Shooting steel targets is fun. You get “instant gratification” when a a hit produces a “clang” and visible target movement. Birchwood Casey has introduced an expanded lineup of Rimfire and Centerfire steel targets with interesting new target shapes, including a large male elk, howling wolf, and a walking “Bigfoot”. There are centerfire targets with 3/8″ AR500 steel and thinner steel targets for rimfire guns and air rifles. Targets that can hang from racks and supports are offered in one-hole and three-hole versions. One-hole targets are available in these styles: turkey, Texas map, alien, boar’s head, rabbit, raccoon, crow, gopher, armadillo, skull, yeti, milk jug, and howling coyote. The heavier three-hole targets are available in the shapes of deer, elk, bison, bear, ram, boar, bobcat, and coyote.
Along with many animal profile targets, Birchwood cases offers multiple geometric targets — circles (gongs), squares, torso profiles, and various IPSC and other offical steel match targets. The heaviest steel targets can handle bullet types with up to 3000 ft/lbs of energy.
Rimfire and Centerfire Steel Target Products
Listed below are the steel targets currently offered by Birchwood Casey. Available in a wide array of rimfire and centerfire options, these target boas smooth, burr-free gongs, and silhouette-shaped targets, and bright white powder-coated finishes for improved visibility in any conditions.
1/4″ AR500 Rimfire Target Kit ideal for use with airguns and rimfire firearms, handles up to 400 FPE.
3/8″ AR500 Centerfire Gong Target Kit (6″ and 8″, 8″ and 10″) with two steel gongs that withstand bullets with up to 3000 foot-pounds of energy.
3/8″ AR500 Centerfire Silhouette Steel Target Kit with one-hole targets available in shapes of turkey, Texas, alien, boar’s head, rabbit, raccoon, crow, gopher, armadillo, skull, yeti, milk jug and howling coyote, and three-hole targets available in shapes of deer, elk, bison, bear, ram, boar, bobcat, coyote.
3/8″ AR500 Round Gong Centerfire Steel Targets available in 4″, 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″ and 15″, each with multiple mounting options and capable of handling bullets with up to 3000 foot-pounds of energy.
3/8″ AR500 Square Gong Centerfire Steel Targets available in 4″, 6″, 8″ and 10″, each with multiple mounting options and capable of handling bullets with up to 3000 foot-pounds of energy.
3/8″ AR500 Silhouette Centerfire Steel Targets (official competition targets used by the Int’l Practical Shooting Confederation, or IPSC), which come in full size, 66%, 33% options, have multiple mounting options and handle bullets with up to 3000 foot-pounds of energy.
For more information about Birchwood Casey’s new steel rimfire and centerfire target offerings visit BirchwoodCasey.com/new.
Today’s featured rifle comes from the land Down Under — Australia. This impressive .300 WSM F-Open rig has top-tier components/accessories from multiple countries. From the USA comes the Borden BRMXD action, Krieger barrel, McMillan Kestros ZR stock, and R.A.D. 2 recoil system. The 10-60x56mm March scope comes from Japan. The Lenzi rear bag is from Italy, and the SEB front rest is from Indonesia, with a Rodzilla top from America. This rifle proved very accurate from the get-go, winning its first match, emerging with the top 600m Aggregate. This .300 WSM F-Open beast is definitely a winner.
Impressive .300 WSM F-Open Rifle from Australia
This rifle belongs to Kris Wilson, aka “Willow” on our AccurateShooter Forum. Just last week Kris posted in the Pride and Joy Rifle thread: “Got my latest build up and running — a .300 WSM F-Open rifle. Never shot a .300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) before today and I have to say that, while the recoil is on the sharp side, it’s entirely manageable thanks to the stock design and front rest.” Kris resides in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and shoots at the Hornsby RSL Rifle Club. He has been his club’s F-Open Champion, even with some very tough competition — his club boasts two Australian F-Open championship-winning club members. Kris loves the F-Class game: “I started rifle shooting in 2015 when I was introduced to the world of F-class through shopping for a riflescope. Once I saw what F-class was all about, I was hooked.”
