While some shooting disciplines have moved to electronic targets, most shooting matches still use paper targets, which must have precise dimensions for the particular distance and discipline. If you need correctly-sized targets for specific shooting disciplines (such as NRA Smallbore, F-Class, and 1K Benchrest) check out the links in this article. Precise, dimensionally-correct competition targets are produced by a half-dozen specialty printers. In this article we provide links to the leading target sellers, with a chart showing “who’s got what”. Look for your particular discipline and the vendors will be specified.
Sources for Official Shooting Competition Targets:
AccurateShooter.com offers dozens of FREE, printable targets for target practice, load development, and fun shooting. We also offer a few of the most popular NRA Bullseye targets. One or more of these printable targets should work for most training purposes. However, some readers have asked: “Where can we get the real targets… exactly like the ones used in NRA, IBS, and NBRSA shooting matches?”
All these vendors carry nearly all the NRA High Power and Smallbore targets, including the smaller F-Class targets. National Target has the F-Class and High Power targets, including 100-yard reductions of the 200, 300, and 600-yard military targets.
Here are some of the air rifle, smallbore, and High Power targets at Creedmoor Sports:
National Target currently sells IBS targets for rimfire (50 yard) benchrest, short-range centerfire Benchrest (100, 200, 300 yards), Hunter BR Rifle (100, 200, 300 yards), plus the official 600-yard and 1000-yard IBS targets. NBRSA short-range, 600-yard, and 1000-yard benchrest targets are normally available directly from the NBRSA Business Office. Send an email to nbrsa@icloud.com or call (434) 993-9201.
Good Source for Specialty Targets and Target Stands
Need Steel, Cardboard Silhouettes or specialty targets? ALCO Target Company in Duarte, California is the USA’s leading producer of the full spectrum of shooting targets including paper targets, cardboard targets, steel targets, and target stands.
OK guys, you probably want to keep this page confidential. Your spouse probably doesn’t want to be reminded about all the times you ignored the “Honey Do” list and headed off to the range instead. And she certainly doesn’t want to know how much you spend every year on your gun hobby.
Answer these two polls to see how dedicated (or should we say “obsessed”) a gun guy you really are. Once you vote you can see how your shooting (and spending) habits compare to other readers. Full results display after you select an answer and click the “Vote” button.
Click to vote in our current Readers’ polls.
Click “View Results” to see what other readers have selected.
The rifle cartridge money clip was a real product from ReleaseMeCreations.com (now sold out). You can, of course, make your own cartridge money clip with a Dremel tool for free.
+ONE Program to Encourage New Shooters
August is National Shooting Sports Month. As part of this effort, the NSSF encourages firearms owners to take one novice to the range this month. This +ONE Movement will help strengthen the ranks of shooters, which, in turn, can help protect our Second Amendment freedoms. The NSSF states: “If just one in three of America’s recreational shooters adds one new person to the shooting sports, we’ll secure a strong future for generations to come. So be the one. For all the thrills and excitement recreational shooting has given you, join the +ONE movement and invite someone to the range today. Share your experience on social media.”
The +ONE campaign seeks to build the ranks of shooters. The NSSF says: “If just one in three of America’s recreational shooters adds one new person to the shooting sports, we’ll secure a strong future for generations to come.” Learn more at LetsGoShooting.org.
As part of the +ONE Movement, the NSSF encourages all participants to practice gun safety and proper firearms handling and storage practices. This video covers basic gun safety procedures:
SHARE THESE 10 SAFETY TIPS WITH +ONE INVITEES
The NSSF has created a list of TEN Rules of Firearms Safety. While you’re at the shooting range or anywhere you handle a firearm, safety ALWAYS comes first. Here are the 10 Key Rules of Firearms Safety. NOTE: The first four rules are the most important.
The CMP National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio commenced July 12, 2026 with Smallbore 3P and Air Rifle events. The Camp Perry matches have been held since 1907 at this location on the shores of Lake Erie. The 2026 First Shot Ceremony took place Saturday, July 13 on the grounds of Camp Perry. Matches have been running for the past three weeks, with the final Mid-Range and Long-Range events scheduled for this coming week August 3-8, 2026. CLICK HERE for National Match INFO and Schedules.
Today, August 1st, the Rimfire Sporter match takes place. This is a hugely popular event that draws hundreds of competitors every year.
Rimfire Sporter Match Today August 1, 2026 Today, August 1st, the Rimfire Sporter match takes place. This is a hugely popular event that draws hundreds of competitors every year.
