This story, from our Gun of the Week Archives, offers a good intro to the 30 BR cartridge, which is still the leading chambering for short-range Score Benchrest.
What’s better than one custom-built 30 BR with gorgeous wood and top-shelf components? A matching pair of course. Just ask Australian shooter Greg Roche (“Caduceus” in our Forum). A decade ago, Greg spent two years living and working in the USA. While in America, he commissioned two matched custom rifles to bring back to Australia for Hunter Class BR matches. Though the look-alike rigs are both chambered in 30 BR, one is designed for the Australian “Traditional” centerfire Hunter Class (10-lb limit), while the other is purpose-built for the “Custom” centerfire Hunter Class (14-lb limit). The 10-lb Traditional rifle features a fully-functioning two-round magazine and a 6-power scope. In contrast the Custom Class rifle is a single-shot action, with a 45X Leupold scope. The Custom weighs 13.5 pounds so it can also be used in traditional Heavy Varmint Benchrest matches if desired.
Tale of Two Rifles Story and Photos by Greg Roche (“Caduceus”)
The USA boasts some of the finest precision rifle-builders and Benchrest parts suppliers in the world. Before returning to Australia after two years in the States, I decided to have two special BR rifles built using American components and skilled labor. I wanted a matched pair — twin guns that would be as handsome as they were accurate. The heavier gun of the pair, the 13.5-lb Custom Class rifle, features top-of-the-line (but well-proven) technologies and components. With the 10.5-lb Traditional Class rifle, we had to develop new solutions to allow the 30 BR cartridge to feed from a functional two-round magazine. Here is my saga of how my twin 30 BRs were conceived and built, and how they have performed in competition.
BACKGROUND — The 30 BR for Score Competition
The 30 BR is a wildcat cartridge based on a necked-up version of the 6mmBR Norma case. It originated in U.S. Benchrest circles where it found its niche in Varmint For Score (VFS) matches. Unlike traditional Benchrest, where group size determines the winner, VFS matches are shot on a target with multiple, concentric-ringed bullseyes. Point total is based on “best edge” shot location (one shot per bull). In score competition, the 30 BR’s “supersized” .308-diameter hole offers an advantage over the 6mm hole created by a 6 PPC, the dominant group BR chambering.
The starting point for loading the 30 BR wildcat is Lapua 6mmBR brass. These are necked up as a single-step operation using a .30 caliber tapered expander ball (or dedicated expander mandrel). This will leave a bulge in the neck, so the expanded case neck is normally turned to bring the thickness down to the correct dimension for the chamber. I turned these necks down to .010″ wall thickness using a Stiller neck-turning tool. It features an eccentric mandrel similar to the Nielson “Pumpkin”. Loaded rounds measure .328″ neck diameter. This gives minimum clearance in my .330″ neck chamber, so very little neck resizing is needed after firing. Cases are trimmed to 1.500″ prior to turning to ensure consistency since the Stiller tool indexes the length of cut off the case mouth. Other than that, cases are just chamfered, loaded and made ready to shoot. No special fire-forming is required.
17-Twist Barrels for Both Rifles
Texan gunsmith Mike Bryant chambered both barrels. Mike also polished both barrels to a high-gloss to match the receivers. In this game, barrels are consumables, much like powder and primers, so most owners wouldn’t bother to polish their barrels. However a 30 BR barrel can provide up to 5000 rounds of accurate life (unlike a 6PPC barrel which might be tossed after 800-1000 rounds.) So, these barrels are likely to be on the rifles for many seasons. Given the high-gloss finish of the Grizzly actions and the beauty of the Red Cedar stocks, it would have been an injustice to leave a dull finish on the barrels.
The chambers were both cut with the same reamer supplied by Dave Kiff of Pacific Tool and Gauge. Randy Robinett, one of the originators of the 30 BR wildcat, specified the reamer dimensions. Randy’s 118gr, 10-ogive custom BIB bullets and the 30 BR cartridge enjoy a winning track record in the USA. The 30 BR Robinette reamer has zero free-bore and a .330″ neck, and is optimized for the BIB 118s. The bullets perform best when seated far enough out to jam firmly into the rifling as the bolt is closed. The long ogive means the bullet’s bearing surface is very short.
Slow Twists for Maximum Accuracy
You may note the unusually slow twist rate of both barrels. In most .30-caliber chamberings, the barrel twist rate is 1:11 or 1:12 to stabilize 150gr to 200gr bullets. The 30 BR is optimized for 115gr to 118gr flat-base bullets and 1:17 provides sufficient stability at muzzle velocities around 2900-3000 fps. In competitive Benchrest, where every thousandth of an inch counts, over-stabilization of projectiles can hurt accuracy, so “just stable enough” is the goal; hence the 1:17 twist.
Case Forming, Case Prep, and Reloading Methods
A Sinclair case neck micrometer indicates neck thickness of 0.010″ after neck turning.
30 BR dies are readily available from a number of manufacturers. I personally use Wilson neck and seating dies with a Sinclair Arbor press, but Redding and Forster both supply high-quality threaded dies for use in a conventional press. For under $100.00 US, custom full-length dies can be obtained from Hornady and CH Tool & Die by sending them reamer prints or a couple of fired cases. Harrell’s Precision offers “semi-custom” dies. Just send them some fired cases and they select a pre-made CNC-cut die that ideally fits your chamber. You can ask the Harrell brothers for a die that’s tighter at the shoulder or base, or otherwise customized to your preferences.