Kris produced this video on December 5, 2020. He reports: “Here is my first real outing with my new .300 WSM. I had previously sighted in at 50 meters at an indoor range to establish a wind zero. Had a rough idea of velocity so I threw together two loads to run at 600 meters. Our Aussie targets have a max numerical ring value of 6 (equivalent to “10” on USA targets). On Stage One I shot a 60.8X (60.10X max possible), grouping about 3.7 inches. On Stage Two, shown in this video, I shot a a 66.9X (66.11X max possible) with a 3-inch grouping. I took first place in both stages and won the overall Aggregate for the day. That earned me a Christmas ham and turkey for my trouble!”
.300 WSM Rifle Hardware, Cartridge Choice, and Reloading
Report by Kris Wilson, NSW, Australia
Stock: McMillan Kestros ZR with R.A.D. 2 system. 70% black, 15% grey, 15% red.
Action: Borden Rimrock BRMXD, left bolt, right port, left eject. The action is fully DLC coated and fitted with a +20 MOA rail
Trigger: TriggerTech Diamond
Barrel: Krieger 1:10″-twist, 4 groove finished at 31″ and fitted with an Ezell tuner.
Scope: March High Master 10-60x56mm with MTR-1 reticle, illuminated
Rings: ARC M10 High Rings
Front Rest: SEB Mini Rest, with Rodzilla Rest Top system
Rest Feet: Bryan Blake (F-Class Products) adjustable stainless feet
Rear Support: Lenzi (Italy) LR Rear bag, with custom metal base plate
Cartridge Selection — Why the .300 WSM Was Chosen over a 7mm Cartridge
I set out with the goal of building my ultimate F-Open rifle. Now “ultimate” is of course subjective, but I did not want to leave any stone unturned when it came to building a .300 WSM. When researching the equipment for my new build I had a couple of ideas in mind. I was already shooting a 7mm, in the form of a 280AI which had served me well, but I already had plans to switch to a .284 Shehane with the introduction of Peterson .284 Win brass, coupled with the fact Norma stopped making 280AI brass (Note: Peterson now makes 280AI brass). While I was reasonably well-covered with my .284 Shehane, I wanted something with a bit more horsepower to hold up at long range in choppy conditions. A lot of the top guys here shoot 7mm SAUMs but I wasn’t keen on going down that path. Why? For every accurate SAUM I’ve seen, I’ve seen others struggle and given that the 7mm SAUM seems to be particularly hard on barrels, I wanted something that could match the 7mm SAUM ballistically, but have better barrel life.
After plenty of research on AccurateShooter.com, and speaking with some shooters, both locally and in the USA, I decided to give the .300 WSM a go. This cartridge is not particularly popular in Australia for F-Open, primarily because most states enforce muzzle energy restrictions, so pushing the .300 WSM to its potential simply isn’t viable for many shooters here. It IS viable in my home state however, along with the ACT, so I can at least use it in major competitions in two Australian states without having to run at lower nodes where it would otherwise be trumped by the 7 SAUM shooters. I was also attracted to the cartridge through its general design, having a 35-degree shoulder angle similar to the inherently accurate .284 Winchester. I also think the .300 WSM resembles a super-sized Dasher, another devastatingly accurate cartridge. Most .300 WSM shooters report ease of tuning, another key factor I considered.
Choice of Stock, Action, and Barrel
My gunsmith, Matt Paroz (aka MattP on the AccurateShooter Forum) is one of Australia’s top gunsmiths as well as one of Australia’s top F-Open shooters. He knows what it takes to build match-winning rifles. Matt is also an agent for McMillan stocks and I was sold on the Kestros ZR after seeing how it well it tracked — the lower center of gravity it offers cannot be underestimated once you start stepping up in caliber size. I had previously seen a couple of rifles that Matt built for an Australian F-Open team member and I was blown away not only by the quality of the builds, but how well the components worked with one another. I already own a Barnard action, a match-winning action in its own right, but I was desperate to get my hands on a Borden. I liked the fact that Jim Borden times his actions as they leave his factory, so I ordered a BRMXD, left bolt, right port, left eject. I ordered my BRMXD fully DLC-coated, for both longevity and aesthetics.