Saturday at the Movies — National Matches News Reports
Today’s Daily Bulletin Saturday Video Showcase features the CMP’s official National Matches Video News Reports, produced by ShootingUSA TV and hosted on YouTube. Along with range footage from the matches, each weekly report includes interviews with competitors, plus features on rifles and equipment.
2026 CMP National Matches Week 3 Report
Congratulations to MAJ Samuel Freeman, the 2026 President’s Match winner. This is the second time MAJ Freeman has won the President’s Rifle Trophy.
Week 3 of the CMP National Matches video coverage featured High Power action from the Camp Perry ranges, highlights from the 2026 President’s Rifle Match, a Junior Spotlight on Sabrina Smith — who earned a Top 20 finish in the President’s Match. This video also covers the recent announcement that the CMP will be selling semi-auto converted M14 rifles starting late 2026. Correspondent Serena Juchnowski also interviews sling guru Jack Jones.
Mid-Range and Long-Range Matches Starting August 3, 2026
2026 CMP National Matches Week 2 Report
Week 2 of the CMP National Matches at Camp Perry saw a lot of action. From the prestigious National Trophy Pistol Matches, to the Smallbore Matches, and even Air Rifle and Air Pistol, a number of 2026 National Match Champions were announced. This 22-minute video features smallbore matches as well as 600-yard high power shooting. This CMP Week 2 video has a Junior Spotlight, Dominic Baliva, plus a Competitor Spotlight, featuring Serena Juchnowski (photo above).Also included in the Week 2 shot is Scott Rhodes, who discusses woodworking and stock-making.
2026 CMP National Matches Week 1 Report
This video covers the initial week of the 2026 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry. Week 1 coverage includes the First Shot Ceremony, Smallbore 3P and Air Rifle matches, along with Bullseye Pistol Matches. In addition, there is a product feature on Walther .22 LR Rimfire Rifles, Air Rifles, and Air Pistols. This video is worth watching start to finish to see the rimfire, air rifle, and air pistol disciplines.
Tomorrow is the first day of August, the beginning of National Shooting Sports Month (NSSM). Each August, throughout the month, America’s shooters come together to celebrate our sport and get newcomers involved. To help grow the ranks of shooters, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) asks you to bring a new shooter to the range in August. That’s a good mission — adding to the ranks of shooters is the best way to preserve our Second Amendment rights.
This month, newcomers can take their first shots, and experienced shooters can invite someone new to the range or help an older shooter rediscover the fun of target shooting. This month-long event involves all the shooting sports — rifle, pistol, and shotgun.
Find Shooting Sports Events Near You
The NSSF’s ShootingSportsMonth.org website offers a comprehensive, searchable database. This lets you search by state, to find ranges, events, and sales promotions near you. Visit the NSSF online database of NSSM shooting events to find matches, clinics, training sessions, special sales — and much more.
Great FREE Targets for Fun at the Range
To promote National Shooting Sports Month, the NSSF offers 17 FREE Downloadable Targets. There are regular bullseyes, as well as Darts, Golf, and more. We really like the Billiards target and kids love the Water Balloons target. You can download all 17 targets for free, and then print them out, ideally with a color printer. Below are six of our favorite targets. Click HERE to download these six targets (3.5 mb ZIP).
What Shooters Can Do to Promote National Shooting Sports Month:
The NSSF says: “As shooters, you serve a critical role in the continued growth of gun ownership and shooting sports participation. We urge you to join us this August for National Shooting Sports Month.” There are a variety of ways you can help this August:
— Introduce a family member, friend, or group of friends to the shooting sports by taking them to a local range that’s hosting an event.
— Spread the word to family/friends and encourage them to get out to the range in August.
— Encourage the ranges and retailers near you to host an event this August and add them to the official events calendar at www.ShootingSportsMonth.org.
Find Shooting Ranges Throughout the USA
The NSSF offers a directory of shooting ranges online. Visit Wheretoshoot.org to get info on thousands of shooting ranges and facilities around the country. In addition, there is a FREE WheretoShoot Mobile App you can install on your phone. Versions are available for both Android and iOS (Apple) users.
Tired of spending $15-$25 for a can of spray lube that doesn’t last that long? For about the same price as a single 10 oz. can you can make your own effective spray lube that should last for multiple seasons and lube thousands of cases quickly and easily.
In the YouTube video embedded below, our friend Gavin Gear of UltimateReloader.com shows how to make your own case lube using simple, inexpensive ingredients. As recommended by the 6.5 Guys, this Liquid Lanolin + Isopropyl Alchohol mix works well and is very cost-effective. You can make a pint of this home-brew Lanolin case lube that will lube thousands of cases — many more than a typical commercial aerosol spray can (that’s mostly compressed air).