Load Development and Accuracy Testing
With cases formed and bullets selected, load development is simply a matter of choosing the right primer, powder and charge weight, and loading the most consistent ammunition possible. The Lapua BR cases use a small rifle primer. The choice here was Federal 205 Match primers vs. CCI BR4 Benchrest primers. Some shooters have also had success using CCI 450 Magnum primers but it is very unlikely the small case needs this much spark to light off regular extruded powders. In my case, I selected Federal primers because availability tends to be better in Australia.
The relatively large bore-to-capacity ratio of the 30 BR case means that fast burning powders are the order of the day. Once again, US experience suggests H4198 (the Hodgdon equivalent of ADI AR2207) is the choice of match winners. The fact that H4198/AR2207 is an Australian-made product is an added bonus. So, I loaded up test rounds with AR2207 from 32.5 grains to 35.0 grains in approximately 0.3 grain increments. All bullets were seated to jam +0.010″ into the lands. This places the bullet base about two-thirds of the way down the neck and well short of the neck-shoulder junction.
Action Choice — Stainless Grizzly II from Kelbly’s
The heart of any rifle is the action. Both my two 30BRs have RBLP Grizzly II actions from Kelbly’s. Kelbly’s is perhaps most famous for the Stolle Panda flat-bottomed aluminum actions but the Grizzly II also has a match-winning pedigree and precise tolerances. The Grizzly II is a round-profile, stainless steel, Remington-style action. I chose Right-Bolt, Left-Port configuration for ease of loading at the bench. The Traditional Class action has a magazine cut out in the floor and a plunger-style ejector (both required to meet the class rules). By contrast, the Custom Class action has a solid floor and no ejector. Other minor differences are the shape of the loading/ejection port and the profile of the bolt noses. The bolt from the single-shot action has a conical face, which theoretically gives maximum accuracy when mated to a similarly profiled barrel. However, the bolt from the repeater is made square for reliable pickup of the next round in the magazine without jumping over the top. Both bolt face diameters are 0.473″ for .308 case heads and feature sliding-plate style extractors.
Both receivers have pinned recoil lugs. These are not always required in Benchrest actions since a square tang can perform the same role when the stock is inletted accordingly. Since the actions are pillar-bedded into their timber stocks rather than glued, and because the 30BR recoils more stoutly than the 6mmPPC, I decided to fit recoil lugs on both rifles. Jewell triggers are standard fare–both set at 2 ounces. Bolt stops are integral to the action as with most benchrest actions.
Scope Options — 6X for Traditional, 45X for Custom
Both rifles are fitted with Leupold scopes in Kelbly aluminum rings and bases. The Traditional rifle’s scope is a 6x42mm to comply with class restrictions. It has a front-adjustable objective for parallax correction and a target dot reticle. I like the target dot when “holding off” for wind correction on the Hunter Class targets. The other rig wears a 45-power scope since magnification is unrestricted in Custom Class. It has a side-parallax adjustment and target dot reticle. The greater magnification really helps with precision aiming, and is probably the main reason why Custom Class scores are higher.
The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) has created a series of instructional videos about High Power Rifle shooting, Service Rifle shooting, 3-Gun matches, and pistol competition. We’ve linked five of these informative USAMU videos today along with a special profile video on Amanda Elsenboss, who, as a USAMU shooter, has won both the Long Range and High Power National Championships in recent years.
In addition, as a major BONUS, we link twenty (20) informative articles authored by expert USAMU shooters and coaches. Those excellent, detailed articles covering a wide range of topics including rifle positions, wind reading, fitness training, trigger control, nutrition, training plans, and much more.
Amanda Elsenboss — National HP and Long Range Champion
The gifted SSG Amanda Elsenboss won the 2023 NRA High Power Championship, the 2021 NRA High Power National Championship, and the 2019 NRA Long-Range Championship. In 2022 Amanda also won the National President’s Rifle Match, the first woman ever to do so. Those accomplishments place Amanda among America’s legendary shooters. Amanda started shooting at age 8 with her father, then began competitive marksmanship at age 13. In 2009, she joined the U.S. Army as part of the USAMU rifle team. She has left full-time service, but is now a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Sight Alignment and Trigger Control
In this USAMU Shooter’s Corner instructional video, SFC Kenneth Rose explains key elements of using sights on a service rifle. Rose also explain how to make the trigger pull at the optimum moment when the sights are perfectly aligned and steady.
How to Set Up Sling and Rifle for Prone Shooting
In this video, the USAMU’s SGT Jonathan Wannemacher explains how to set up a service rifle sling for prone rifle shooting. Wannemacher has earned a number of coveted awards including the the Distinguished Rifleman Badge and President’s Hundred Tab.
Rifle Grip, Stance, and Body Position for 3-Gun Action Matches
SFC Daniel Horner, now with SIG Sauer, is arguably the best 3-Gun action shooter on the planet. Horner has won multiple major 3-Gun Championships, shooting rifle, shotgun, and pistol in timed action matches. Horner’s speed, accuracy, and mobility is without peer. In this video, Horner shows techniques for AR-type rifle shooting in 3-Gun competition.