I opted for a TriggerTech Diamond trigger which has been timed to the action and offers a level of crispness the factory Barnard trigger cannot replicate. The synergy between action and trigger is just superb. I managed to get my hands on a 10-twist, 4-groove Krieger barrel that looks like a winner so far. Finished at 31″, this barrel has been super-easy to tune so far, with Berger 215gr hybrids showing very good promise. NOTE — Overall the rifle comes in 500 grams (1.1 lbs.) below F-Open max weight, so the next barrel will probably finish at 32″.
The barrel sports an Ezell tuner. I don’t touch the tuner until I’ve sorted my load and bullet seating depth. The tuner just affords me that extra flexibility in tightening up an already good grouping. At the end of the day, like any competitive shooter, I’m chasing tight vertical and horizontal, something which will run inside 1 MOA at 1000 yards. If I drop a shot, I want it to be my fault, not the rifle’s.
About my optics choice — when the chance to own a March High Master came up, I didn’t think twice. I have used March previously and got a sneak peek through an original High Master prototype which was doing the rounds in Australia. With superb image quality, it left a lasting impression. March has built up an excellent following and reputation in Australia, and so far I have to say it was money well spent. The March is held in place with a set of beefy ARC M10 rings.
The rest of my F-Open setup includes a modified SEB Mini up front, with a Rodzilla Rest top and Bryan Blake adjustable feet. I chose the SEB Mini because it has a wide, stable footprint but relatively light weight. That makes the Mini easier to transport. At the rear I use an extremely well-crafted Lenzi LR bag which sits on a custom rear plate. This heavy combination keeps things nice and planted. That aids in straight tracking.
Reloading for the .300 WSM — Process and Die Choice
When it comes to reloading, I keep it simple and don’t over-think things. I use Norma .300 WSM brass. I ensure case mouths are always deburred on the inside and out but I do not neck turn. I am set up to turn necks with a 21st Century unit, but after neck turning previously for a 6mm SLR, I just didn’t see a noticeable benefit in doing so. I always full length re-size after firing and prefer bushings, generally opting for .002″ of neck tension on anything I shoot. So far it seems to be working. With my .300 WSM I run a Redding Type-S full-length bushing die with a .335 bushing. A loaded round comes in at 0.337″ across the neck and I opted for a no-neck turn reamer which comes in at 0.343″, so there’s plenty of clearance. I use a Forster micrometer seating die. I prefer the feel of the Forster and I use Redding dry lube media to assist in smooth bullet seating.
Reloading room with MEC single-stage press on left and AutoTrickler with Force Restoration Scale on right. Note there are plenty of bullets — Kris got his supplies before the shortage.
I use an AMP Annealer and anneal after every firing. Powder charges are measured and dropped with a V3 AutoTrickler and A&D FZ500i scale. The 215gr Berger Hybrid seemed like a pretty good place to start as far as bullet selection. I point them with a Whidden bullet pointing die. Powder options can sometimes be a contentious choice and if you’re lucky you’ll get a couple of powders which will work well in any given barrel. For my .300 WSM I use Alliant Reloder 23. It is very temp-stable. My primer of choice is S&B Standard Large Rifle Primers. How does it all come together? The first nine shots through the barrel while zeroing the scope resulted in an ES of 17 and SD of 6 — promising signs for a light initial load of 63 grains.
Kris has been impressed with his .300 WSM beast: “Suffice to say I was very pleased with how things turned out! Despite the bigger bang this rifle makes, the Kestros ZR and R.A.D. 2 system made it remarkably compliant. The recoil is sharp but the R.A.D. system just takes all the sting out of it — it reminded me of shooting my old 280AI in terms of felt recoil. I was able to get back on target with a minimum of fuss and didn’t find the rifle fatiguing at all, so it gets a massive thumbs up from me.”
