Hook & Barrel Magazine first connected with Jess Mauro on a waterfowl hunt sponsored by Beretta in January 2025. Author Niki Morrison knew that Jess would make the perfect “Trophy Room” candidate to spotlight in our March-April print edition. So get locked and loaded right here, and be sure to check out the companion Hot Takes video!
Jess Mauro is a fast-rising star in competitive pistol shooting with numerous podium finishes in USPSA and IDPA. Signed to Team Beretta in 2023, she competes with the 92X Performance series and has earned recognition for her speed, precision, and consistent championship-level performance. Beyond the range, Mauro is also helping shape women’s training gear and inspiring the next generation of shooters.
Jess Mauro At A Glance
AGE: 35
HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Current Residence: Mesa, Arizona
SOCIALS:
Instagram: @fullmetaljessy
Hook & Barrel (H&B): How did you get involved in shooting sports? Who or what inspired you to pursue shooting professionally?
Jess Mauro (JM): I got into shooting during COVID. Friends I was quarantining with were constantly dry-firing. At first, I thought it was a little goofy, but I was quickly intrigued. They used shot timers, raced one another, and threw magazines across the room when someone missed a reload.
I was drawn to the precision and focus of it all. I tagged along to a match one day to take photos, and by the end of it, I decided to order a competition gun.
It arrived shortly after my father passed away, and not long after, I lost my brother as well. I was grieving and searching for something steady. Something that required focus and gave me structure.
I was invited to a match and showed up with zero experience and only half the necessary equipment. The community stepped in immediately, offering borrowed gear and advice, and I was ready to shoot within minutes.
I finished dead last. I remember walking away thinking, “I’m going to get really good at this.”
Shooting gave me direction during a time when everything else felt unsteady. It was the one thing I could control, and it quieted the pain. Like the gym, improvement came not only from long practices and obsession with learning, but also from the small, daily decisions and consistency. That process is what made me fall in love with the sport.
H&B: In 2023, you were signed to Beretta’s pro pistol team. How did that happen, and had you been expecting it?
JM: Shooting sports is an incredibly welcoming community. I was first introduced to Beretta through a class with JJ Racaza and later built close friendships with members of the team while traveling and competing. I spent time learning the platform, improving my shooting, and building real relationships.
I became completely consumed by shooting. I had never struggled with drive, but I had struggled to find my passion, and I knew immediately that I’d found it.
I told myself I would quit my job and pursue the sport relentlessly. If I didn’t go pro within a year, I would return to my regular job, knowing I had given it everything I had.
As my performance continued to grow, I kept receiving invitations to Beretta events, and eventually I was offered a spot on the team. Seeing my last name on the back of a Beretta jersey felt natural, earned, and deeply meaningful.
H&B: How often do you train, and does your discipline in shooting sports carry over to any other areas in your life?
JM: During the season, I try to live-fire five days a week and dry-fire daily. My targets and guns have become part of my home décor. They’re always accessible so that I can pick them up at any time for a few quick reps.
Early on, I realized that gaining muscle would help with movement and mitigating recoil. I was thin, so I hired a personal trainer and gained over 11 pounds of lean muscle mass over three months. That decision not only improved my shooting, but it also made me fall in love with strength training. Now I train at MDE five days a week.
H&B: What’s your go-to handgun, rifle, and compound bow?
JM: Handgun: Beretta 92X Performance
Rifle: Daniel Defense MK12
Bow: Bowtech Carbon Knight
H&B: If you could leave your mark on the shooting-sports world or firearms community, what would it be?
JM: I want people to feel confident, not just owning firearms, but truly knowing how to manipulate them. Mastering shooting has given me a sense of peace and self-assurance I hadn’t experienced before. I move through the world calmer, more grounded, and confident in my own capability.
Guns are an equalizer when it comes to protection. But firearms proficiency? That’s the confidence. That’s the peace. That empowerment is something I hope more people, particularly women, can experience.
H&B: When you’re not competing, how do you like to spend your time outdoors?
JM: When I’m not competing, I really enjoy spending time outdoors, whether it’s hunting, camping, paddleboarding, or simply relaxing on a patio with fresh air. Being outside strips life down to what matters and reconnects me to something primal and real. Being under the stars, working for your own food, and stepping away from modern noise brings a clarity that’s hard to find anywhere else.
H&B: Tell us about your first-ever hunt.
JM: My first hunt was a bison hunt with my bow, done in honor of my mom and stepdad, who were the hunters in our family. It was a clean shot, and while the moment carried weight, it also carried gratitude for the animal, the food it provided, and the connection to a way of life I deeply respect.
H&B: What’s your bucket-list hunting trip or vacation destination?
JM: Visiting the Normandy American Cemetery and doing a full D-Day tour is high on my list. I’ve always been drawn to military history and the bond formed through shared hardship. Standing there and feeling all that would come with that would be both humbling and powerful—a reminder of sacrifice, service, and freedom.
H&B: Describe a perfect day.
JM: My perfect day is simple, active, and filled with the things I love most. I wake up rested, make breakfast, and ease into the morning with a few games of “Warzone.” Then I head to my favorite gym, MDE Athletics, for a tough leg day with friends who feel like family.
After training, I’ll grab lunch with a girlfriend, spend some quiet time working through chess lessons, play with my dog Agnes, and then head to the range for practice or a local USPSA match. The crew will grab dinner afterward to talk about scores and performance. I’ll wind down at home, shower, relax, and jump back on “Call of Duty” with the squad. For me, the best days are about movement, focus, and staying connected to the people I love.