Amazing Trick Shot with Air Rifle
In this Trick Shot Tuesday video SPC Ivan Roe shoots a pill (at two different angles) off the top of a balloon. Very impressive shooting! Ivan hails from Manhattan, Montana and has been a notable member of the USAMU International Rifle Team.
How to Use Data Books During Matches
Data books can be very valuable tools during marksmanship training. In this video, USAMU shooter SGT Lane Ichord explains Data Book basics and how to log information during practice and matches.
BONUS: 20 Marksmanship Articles from USAMU Experts
USAMU shooters and coaches have written an excellent series of articles on highpower and service rifle shooting. Many of these originally appeared in The First Shot, the CMP’s on-line magazine. Here are twenty notable USAMU expert articles:
Spring is almost here! This year the first official day of Spring — the Vernal Equinox — is March 20, 2025 — just a week away. That means local fun matches will start to be held at ranges across the country. Starting in the spring and running through early fall, there are hundreds of local club weekend “fun matches” conducted around the country.
One of the good things about club shoots is that you don’t have to spend a fortune on equipment to have fun. But we’ve seen that many club shooters handicap themselves with a few common equipment oversights or lack of attention to detail while reloading. Here are SIX TIPS that can help you avoid these common mistakes, and build more accurate ammo for your club matches.
1. Align Front Rest and Rear Bag
We see many shooters whose rear bag is angled left or right relative to the bore axis. This can happen when you rush your set-up. But even if you set the gun up carefully, the rear bag can twist due to recoil or the way your arm contacts the bag. After every shot, make sure your rear bag is aligned properly (this is especially important for bag squeezers who may actually pull the bag out of alignment as they squeeze).
Forum member ArtB adds: “To align my front rest and rear bag with the target, I use an old golf club shaft. I run it from my front rest stop through a line that crosses over my speed screw and into the slot between the two ears. I stand behind that set-up and make sure I see a straight line pointing at the target. I also have a piece of tape that I’ve placed on the golf shaft that indicates how far the back end of the rear bag should be placed from the front rest stop.”
2. Avoid Contact Interference
We see three common kinds of contact or mechanical interference that can really hurt accuracy. First, if your stock has front and/or rear sling swivels make sure these do NOT contact the front or rear bags at any point of the gun’s travel. When a sling swivel digs into the front bag that can cause a shot to pop high or low. To avoid this, reposition the rifle so the swivels don’t contact the bags or simply remove the swivels before your match. Second, watch out for the rear of the stock grip area. Make sure this is not resting on the bag as you fire and that it can’t come back to contact the bag during recoil. That lip or edge at the bottom of the grip can cause problems when it contacts the rear bag. Third, watch out for the stud or arm on the front rest that limits forward stock travel. With some rests this is high enough that it can actually contact the barrel. We encountered one shooter recently who was complaining about “vertical flyers” during his match. It turns out his barrel was actually hitting the front stop! With most front rests you can either lower the stop or twist the arm to the left or right so it won’t contact the barrel.
3. Weigh Your Charges — Every One
This may sound obvious, but many folks still rely on a powder measure. Yes we know that most short-range BR shooters throw their charges without weighing, but if you’re going to pre-load for a club match there is no reason NOT to weigh your charges. You may be surprised at how inconsistent your powder measure actually is. One of our testers was recently throwing H4198 charges from a mechanical measure for his 30BR. Each charge was then weighed twice with a Denver Instrument lab scale. Our tester found that thrown charges varied by up to 0.7 grains! And that’s with a premium measure.
4. Measure Your Loaded Ammo — After Bullet Seating
Even if you’ve checked your brass and bullets prior to assembling your ammo, we recommend that you weigh your loaded rounds and measure them from base of case to bullet ogive using a comparator. If you find a round that is “way off” in weight or more than .005″ off your intended base to ogive length, set it aside and use that round for a fouler. (Note: if the weight is off by more than 6 or 7 grains you may want to disassemble the round and check your powder charge.) With premium, pre-sorted bullets, we’ve found that we can keep 95% of loaded rounds within a range of .002″, measuring from base (of case) to ogive. Now, with some lots of bullets, you just can’t keep things within .002″, but you should still measure each loaded match round to ensure you don’t have some cases that are way too short or way too long.
5. Check Your Fasteners
Before a match you need to double-check your scope rings or iron sight mounts to ensure everything is tight. Likewise, you should check the tension on the screws/bolts that hold the action in place. Even with a low-recoiling rimfire rifle, action screws or scope rings can come loose during normal shooting.
6. Make a Checklist and Pack the Night Before
Ever drive 50 miles to a match then discover you have the wrong ammo or that you forgot your bolt? Well, mistakes like that happen to the best of us. You can avoid these oversights (and reduce stress at matches) by making a checklist of all the stuff you need. Organize your firearms, range kit, ammo box, and shooting accessories the night before the match. And, like a good Boy Scout, “be prepared”. Bring a jacket and hat if it might be cold. If you have windflags, bring them (even if you’re not sure the rules allow them). Bring spare batteries, and it’s wise to bring a spare rifle and ammo for it. If you have just one gun, a simple mechanical breakdown (such as a broken firing pin) can ruin your whole weekend.