CONCLUSION — The .300 WSM is Very Effective for F-Open
With recent trends in F-Open equipment, such as rifle stock technology making a lower center of gravity possible, bigger F-Open options such as the .300 WSM are now quite manageable. That’s not to say this caliber is a pussy cat — it definitely kicks more than the .284s out there. But with my choice of components, the recoil is manageable and the R.A.D. 2 system takes the sting out, so I’m not left nursing a sore shoulder at the end of a stage. The rifle is off to a very positive start so far but I know it’s capable of more. The lead up to Christmas will keep me busy fine-tuning a load in time for the NSW State Title match to be held in late January 2021. With COVID-19 halting most competitive shooting in Australia in 2020, this 2021 NSW competition is sure to prove popular. I intend to have my .300 WSM rifle humming in time for it.
Kris Wilson (NSW, Australia) Talks About Competitive Shooting
When I was introduced to F-Class shooting, I was fascinated with the level of accuracy shooters were obtaining with their rifles and it was something that just drew me in. Since then it has been a gradual learning curve, not to mention the fact everyone I have met has been super friendly and willing to share their knowledge. The shooting fraternity is a great community to be part of…. Mixing it with Australia’s best is what drives me right now.
I’ve been working hard to maintain my skills and the new rifle is motivation. As reloading equipment and rifle components continue to improve, it’s a great sport which encourages learning and provides many opportunities to keep improving your shooting.
In her first match back as a member of Team Taurus, Jessie Harrison secured her 18th Ladies title at the World Speed Shooting Championships. Jessie, the winningest shooter in Steel Challenge history, continues to cement her legacy as one of the all-time greats, shooting a 96.53 time using her Taurus 1911 racegun.
But this wasn’t just Jessie’s first match back as a member of Team Taurus, it was also her first match as a new mother. Jessie took on Steel Challenge just 3 months after giving birth, and delivered a dominant performance in her usual style.
“I’m thrilled to bring home yet another Ladies Open World Championship title to Taurus, marking my 18th victory in this category! This match was particularly special as it was my first since becoming a mother, presenting a completely new set of challenges. However, by returning to the basics and relying on years of training, along with my trusted 1911 that has accompanied me through numerous championships, I overcame those hurdles and achieved another victory”, said Jessie after the match.
Jessie Harrison’s triumphant return to Taurus USA and Steel Challenge marks the continuation of a legacy of excellence with Taurus, where she has accumulated countless National and World titles.
Nearly 400 competitors descended on Grand Island, Nebraska, May 30th – June 1st, 2025, to battle the “undead” during the 2025 annual Zombies in the Heartland 3-Gun shooting match hosted by Hornady and the Heartland Public Shooting Park. “Make Zombies Dead Again” was the theme for this year’s competition. There were ten stages with targets for rifles, shotguns, and pistols. For complete results, visit: practiscore.com/results/new/289649.
2025 Zombies in the Heartland 3-Gun Match Highlights
Ten competitive stages mimicking post-apocalyptic situations were featured. Professional and amateur shooters from across the country enjoyed specially developed reactive zombie targets. The Heartland Zombies match is a veritable theme park for shootists, with many fun stages and innovative targets. Many unique, reactive zombie targets have been developed specifically for this match. The use of paper targets has been minimized — so it’s mostly “bang and clang”. Rifles, pistols, and shotguns are used on most stages. There were also fun side-matches. Watch the video above to see this year’s action.
See Stage with Jerry Miculek
Jerry Miculek with Steve Hornady
Top Shooters in Each Class
Open: Dillen Easley
Tactical: Daniel Jirasek
PCC: Aaron Hayes
Ladies: Dianna Muller
Junior: Dylan Mertens
Senior: Terry Lauwers
Super Senior: Jerry Miculek
LE: Alex Cady
Military: Michael Shuluk
“The 2025 Zombie match is in the books, and I have to say, this is one of the best matches we’ve ever run”, said Jeremy Millard, Hornady Engineer and Match Director. “I cannot thank the park staff, [Range Officers], volunteers, and workers enough for their efforts. Hosting a match of this magnitude is a monumental task, and we couldn’t do it without their efforts. Congratulations to all the competitors for a fun, challenging, and safe match”, he added.
