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May 23rd, 2025

Registration Opens for 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

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The 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship will take place at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, September 30 through October 4, 2025. This eighth NRA World Shooting Championship will have both professional and amateur divisions. Approximately $250,000 in cash and prizes are available to the field of competitors, with $25,000 awarded to the “World Shooting Champion” and $1,000 going to the winner of each stage of competition. This unique competition features multiple disciplines shot with firearms supplied by sponsors. All of the guns are provided and stage firearms become prizes. There are also cash prize awards for the top Pro Class competitors. SEE NRA World Championship Program.


SEE 2025 World Shooting Championship Program »

Registration for the 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship is now open. Register via the NRA Shooters Portal: Competitor.nra.org. Competitors are encouraged to register soon to secure their spot, as this match has filled up quickly in past years. Learn more about the NRA World Shooting Championship at wsc.nra.org.

atterbury nra world shooting championship walther 2024

The NRA World Shooting Championship runs 9/30/25 through 10/4/2025. Presented by Walther Arms, this challenging event involves rifle, pistol, and shotgun shooting with a dozen disciplines — from short-range action pistol to long-range rifle.

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2025 nra world shooting championship
The NRA World Shooting Championship
This championship is designed to test individuals through multiple different challenging disciplines over four days of shooting (Team Shoot Day 4). Competitors compete in Professional and Amateur categories for cash and prizes of over $250,000. Walther and other sponsors will supply ALL firearms equipment and ammunition required for the 12 stages of competition.

To do well, competitors must be highly proficient in all shooting skills — rifle, pistol, shotgun, both rapid fire and precision. The 2025 stages are: Precision Standing Air Gun, Sporting Clays, NRA Precision Pistol, NRA America’s Rifle Challenge LVL2, FITASC, NRA ARC 2-Gun, PRS Rimfire, Biathlon, IDPA, SASS (Cowboy Action), PRS, and USPSA.

Six Side Matches
There are also six (6) side matches with different disciplines including falling plates. The event also has a Team Shoot.

2024 NRA multi-gun championship world rifle pistol shotgun 3-gun

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May 21st, 2025

Six Tips for Novice Handgun Shooters

Birchwood Casey Target Spots neon day-glow
OK this is no novice. But even champion pistol shooter Jessie Harrison, Captain of Team Taurus, had to start with the basics. Jessie says that safety should always be your number one priority.

At AccurateShooter.com, our primary focus is precision target shooting with rifles. But it’s definitely fun to shoot pistols too, and we bet most of our regular readers own handguns. Here are six tips for shooting safely and accurately with handguns. These pointers will help you advance your skills and have more fun with your pistols and revolvers.

1. Make Sure Safety Is Number One

Whether you own one gun or one hundred, gun safety must always be your main priority. In this video, Smith & Wesson Team Captain Julie Golob covers the basics of gun safety.

2. Start with a .22 LR Handgun

Pistol Shooting Tips Target Mentor safety training

We strongly recommend that new pistol shooters start off with a .22 LR rimfire handgun. The .22 LR cartridge is accurate but has very low recoil, less “bark” than a centerfire, and very little smoke and muzzle flash. New shooters won’t have to fight muzzle flip, and won’t develop a flinch from the sharp recoil and muzzle blast common to larger calibers. With the .22 LR, the trainee can focus on sight alignment, breathing, and trigger pull. When he or she has mastered those skills, move on to a .38 Special or 9mm Luger (9x19mm).

What gun to use? We recommend the 10-shot Smith & Wesson Model 617. Shooting single action, slow-fire, this is ideal for training. Shown above is the 4″-barrel Model 617version which balances well. There is also a 6″-barrel version. It has a longer sight radius, but is a little nose-heavy. Both are great choices. They are extremely accurate and they boast a very clean, precise trigger.

browning buck mark buckmark stainless udx rimfire .22 LR pistol

If you prefer a semi-auto .22 LR pistol, we recommend the Browning Buck Mark series. Buck Marks are very accurate and very reliable. This rimfire pistol is available in a variety of models starting at under $350.00. Like the S&W Model 617, a good Buck Mark will serve you for a lifetime.

5. Use Quality Targets with Multiple Aim Points

Birchwood Casey Target Spots neon day-glow

Birchwood Casey Target Spots neon day-glowIt’s common for new pistoleros to start shooting at cans or clay birds at a public range. That can be fun, but it’s better to start with proper targets, placed at eye level, at 7-10 yards. We like to use targets with large, brightly colored circles. Focus on putting 5 shots in a circle. We recommend targets that have multiple bullseyes or aiming points — that way you don’t have to constantly change your target. There are also special paper targets that can help you diagnose common shooting problems, such as anticipating recoil. EZ2C makes very good targets with bright, red-orange aim points. You can also use the bright orange Birchwood Casey stick-on Target Dots (right). These come in a variety of diameters. We like the 2″ dot at 10 yards.