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The Lapua Monarch Cup, one of the most prestigious smallbore rifle silhouette competitions in North America, has officially announced its 2025 schedule. Now in its fourth year, the Cup features a two-part series of smallbore standard rifle silhouette matches contested in the United States and Canada. For registration details and complete information on the Lapua Monarch Cup, visit Lapuamonarchcup.com.
The Lapua Monarch Cup includes the annual U.S. Smallbore Rifle Silhouette National Championships, along with a second host country event, this year in Canada. The 2025 competition schedule is as follows:
1st Match – Canadian National Smallbore Silhouette Championships
Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
June 20 – July 1, 2025*
2nd Match – NRA National Smallbore Silhouette Championships
Raton, New Mexico, USA
July 20-22, 2025
Competitors earn scores from each match within their respective classifications (Master, AAA, AA, & A), allowing participants to compete for a share of $25,000 in cash prizes across the two events.
“We are excited to continue the tradition of the Lapua Monarch Cup and provide competitors with an unparalleled competition experience,” said Adam Braverman, Lapua’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing and an advisor to the Cup. “This event not only showcases top-tier marksmanship but also fosters camaraderie among shooters across North America.” The Lapua Monarch Cup Board consists of esteemed members of the shooting community, including Erich Mietenkorte, Daniel Salazar, Jason Marsh, Jose (Pepe) Valdes, and Chris Cawthorne, with Adam Braverman serving as an advisor.
Basics of Smallbore Silhouette Competition
Smallbore Silhouette shooting is a fun and challenging shooting discipline that has competitors taking aim at a variety of steel chickens, pigs, turkeys, and rams. Shooters, standing and unsupported, take aim at four banks of silhouettes at increasing distances, shooting 40 targets in all. For every silhouette knocked down, the competitor earns one point. Smallbore Silhouette competitors typically shoot at distances of 40, 60, 77, and 100 meters at metric matches.
For more info on the North American Silhouette Shooting Association (NASSA), visit NASSAsilhouette.org.
*NOTE: The official Monarch Cup webpage lists June 20 as the Canada event start date. However the official graphic states the event runs June 29 through July 1, 2025.
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“Shoot Like a Champion”. Bryan Litz, author of Applied Ballistics for Long-Range Shooting, says he often sees notes like this tucked in shooter’s gear (or taped to an ammo box) at matches. What “marksmanship mantras” do you use? Do you have a favorite quote that you keep in mind during competition?
On the Applied Ballistics Facebook Page, Bryan invited other shooters to post the motivating words (and little reminders) they use in competition. Here are some of the best responses:
“Shoot 10s and No One Can Catch You…” — James Crofts
“You Can’t Miss Fast Enough to Win.” — G. Smith
“Forget the last shot. Shoot what you see!” — P. Kelley
“Breathe, relax, you’ve got this, just don’t [mess] up.” — S. Wolf
“It ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings.” — J. McEwen
“Keep calm and shoot V-Bull.” — R. Fortier
“Be still and know that I am God[.]” (PS 46:10) — D.J. Meyer
“Work Hard, Stay Humble.” — J. Snyder
“Shoot with your mind.” — K. Skarphedinsson
“The flags are lying.” — R. Cumbus
“Relax and Breathe.” — T. Fox
“Zero Excuses.” — M. Johnson
“SLOW DOWN!” — T. Shelton
“Aim Small.” — K. Buster
“Don’t Forget the Ammo!” (Taped on Gun Case) — Anonymous
PARTING SHOT: It’s not really a mantra, but Rick Jensen said his favorite quote was by gunsmith Stick Starks: “Them boys drove a long ways to suck”. Rick adds: “I don’t want to be that guy”, i.e. the subject of that remark.
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The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites young men and women shooters to apply for CMP scholarships for the 2025-2026 school year. The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) offers $1,000, $3,000 and $5,000 one-year scholarship assistance to qualified junior marksmen in order to encourage and reward their outstanding efforts. In 2025, over $325,000 will be awarded.
In addition, in 2025 the CMP will present FOUR $5,000 scholarships that will be renewable for 4 years (Total value of each scholarship awarded: $20,000). The “Carolyn Hines Memorial Scholarship” will be awarded to the top graduating senior who best exemplifies Dr. Hines’ ideals. Three additional 4-year scholarships will be awarded to top seniors to commemorate the retirement of longtime CMP Board members Judith Legerski, Jon Bengston, and Harry Sieben. The overall applicants will be determined by members of the CMP Scholarship Committee.
The remaining CMP Scholarships are one-year awards that may be used to fund any accredited secondary education, technical/trade school, or vocational program.
All applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by April 4, 2025. All applicants will be notified by May 16, 2025, of their status. Checks will be mailed no later than August 1, 2025, to the recipient of the scholarship.
Since 2005, CMP has awarded over $1.3 million in scholarship grants. Winning scholarship recipients, in their senior year of high school, came from JROTC schools, 4-H groups, and other shooting clubs.
The Scholarship Program will also award CMP Local Scholarships in the Anniston, Alabama, Talladega, Alabama, Port Clinton, Ohio and Oak Harbor, Ohio, areas. Seniors are encouraged to apply and no marksmanship experience is required to apply for the CMP local scholarships.