Gavin describes the exact mixing process on his Ultimate Reloader website. Gavin says this lube mix is a good complement to the Hornady One-Shot (pistol) and Dillon DCL (rifle) lubes he has used for pistol and rifle reloading sessions. CLICK HERE to read more.
Here’s exciting news from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). The CMP plans to modify its surplus M14 military rifles, making them permanently semi-auto rather than fully automatic as originally issued. These converted semi-automatic M14s will then be offered for sale through the CMP sales department, with the first M14 rifles set to be delivered “late 2026 to early 2027″. The CMP has not issued any pricing estimates at this time. Do note that the Springfield M1A, basically a civilian version of the M14, has been available for many years. However, this is the first time true, historic military M14s will be sold to the public, albeit after conversion to semi-auto function. CLICK HERE for CMP Official M14 Announcement.
Announcement: By special authorization, the CMP is pleased to announce the future availability and sale of surplus M14 Rifles. Prior to sale, the rifles will be modified to be permanently and irreversibly semi-automatic rifles. The modified semi-automatic M14s will be fully compliant with CMP enabling legislation authorizing the transfer and sale of military surplus .30 caliber rifles.
Details: The CMP anticipates first order fulfilment in the late 2026 to early 2027 timeframe. More details will be published on the M14 order submission process, pricing, limits and sales channels (mail order and physical stores) at a later date. Proceeds from the sale of these and other historic firearms allow the CMP to teach firearms safety and marksmanship, conduct competitions, and provide scholarships and youth programs, nationwide.
Background: Designed by John C. Garand, the M14 is the direct descendant of the M1 Garand rifle. It is a 7.62 rifle officially adopted as the U.S. Army’s service rifle in 1957. The Civilian Marksmanship Program is singularly authorized to modify these rifles and make them available for sale to eligible US Citizens.
CLICK HERE for additional, detailed 19-minute analysis of CMP M14 Sale Program by Second Amendment scholar Mark W. Smith.
Much of the USA is experiencing a major heat wave right now. It was 115° F in Palm Springs yesterday, and 111° F in Las Vegas. That’s HOT! Unfortunately, this is “prime time” for shooting matches, so competitors may have no choice but to shoot in very hot weather. When ambient temperatures soar into the 100s, you need to be especially careful about barrel heat. Bad things can happen if your barrel gets too hot.
First, with some barrels, the point of impact (POI) will shift or “walk” as the barrel heats up excessively. Second, even if the POI doesn’t change, the groups can open up dramatically when the barrel gets too hot. Third, if the barrel is very hot, the chamber will transfer heat to your loaded cartridge, which can lead to pressure issues. Finally, hot barrels wear out faster. That’s a major concern, particularly for varminters who may shoot hundreds of rounds in a day. For this reason, many varminters switch among various guns, never letting one barrel get too hot. And wise shooters monitor temps with temp strips.
Monitor Barrel Temperatures with Stick-On Temp Strips
We are already seeing unseasonably hot conditions in many areas of the country. You never want your barrels to get too hot, which can happen more quickly in summertime. Accuracy suffers when barrels over-heat, and excessive heat is not good for barrel life. So how do you monitor your barrel’s temperature? You can check if the barrel is “warm to the touch” — but that method is not particularly precise. There is a better way — using temperature-sensitive strips. McMaster.com (an industrial supply house) offers stick-on temp strips with values from 86° F to 140° F. A pack of ten (10) of these horizontal strips (item 59535K13) costs $11.56. That’s a mere $1.16 per barrel for strips — cheap insurance for your precious barrels. For best barrel life, you should try to keep your barrels under 120 degrees F.
NOTE: On the McMaster.com website, you’ll need to scroll down to the multi-use “Temperature Indicating Labels”. Then click on the horizontal label and select item 59535K13, as shown below.
Forum member Nomad47 says: “I have temperature strips (bought at McMaster-Carr) on all my barrels. I try not to shoot when the barrel gets to 122 degrees or higher[.]” Here are photos of the McMaster-Carr temp strips on Nomad47’s customized Savage.
Creedmoor Sports now offers handy Temp Strips, with 3-packs for $12.95. These have colored temp range markers so you can quickly see if your barrel is getting too hot. Creedmoor Sports notes: “The temperature range of 30-160° spaced in 10° increments fit most … shooting situations. The 1″-wide 6″-long LCD strip will provide many years of service. In general, we recommend that if a barrel begins to reach 140°, it is too hot and continuing to shoot at these temperatures accelerates barrel wear These barrel temperature strips use a 3M® adhesive and will stick to blued, parkerized and stainless barrels.”