For event photos and updates on next year’s match, visit the Zombies in the Heartland Facebook page: Facebook.com/ZombiesInTheHeartland.
Report by Craig Arnzen, Area 419
As the PRS and other tactical/practical competitions continue to grow, a guy tends to wonder, just how good are the top competitors? And what are they actually doing (and viewing) as they complete a stage? Well, a great video from the Long Range Precision Shooters YouTube Channel let us see what the best in the sport see through their scopes when they shoot.
This video features Dave Preston, 2015 National Champion and consistent top performer, shooting the PRS Skills barricade. Dave Preston has been considered among the very best in the nation running this PRS stage. Dave nearly always shoots 100% with the fastest recorded time. In this video you’ll see him successfully engage all eight shots in under 43 seconds — that’s crazy fast. This includes a POV sequence (4:35 time-mark) showing the actual view through Dave’s scope as he completes the stage.
Watch this video! Dave offers excellent advice on gun-handling and body positioning for barricades. Listen to what he says and you WILL shoot better.
This video features the PRS Skills Barricade, an 8-round, 4-position stage featured at the majority of PRS matches throughout country. It’s called a “Skills Stage” as it is run the same way at every national match and gives shooters the ability to compare skill levels based on hit percentage and speed.
The target is a 10″ plate at 400 yards. There are four different positions, with two shots each. Most people run this stage in about 70 seconds, some in the mid-60s, the greats in the high 50s, and Dave does it in the low 40s… mighty impressive!
The Right Gear Aids Stability and Lets You Shoot Faster
Let’s also take a look at two pieces of gear that really helped Dave Preston get stable and shoot fast.
1. BARRICADE BAG — To Get Stable, Really Stable
In the video Dave is using a Solo Sac from Short Action Precision This bag was designed by USMC Solomon Mansalala. It’s a very soft/dense bag and is popular at matches.
The other bag that sees a LOT of use, and is far and away the most used, is the patented Gamechanger Bag from Reasor Precision Solutions and Armageddon Gear.
2. MUZZLE BRAKE — To Make Your Follow-Up Faster
You’ll notice that in the video the rifle is very steady through firing, even though he is not applying a lot of pressure to the rifle. Dave is using a Hellfire Muzzle Brake from Area 419. Combined with the soft-recoiling 6mmBR cartridge he is able to spot his impacts and make adjustments, and can also make very fast follow-up shots as his rifle hasn’t bounced way off target.
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.”
NRA America’s Rifle Challenge
The National Rifle Association, as part of NRA 2.0 in 2025, is launching an AR-based competition called the America’s Rifle Challenge (ARC). This is a competitive shooting program designed to encourage the “every day responsible rifle owner” to do more than just target practice at the range. ARC can provide a fun, exhilarating introduction to action shooting sports for AR owners.
Shooting Sports USA features the new ARC program in the March 2025 issue, available for FREE online: READ Full Article HERE.
ARC Competition Levels
The NRA America’s Rifle Challenge (ARC) is a unique AR-based competition shooting program designed as a way for “everyday responsible rifle owners” to go beyond typical target practice. Millions of gun owners have purchased ARs over the past few years, and this program will help them sharpen their skills. Featuring two levels of competition, NRA America’s Rifle Challenge can accommodate everyone from AR novices to seasoned competitors. And there will be an optional Two-Gun component in the NRA America’s Rifle Challenge program that adds handgun shooting to the courses of fire. Not only that, pistol-caliber carbines chambered in 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP are permitted in all NRA ARC Level 1 matches and special Level 2 and Two-Gun events.
NOTE: The NRA plans to release the full NRA America’s Rifle Challenge rulebook as well as NRA ARC requirements for clubs/ranges no later than August 1, 2025. You will be able to download the rulebook at: Arc.nra.org/nra-arc-rulebook.
America’s Rifle Challenge Event Levels:
Level 1: The Level 1 course of fire is conducted from 10 out to 100 yards with competitors firing from different positions under time constraints. Level 1 is intended for AR owners new to competitive shooting. This event focuses on building skills to improve accuracy, speed, and mechanics. L1 matches are conducted from 100 yards and inward, with a balance of both time and accuracy being measured in every event. There are currently five total stages of fire in this match, with more in development. NOTE: Level 1 is limited to the first 32 competitors (4 squads). Space in level 1 is limited, so sign up quickly.