CMP Scholarship Application Deadline is April 4, 2025
Additional $5000 Scholarships from Supporting Organizations
Generously, the Garand Collectors Association has presented four additional $5,000 John C. Garand Scholarships, while the family of Michael Thomas Randall has contributed three $5,000 scholarships. The Talladega Superspeedway has also provided $5,000 toward the CMP Scholarship Program.
CMP Scholarships are based on merit. Candidates are high school seniors involved with a team or club participating in rifle or pistol marksmanship competitions. Applicants must provide rifle or pistol competition history, list of awards, and future goals in the shooting sports. NOTE: The CMP no longer requires a minimum GPA, though academic performance is still a key selection criteria. In addition, the new automated application replaces paper forms and mailing documents with an online application and the ability to upload documents. CLICK HERE for Application.
Applications are Being Accepted Now for 2025-2026 School Year
The CMP is now taking scholarship applications for the 2025-2026 freshman college year. Scholarships are one-year awards that may be used to fund any accredited, post-secondary education or vocational program. (Note: Students planning to enroll in a military academy are not eligible).
The deadline for CMP Scholarship Application is April 4, 2025. Learn more about the program at the CMP Website Scholarship Program Page. If you have any questions, please contact CMP at (419) 635-2141, ext. 701 or email shand [at] thecmp.org.
Candidate Qualification Requirements:
To be eligible for CMP scholarships, junior shooters must:
Be a U.S. citizen.
Be of good moral character.
Be a graduating high school senior.
Demonstrate acceptance to a university, college, or trade school leading to a diploma or trade certification.
Show marksmanship competition experience (e.g. air gun, smallbore, pistol, rifle, shotgun, archery, etc.).
Applicants must provide a list of past/present rifle or pistol competition history, awards, and future expectations for the sport. Proof of participation, including match bulletins, photos or CMP Competition Tracker printouts (for example), MUST be presented in order to be considered for the scholarship.
In addition to the application form, candidates must include a certified copy of the applicant’s high school transcript; a letter from the applicant including the reasons for applying and how the scholarship will help in pursuit of the applicant’s goals; and documentation (proof) of marksmanship activity.
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Today Shooting USA TV features the annual President’s Rifle Match at Camp Perry, Ohio. Also known as the “President’s 100″, this major Service Rifle match attracts nearly one thousand competitors to the historic ranges of Camp Perry each summer. This is a challenging, multi-stage competition that tests marksmanship and equipment alike. NOTE: This week’s episode also features the iconic M1 Garand rifle in the show’s History’s Guns segment.
Shooting USA SHOW TIMES: This Shooting USA Episode airs Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 9:00 PM Eastern and Pacific; 8:00 PM Central. If you miss the regular broadcast, you can stream the show online at any time on Vimeo for $0.99 per episode.
Looking downrange at the 600-yard targets. Camp Perry photos courtesy Dennis Santiago.
The historic National President’s 100 Match is a huge event. In recent years, there have been over 1000 ranked competitors from throughout the nation, making this one of the biggest rifle events of the year. The top 100 competitors overall in the President’s Rifle Match are designated as the President’s 100. They receive President’s 100 medallions and certificates.
The President’s 100 Rifle Match is richly steeped in history. This unique match was first held in 1878. Here’s the view from the line at 600 yards:
President’s 100 Match Shoot Off! — The Top 20 shooters face off while everyone watches.
President’s 100 Course of Fire
There is a three-yardage, four-stage Course of Fire for the President’s Rifle Match Course of Fire. Firing is done on the SR target at 200 and 300 yards and the MR target at 600 yards. Scores in stages 1-3 determine the President’s 100 and the final rankings of competitors in 21st place and below. Scores in stages 1-4 determine the match winner and the final rankings in places 1-20. If there is a tie for first place (equal total and X-count), the tied shooters will continue to fire one-shot-at-a-time until the tie is broken. No sighters are permitted in National Trophy Rifle Matches.
Origins of the President’s Match The National Rifle Association’s President’s Match was instituted in 1878, as the American Military Rifle Championship Match. In 1884, the name was changed to the President’s Match for the Military Rifle Championship of the United States. It was fired at Creedmoor, New York until 1891. In 1895, it was reintroduced at Sea Girt, New Jersey. Today, the match is held at Camp Perry, Ohio.
The President’s Match was patterned after the Queen’s Match for British Volunteers. That British competition was started in 1860 by Queen Victoria and the NRA of Great Britain to increase the ability of Britain’s marksmen following the Crimean War.
The tradition of making a letter from the President of the United States the first prize began in 1904 when President Theodore Roosevelt personally wrote a letter of congratulations to the winner, Private Howard Gensch of the New Jersey National Guard.
After a hiatus in the 1930s and 1940s, The President’s Match was reinstated in 1957 at the National Matches as “The President’s Hundred.” The 100 top-scoring competitors in the President’s Match were singled out for special recognition.
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt’s vision of skilled marksmen among American citizens came to life as the National Matches; civilians on the firing line with the service weapon of the day, preparing for training in case of a time of war. T.R.’s vision is now a tradition, attracting thousands of people for five weeks of shooting competitions each year at Camp Perry in Ohio.