Bad things can happen if your barrel gets too hot. First, with some barrels, the point of impact (POI) will shift or “walk” as the barrel heats up excessively. Second, even if the POI doesn’t change, the groups can open up dramatically when the barrel gets too hot. Third, if the barrel is very hot, the chamber will transfer heat to your loaded cartridge, which can lead to pressure issues. Finally, there’s considerable evidence that hot barrels wear out faster. This is a very real concern, particularly for varmint shooters who may shoot hundreds of rounds in a day. For this reason, many varminters switch among various guns, never letting a particular barrel get too hot.
Neconos.com offers BAR-L Temp Strips that visually display heat readings from 86 to 140 degrees. Think of these strips as compact, unbreakable thermometers that monitor barrel heating.
Put a strip on the side of the barrel and the barrel’s temp will be indicated by a stripe that changes from black to green. There is also a “general purpose” strip that reads to 196 degrees (see bottom row). The Benchrest model strip (86°F to 140°F) is in the middle. These Bar-L temp strips cost $12.70 each, or $25.00 for a 3-pack.
NOTE: These strips can be permanently fixed to the barrel with the heavy-duty clear plastic tape strip provided with the BAR-L Temp strip.
With two years remaining until the Olympic and Paralympic Games return to American soil in Los Angeles, USA Shooting’s 2026 National Championships showed what it takes to build a medal-winning team. Held throughout May and June, the championships brought together Olympians, Paralympians, National Team members, collegiate standouts, and the nation’s top junior athletes to compete for national titles across rifle, pistol, and shotgun. More than a championship season, the events served as a benchmark for the athletes pursuing Team USA selection while showcasing the growing depth of American shooting sports.
“This season is proof our pipeline is deep, and it’s growing,” said USA Shooting CEO Kelly Reisdorf. “We saw 3-year highs in participation across rifle, pistol, and shotgun, with some of the biggest gains coming from our women athletes. We also watched proven champions like Vincent Hancock and Samantha Simonton get pushed by a rising class of juniors who are closing the gap fast. That competitive pressure, top to bottom, is exactly what builds a team that wins in 2028.”
Throughout the season, Olympic veterans reaffirmed their place among the nation’s best while emerging athletes continued closing the gap. Every event carried significance as athletes battled not only for national titles but for momentum heading toward future National Team selections and international competition.
Smallbore Rifle and Air Rifle National Championships
Hosted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) in Anniston and Talladega, Alabama, the Rifle National Championships showcased excellence across Olympic and Paralympic rifle events. Peter Fiori claimed the Men’s 10m Air Rifle National Championship while Griffin Lake earned the Junior National title. Isabella Baldwin won Women’s Air Rifle, and Elizabeth Probst captured the Junior Championship.
Lake added another national title in Men’s 50m Rifle Three Positions. Cecelia Ossi won Women’s 50m Rifle Three Positions. Para rifle competition featured standout performances across multiple classifications, highlighting the continued growth of the Paralympic program.
Capstone Precision Group (CPG), manufacturer of Berger bullets and ammunition, has been selected to build the M1200 6.5 Creedmoor Special Ball Long-Range Ammunition for U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). CPG will begin delivery of M1200 6.5 Creedmoor rounds to U.S. SOCOM units in spring 2027.
As an approved supplier for the Special Operations Unique Munitions Requirements (SUMR) program, CPG will build several million M1200 6.5 Creedmoor rounds loaded with Berger 6.5mm 140gr OTM projectiles in their Mesa, AZ manufacturing facility.
The M1200 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge is designed to deliver exceptional long-range precision and reliable performance when fired suppressed from USSOCOM’s advanced semi-automatic weapons platform. CPG will manufacture a significant volume of M1200 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition to support USSOCOM special operators deployed worldwide.
Our selection as supplier for M1200 ammunition represents a significant validation of our capabilities, quality standards, and commitment to support the nation’s most demanding military missions,” said Emil Praslick, Director of Business Development for CPG. “We are honored to build precision-engineered ammunition solutions that provide USSOCOM special operators the means for mission-critical success.”
Capstone Precision Group produces Berger bullets and aammunition in Mesa, AZ, and is the exclusive distributor of Lapua components and ammunition, Vihtavuori Powders, and SK Rimfire ammo. Capstone Precision Group is a Part of Nammo Group.
+ONE Program to Encourage New Shooters
Much of the USA is experiencing a major heat wave right now. It was 115° F in Palm Springs yesterday, and 111° F in Las Vegas. That’s HOT! Unfortunately, this is “prime time” for shooting matches, so competitors may have no choice but to shoot in very hot weather. When ambient temperatures soar into the 100s, you need to be especially careful about barrel heat. Bad things can happen if your barrel gets too hot.