Level 2: The Level 2 course of fire covers the full spectrum of what is possible with an AR. L2 matches are conducted from 500 yards inward. Competitors will face a variety of stages designed to test skills — shooting and moving, positional shooting skills, long-range precision, speed, stage planning, and use of barricades, as well as close-quarters exercises. Level 2 offers a higher round count and more dynamics to the stages. NOTE: Level 2 is limited to the first 60 competitors (6 squads).
Metal Madness is a great rimfire shooting discipline where shooters engage dozens of steel targets set up in a grid. This fun, action shooting contest for all skill levels runs at the Grand Rivers Shooting Range in Kentucky. Next month, on June 28-29, 2025, the Metal Madness Shooting Sports Association (MMSSA) will hold its major event of the year, the Metal Madness Homecoming match at the Grand Rivers range.
Metal Madness is a fun and challenging form of rimfire shooting. Whether you’re young or just young at heart, you’ll love the satisfying ping of hitting steel targets — no prior experience or special equipment required. Most .22 firearms will do just fine! To learn more about Metal Madness, visit MMSSA.net. Watch the video below to learn about the course of fire and the scoring system. There are ten lanes with five targets in each lane.
MMSSA is a rimfire shooting sport offering the instant gratification of ringing steel targets. No special or fancy “raceguns” are needed — most any .22 LR firearm will work.
What is Metal Madness?
Metal Madness is a speed and accuracy-based shooting sport where participants shoot rimfire rifles or pistols at steel plates. Each competitor will shoot through 10 stages, moving to a new shooting lane each time. Each lane has randomized numbered metal plates, which must be shot in numerical order.
Scoring is time-based, plus penalties for missed plates or shooting plates out of sequence. With misses costing 2 seconds each, hitting plates in the proper order is extremely important. The eight fastest times from ten lanes fired are added together for each shooter’s bracket time.
This video shows action at the 2024 Metal Madness Homecoming event held last June in Kentucky.
$40 Per Entry — Prizes for Registered MMSSA Members
At the June 2025 Metal Madness Homecoming event, competitors will fire through 10 different shooting lanes, with each lane featuring multiple steel targets. Entry fee is $40.00. Competitors may participate in multiple sessions, with the same gun or different guns. All .22 caliber firearms are allowed to shoot Metal Madness. Membership is required to participate in MMSSA prize events. Prizes are drawn (by random picks) on Sunday afternoon at the end of the event. CLICK HERE to Register.
Grand Rivers Shooting Range Address: 787 Dover Road, Grand Rivers, Kentucky
Credit our buddy Joe Friedrich for this simple yet effective accessory for your benchrest rifle. Joe shoots a .22 LR benchrest rig with a barrel tuner. When he added weights to his tuner, he found his rifle no longer balanced well. He wanted to add some weight in the rear without drilling holes in the stock. He also wanted the weight to be removable, and easily placed on another rifle in his stable. He wanted a weight that could be moved from gun to gun as needed.
At a local sporting goods shop Joe found a 1.5-lb ankle weight that comes in a padded, tubular elastic cover. It’s like a 1.5-lb sausage in a soft, stretchy nylon cover. (Imagine a really fat, heavy bungee cord). Joe simply attached a plastic zip tie at the end to make a loop that fits perfectly over his buttstock. CLICK HERE for full-screen photo.
To “tune” the rifle’s balance, Joe just slides the ankle weight fore and aft on the stock. We have tried this moveable ankle weight on a variety of different BR stocks (including a McMillan Edge) and it worked perfectly. This is a great invention, and would work with sporter rifles and ARs just as well.
NOTE: Obviously, this ring will increase the measured weight of your rifle. So, if you are competing in a registered match with weight restrictions, you have to ensure that your rifle still makes class weight limits with the ankle weight ring in place.