The National Matches have been held at Camp Perry since 1907. The range is located along the shores of Lake Erie in northern Ohio near Port Clinton. The site was first acquired in 1906, in response to the need for a larger facility for military training and the NRA’s shooting programs. In 1906 Gen. Ammon B. Crichfield, Adjutant General of Ohio, ordered construction of a new shooting facility on the shores of Lake Erie, 45 miles east of Toledo, Ohio. The original land for Camp Perry was purchased in 1906, and the reservation was named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the American naval commander who won the Battle of Put-in-Bay during the War of 1812. On August 19, 1907, Cpl. L. B. Jarrett fired the first shot at the new Camp Perry Training Site. And that year, 1907, Camp Perry held its first National Pistol and Rifle Championship events.
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Three-Position Air Rifle (3PAR) shooting is the most popular and fastest-growing form of shooting sports competition for junior shooters (High School age and younger). The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) conducts two primary Three-Position Air Rifle events. First, Precision Air Rifle is modeled after Olympic-style shooting and allows the use of specialized target rifles and equipment. Second, Sporter Air Rifle is designed for new competitors or those who desire to compete with a minimum of equipment and expense.
In both types of shooting, competitors fire at targets at a distance of 10 meters in three different positions, prone, standing and kneeling. Three-Position Air Rifle provides young competitors with competitive shooting sports opportunities that can be offered on a wide variety of easily accessible or easily constructed ranges, with equipment that is commonly available at affordable costs.
The CMP actively promotes Three-Position Air Rifle shooting as a premier youth marksmanship competition by providing low-cost equipment and pellets as well as training materials and competition activities. In addition, other air gun events for juniors and adults are hosted by CMP throughout the year. CMP facilities have Open Public Shooting evenings, and matches for air rifle and air pistol take place at the CMP Marksmanship Centers. CMP ranges are equipped with OpticScore Targets featuring technology by Kongsberg Target Systems.
The new-generation Crosman Challenger PCP (pre-charged pneumatic) Air Rifle is a preferred .177 Sporter Class air rifle for competitive marksmanship programs throughout the country, including the Marine Corps JROTC, Army JROTC, Air Force JROTC, Navy JROTC, American Legion, and 4-H. The $799.90 Challenger PCP is a three-position rifle with a fully adjustable stock, a two-stage, adjustable match grade trigger, a hooded front aperture sight, micro click adjustable diopter rear sight, patented ambidextrous pull bolt, and a floating Lothar Walther™ barrel. The Challenger PCP boasts a 3000 PSI reservoir for 200+ more shots per fill and good velocities. A pressure regulator aids shot-to-shot consistency. The Challenger PCP meets requirements of National Standard three-position air rifle competitions.
Young American Wins Gold Medal in Air Rifle at 2021 Olympics
William Shaner won a Gold Medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The University of Kentucky marksman, then age 20, captured Gold in the 10-meter (10m) Air Rifle, setting an Olympic record in the process. Shaner scored 251.6 points in the 10m final to set a new Olympic Record just 1.2 points shy of the world record. Will scored 10.5 or above on 13 of his 24 shots in the final. At the Tokyo Games, William was shooting a Walther air rifle.
Watch Will Shaner capture Gold with a stellar shooting performance, broadcast by NBC Sports:
William hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado. He started his shooting career at age nine in a 4H program in the appropriately named town of Rifle, Colorado.
CMP Records 500+ Entries During 2024 National Air Gun Events at Camp Perry
Air rifle shooting is a very popular activity throughout the nation. Air rifle matches can draw a huge number of competitors. Last summer, the 2024 National Air Gun events, held as part of the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s National Matches, welcomed over 500 air rifle and air pistol entries. The events were held at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry, Ohio.
Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry.
Special CMP Air Rifles from Anschutz
Back in 2009, the CMP ordered a special run of Anschutz Air rifles. These had laminated wood stocks and the CMP logos on the buttstock.
The CMP currently offers Precision Air Rifles and Sporter Air Rifles for sale via the CMP Website.
CMP Precision Air Rifles from Walther
The new Walther LG400 Bluetec was specifically designed for 3-position air rifle shooting. The barreled action and trigger are the same as the top-of-the-line LG400 models. It comes without an absorber but it can be retrofitted with one. The barreled action will fit into any of the higher end stocks if you wish to upgrade it. The accuracy is the same as the higher-priced LG400s. With a top-tier marksman, this rifle can put 10 shots through the same hole at 10 meters.
The LG400 Bluetec is sold by the CMP with the Walther Basic rear sight, Walther 22mm front sight and a 200/300 bar steel cylinder. The aluminum stock comes with an ambidextrous grip, trigger guard, and an adjustable cheekpiece and buttplate. This rifle is sold by the CMP but shipped via Walther Arms.
Video from the U.S. Army Junior Air Rifle Nat’l Championships at Fort Benning, Georgia. This invitation-only event features top 30 precision and sporter individuals, and top 30 teams in both disciplines.
Sporter Air Rifles
The largest and fastest-growing segment of junior shooting today, Three-Position Air Rifle Shooting, uses a class of target air rifles called Sporter Air Rifles. These Sporters now constitute a special class of junior shooting competition, and are used extensively in JROTC programs.
Sporter air rifles are characterized by their light weight (5-7 lbs.), low cost (from $180 to $600), basic target features (adjustable sights, adjustable length stocks, adjustable sling attachments) and good accuracy (rifles sold through this program must be capable of consistently shooting tens on the standard competition targets).
