Sam's drill is an M1903 almost seems to bend in his hands. It looks flimsy like it might snap at any moment. His immense strength allows him to manipulate the rifle in any way he wants, which makes it seem almost too easy. An M1, being much thicker, does not allow this to happen. The increased stock size and dimensions of the rifle fit Sam's physique and style much, much better than an M1903. 

M1's are notoriously harder to use than M1903's, making Sam's ability to crush every move he attempts even more impressive and exciting. It's a new twist on the amazing experience of Gozo drill, one that if executed properly can lift Sam to the top of the podium in Daytona multiple times. LSC seems to be an indicator of what is to come, and if I were you, I'd be watching very closely.