The NRA has released the dates of major competition shooting events this summer and fall. Here is the schedule for NRA national championships in 2025. For each event you’ll find a link for event registration. Spanning multiple disciplines — from High Power and Smallbore Rifle to Precision Pistol and Silhouette — this year’s championships will draw elite shooters from around the country. From the NRA National High Power Rifle Championship to the F-Class Fullbore Long-Range Championship, here’s the full schedule for NRA’s national competitions in 2025.
Register now for your favorite national events. Whatever your discipline — whether you shoot High Power, Smallbore, Precision Pistol, F-Class or Silhouette — there’s a competition for you. F-Class Shooters take note — this year’s Mid-Range Nationals and Long-Range Nationals will be held in different locations:
Mid-Range F-Class at Port Malabar Rifle and Pistol Club, Palm Bay, Florida
Long-Range F-Class at Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club, Bridgeville, Delaware
Photo by Mel Dixon from 2024 NRA National High Power Rifle Long-Range Championships.
NRA National High Power XTC Championship June 1-7, 2025 Winnequah Gun Club Lodi, Wisconsin competitions.nra.org
NRA National High Power Mid-Range Championship June 4-8, 2025 Oklahoma City Gun Club Arcadia, Oklahoma okcgunclub.org
National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association National Spring Shoot and NRA Muzzleloading Nationals June 14-22, 2025 Walter Cline Range Friendship, Indiana nmlra.org
NRA National High Power Long-Range Championship July 2-6, 2025 Alliance Rifle Club Malvern, Ohio targetscore.com
The 2025 High Power Long-Range Nationals will be held July 2-6, 2025 at the Alliance Rifle Club in Malvern, Ohio.
NRA National Precision Pistol Championships July 6-10, 2025 Cardinal Shooting Center Marengo, Ohio redfeatheroutfitters.com
NRA National Smallbore and High Power Rifle Silhouette Championships July 20-26, 2025 NRA Whittington Center Raton, New Mexico silhouettenationals.com
NRA National Conventional Smallbore Championships July 20-29, 2025 Cardinal Shooting Center Marengo, Ohio redfeatheroutfitters.com
NRA National F-Class Championship August 2-9, 2025 Winnequah Gun Club Lodi, Wisconsin winnequahgunclub.org
NRA National Lever-Action Silhouette Championship August 6-9, 2025 Ridgway Rifle Club Ridgway, Pennsylvania competitions.nra.org
National Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Championship August 15-22, 2025 Walter Cline Range Friendship, Indiana nmlra.org
Spirit of America National Fullbore Rifle Championship September 5-12, 2025 Bald Eagles Rifle Club, NRA Whittington Center Raton, New Mexico baldeaglesrc.org
National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association National Championship Shoot September 13-22, 2025 Walter Cline Range Friendship, Indiana nmlra.org
NRA World Shooting Championship September 30 to October 4, 2025 Camp Atterbury, Indiana wsc.nra.org
NRA National F-Class Fullbore Mid-Range Championship October 8-12, 2025 Port Malabar Rifle and Pistol Club Palm Bay, Florida competitions.nra.org
NRA National F-Class Fullbore Long-Range Championship October 22-26, 2025 Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club Bridgeville, Delaware competitions.nra.org
Visit the NRA Competitive Shooting Division website to learn more about this year’s slate of NRA National Championships.
2025 NRA National Matches Calendar
Here is the 2025 NRA National Matches Calendar showing major championship events and dates. Different events are indicated by various colors: Red for High Power Across the Course, Yellow for High Power Mid-Range, Green for High Power Long-Range, Dark Red for Smallbore and Blue for Pistol. Click the Calendar to ZOOM for easier reading.
Scope-Cover Mounted Ballistics Table
Credit our buddy Joe Friedrich for this simple yet effective accessory for your benchrest rifle. Joe shoots a .22 LR benchrest rig with a barrel tuner. When he added weights to his tuner, he found his rifle no longer balanced well. He wanted to add some weight in the rear without drilling holes in the stock. He also wanted the weight to be removable, and easily placed on another rifle in his stable. He wanted a weight that could be moved from gun to gun as needed.