Shown above is the budget-priced Daisy Model 599 10-Meter Competition Air Rifle, a .177-caliber gun that allows competitors to shoot the entire match without having to recharge.
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Tactical competitor Zak Smith stores his elevation and wind drift data on a handy laminated data card. To make one, first generate a come-up table, using one of the free online ballistics programs such as JBM Ballistics. You can also put the info in an Excel spreadsheet or MS Word table and print it out.
Above is a sample of a data card. For each distance, the card includes drop in inches, drop in MOA, drop in Mils. It also shows drift for a 10-mph cross wind, expressed in inches, MOA, and mils. Zak explained that “to save space… I printed data every 50 yards. For an actual data-card, I recommend printing data every 20 or 25 yards.” But Zak also advised that you’ll want to customize the card format to keep things simple: “The sample card has multiple sets of data to be more universal. But if you make your own data card, you can reduce the chance of a mistake by keeping it simple.”
Once you have the card you can fold it in half and then have it laminated at a local office store or Kinko’s. Keep this in your pocket, tape it to your stock, or tie the laminated card to your rifle. If you regularly shoot at both low and high elevations, you may want to create multiple cards (since your ballistics change with altitude). To learn more about ballistic tables and data cards, check out the excellent “Practical Long-Range Rifle Shooting–Part 1″ article on Zak’s website.
Scope-Cover Mounted Ballistics Table
Another option is to place your ballistics card on the back of the front flip-up scope cover. This set-up is used by Forum member Greg C. (aka “Rem40X”). With your ‘come-up’ table on the flip-up cover you can check your windage and elevation drops easily without having to move out of shooting position.
Greg tells us: “Placing my trajectory table on the front scope cover has worked well for me for a couple of years and thought I’d share. It’s in plain view and not under my armpit.
And the table is far enough away that my aging eyes can read it easily. To apply, just use clear tape on the front objective cover.”
In 2024 the MidwayUSA Foundation paid over $6.8 million to youth shooting sports teams and organizations. This record-breaking 2024 grant cycle provided over $5 million to 952 youth shooting teams and over $1.7 million to nearly 40 organizations that work with youth shooting programs. Established in 2008, the MidwayUSA Foundation has paid nearly $73 million in cash grants to support youth shooting sports over the years. Foundation grants assist with costs for ammunition, targets, entry fees, and travel. Grants also help cover certification costs for coaches.
This grant cycle’s average payout per team totaled $5,302. Community members can donate directly to the youth shooting team of their choice, which MidwayUSA Foundation will match, to grow the team’s annual cash grant. In addition to youth shooting teams, MidwayUSA Foundation provides funds to key state, regional, and national organizations that support youth shooting sports. Each shooting program’s grant is 5% of its MidwayUSA Foundation endowment balance and thanks to the endowment model this funding is available in perpetuity.
Rachel Augustine of Missouri 4-H Foundation stated: “The grants we receive from the MidwayUSA Foundation play a crucial role in the success of Missouri 4-H shooting sports. They help us provide essential funding for equipment, volunteer training, and state and national contests, as well as events. Through 4-H shooting sports, youth gain confidence, leadership, and responsibility, while developing a lifelong appreciation for shooting, hunting, and the outdoors.”
Donations Are Tax-Deductible
Donations made to MidwayUSA Foundation are tax-deductible and 100% of the donation goes to the endowment of the donor’s choice — nothing is removed for operations.
The MidwayUSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to sustain and grow youth shooting sports by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams. For more information please visit MidwayUSAFoundation.org or call 1-877-375-4570.
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More and more folks are using Burris Signature Rings these days. These unique rings feature polymer inserts. That allows you to pre-load some elevation in your scope set-up, or you can center-up the windage. Additionally, the polymer inserts hold your scope securely without leaving marks on the tube. Lastly, some folks believe that Signature rings may offer advantages for benchrest competition. Rodney Wagner shot a world-record 600-yard group using Burris Signature Zee Rings (“Zee” denotes the Weaver-rail model). James O’Hara set multiple IBS 1000-yard records using Burris Signature Zee Rings. James will tell you he thinks “all his guns seem to shoot best with these rings”.
IBS World Record Set with Signature Zee Rings
Are Signature Zees good enough for competition? Absolutely. Some folks scoff at these Burris rings, given their modest price. A set of 1″-diameter Sig Zees cost $40.89 at Midsouth. But consider this, in 2013 Rodney Wagner shot the then-smallest 600-yard group in history, a 0.336″ 5-shot stunner, using Signature Zee Rings on his IBS Light Gun. It took five years for a smaller 600-yard group to be shot, a 0.311″ by bullet-maker Bart Sauter, using his IBS Heavy Gun. (See IBS 600-yard Records.) Here’s Rodney with his record-setting rifle, fitted with affordable Signature Zee 30mm rings.
Vendors Have Burris Signature Rings in Stock Now
Various models of Burris Signature Rings are available from many online vendors. NOTE: You may have to check with more than one seller to get the exact size, height, and model you prefer. But right now these vendors have pretty good selections of Signature Zees in stock now, including the popular 30mm High and 30mm Extra High models (each currently $56.36 at Midsouth). If you check all three sellers, you’ll probably find what you need.
With the New Year approaching, we thought our readers might enjoy some historical background on the National Rifle Association, an organization which has served American firearms owners and marksmen for over 150 years.
Shooting Sports USA (SSUSA) has a good article on the origins and history of the National Rifle Association. This feature story covers the first 36 years of NRA history from 1871 to 1907. The NRA was founded in 1871, and 1907 marked the first year of Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.
SSUSA explains the NRA’s original mission: “The NRA’s program during its youthful years centered mainly on improving marksmanship among the military. Rifle tournaments at ranges in Creedmoor (NY), Sea Girt (NJ), and Camp Perry (OH) captured the country’s spirit of nationalism and resulted in key improvements in rifles and target scoring. NRA also set standards for military rifle training and even inspired the federal government to form its own segment within the War Department to focus on promoting rifle practice among soldiers as well as civilians.”
1871 — A group of New York National Guardsmen founded the National Rifle Association to promote marksmanship training. Figures such as Capt. George Wingate had called for better rifle marksmanship to support the nation’s defense.
1872 — The NRA acquires Creed’s Farm in Long Island, New York for $26,250. Renamed “Creedmoor”, this becomes the NRA’s first range. The first match was held in 1873.
1874 — The NRA hosts its first International Match, shot at the Creedmoor Range in New York.
The First-Ever Creedmoor Challenge Match in 1874
The Irish International Shooting team arrived in New York on the 16th of September and proceeded to “take in the sights”, which was understandable, before some practice at the Creedmoor range. On September 26th they presented themselves for the match with confidence and in high spirits. The crowds that day were reported to be between 5,000 and 10,000 strong, which showed the huge support already growing for the fledgling sport in America.
The course of fire was 15 shots to each man at 800, 900, and 1000 yards. Unfortunately, the details of each mans scores at the individual distances have been lost to time but we do know that the Americans were well ahead after the 800-yard shoot. The Irish then caught up after the 900-yard and finished the 1000-yard shoot ahead by 1 point. The Americans still had one man left to shoot and it came down to his very last shot with which he scored a 4 giving the American team the win over the Irish by 3 points.
1892 — The NRA moves its Annual Matches to the Sea Girt Range in New Jersey, which was less than 60 Miles from New York City, NY. The Sea Girt Range was maintained by the New Jersey State Rifle Association, founded in 1878.
1903 — The U.S. War Department sets up a National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (NBPRP). In 1903, an amendment to the War Dept. Appropriations Bill established the NBPRP to promote both Military and Civilian marksmanship. This government advisory board became the predecessor to today’s Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety that now governs the CMP.
1907 — The NRA commences National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.
History of Camp Perry
The National Matches have been held at Camp Perry since 1907. The range is located along the shores of Lake Erie in northern Ohio near Port Clinton. The site was first acquired in 1906, in response to the need for a larger facility for military training and the NRA’s shooting programs. In 1906 Gen. Ammon B. Crichfield, Adjutant General of Ohio, ordered construction of a new shooting facility on the shores of Lake Erie, 45 miles east of Toledo, Ohio. The original land for Camp Perry was purchased in 1906, and the reservation was named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the American naval commander who won the Battle of Put-in-Bay during the War of 1812.
On August 19, 1907, Cpl. L. B. Jarrett fired the first shot at the new Camp Perry Training Site. And that year, 1907, Camp Perry held its first National Pistol and Rifle Championship events. This location has hosted the annual NRA National Matches ever since. Today, over 4,000 competitors attend the National Matches each year, making it the most popular shooting competition in the western hemisphere.
Federal legislation originally launched the National Matches. The 1903 legislation also established the National Matches, commissioned the National Trophy and provided funding to support the Matches.
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30 BR dies are readily available from a number of manufacturers. I personally use Wilson neck and seating dies with a Sinclair Arbor press, but Redding and Forster both supply high-quality threaded dies for use in a conventional press. For under $100.00 US, custom full-length dies can be obtained from Hornady and CH Tool & Die by sending them reamer prints or a couple of fired cases. Harrell’s Precision offers “semi-custom” dies. Just send them some fired cases and they select a pre-made CNC-cut die that ideally fits your chamber. You can ask the Harrell brothers for a die that’s tighter at the shoulder or base, or otherwise customized to your preferences.
1. Align Front Rest and Rear Bag
5. Check Your Fasteners
“Shoot Like a Champion”. Bryan Litz, author of 
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites young men and women shooters to apply for 
The National Rifle Association’s President’s Match was instituted in 1878, as the American Military Rifle Championship Match. In 1884, the name was changed to the President’s Match for the Military Rifle Championship of the United States. It was fired at Creedmoor, New York until 1891. In 1895, it was reintroduced at Sea Girt, New Jersey. Today, the match is held at Camp Perry, Ohio.
Scope-Cover Mounted Ballistics Table
More and more folks are using Burris Signature Rings these days. These unique rings feature polymer inserts. That allows you to pre-load some elevation in your scope set-up, or you can center-up the windage. Additionally, the polymer inserts hold your scope securely without leaving marks on the tube. Lastly, some folks believe that Signature rings may offer advantages for benchrest competition. Rodney Wagner shot a world-record 600-yard group using Burris Signature Zee Rings (“Zee” denotes the Weaver-rail model). James O’Hara set multiple IBS 1000-yard records using Burris Signature Zee Rings. James will tell you he thinks “all his guns seem to shoot best with these rings”.