3. Shoot Outdoors If You Can

Pistol Shooting Tips Target Mentor safety training

We recommend that new pistol shooters begin their training at an outdoor range. There are many reasons. First, the light is better outdoors. Indoor ranges can be dark with lots of shadows, making it harder to see your target. Second, sound dissipates better outdoors. The sound of gunfire echoes and bounces off walls indoors. Third, an outdoor range is a more comfortable environment, particularly if you can get out on a weekday morning. Indoor ranges, at least in urban areas, tend to be crowded. Many also have poor ventilation. If you can make it to an outdoor range, you’ll be happy. Many outdoor ranges also have some steel pistol targets, which offer a fun alternative to paper. When shooting steel however, we recommend polymer encased or lead bullets to avoid ricochets.

5. Find a Good Mentor and Watch Some Videos First

Pistol Shooting Tips Target Mentor safety training
Photo courtesy AV Firearms Training.

Too many new pistol shooters try to move right to rapid fire drills. It’s better to start slow, practicing the basics, under the guidance of a good mentor. If you belong to a club, ask if there are certified instructors who will help out. This Editor learn pistol shooting from a seasoned bullseye shooter, who got me started with a .22 LR revolver and very close targets. Over the course of a few range sessions we progressed to farther targets and faster pace. But the fundamentals were never forgotten. When starting your pistol training, it’s wise to view some instructional videos. Top Shot Champion Chris Cheng hosts an excellent Handgun 101 Series produced by the NSSF. We’ve linked one of these Handgun 101 videos for Tip #6.

6. SLOW DOWN — This Is Not a Race

When you learned to ride a bicycle, you started slow — maybe even with training wheels. The same principle applies to pistol shooting. When you get started with handguns, we recommend you shoot slowly and deliberately. Start with the handgun unloaded — just work on your sight alignment and breathing. With snap caps in place, try some dry-firing drills. Then progress to live fire. But be deliberate and slow. With the target at 20 feet, see if you can get three successive shot-holes to touch. Believe it or not, many common pistols are capable of this kind of accuracy (but you won’t see many shooters at indoor ranges who pursue that kind of precision). Once you master your form and accuracy, then you can work on your speed.

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May 15th, 2025

Come Prepared to Matches — Know the Rules and Course of Fire

Match Etiquette USAMU Course of Fire Rules SFC Norman Anderson CMP Rulebook NRA

Match Etiquette USAMU Course of Fire Rules SFC Norman Anderson CMP Rulebook NRA

Editor’s Note: The CMP National Matches at Camp Perry are less than a month away. This article covers key points for rifle competitors at major matches. To do well, you want to be an “informed competitor” with a positive attitude and full knowledge of the course of fire and match rules.

Don’t Be “That Guy” (The Bad Apple on the Firing Line)

By SFC Norman Anderson, USAMU Service Rifle Team Member
You know the guy, he’s still talking at the coffee jug when his preparation period begins, then his magazines aren’t loaded when the command “STAND” is given, and finally, he doesn’t know the rules when he argues with the block officer as his target comes up marked “9 and No”. Although this guy might be the highlight of the “after match” activities, he is the proverbial bad apple on the firing line. With this example fresh in your mind, let’s go over how not to be “that guy”.

While the sport of High Power shooting is a hobby for most, all are passionate about performance throughout the day. In order to achieve your maximum performance each and every day, it is essential that you conduct yourself as a professional competitor. As a competitor, you have a personal responsibility to know the course of fire as well as the rules and procedures that apply to it and to be prepared to follow them. Knowing this will not only make you a better competitor, but it will enable you to resolve situations with other targets besides your own. So what does all this mean? I’ll explain…

Know the Course of Fire
Know the course of fire. It sounds easy enough, as we all shoot plenty of matches, but it’s more than that. If you think about it, how many people in the pits, for example, do not really know what is happening on the firing line? This leads to targets being pulled early during a rapid fire string or missing a shot during a slow fire string. In cases like this, the result is the same, delays in the match and upset competitors. To avoid being “that guy,” it is imperative that you stay tuned to the events as the day progresses. When you are at the range shooting a match, be at the range shooting the match.

At any firearms competition — be sure you know (and understand) the course of fire.
CMP Match Etiquette

Match Etiquette USAMU Course of Fire Rules SFC Norman Anderson CMP Rulebook NRAKnow the Rules
Now, let’s discuss rules. As you have probably heard more than once, the rulebook is your best friend. Here is why. I can virtually guarantee that most competitors know some of the rules based only on the old “this is how we do it at home” adage. The funny part of that is, the same green NRA rulebook and orange CMP rulebooks are used to govern High Power matches all over the country.*

It is vital that all shooters be familiar with the rules as they are written, not with “how they are applied at home”. This creates consistency and continuity in how matches are conducted, from local club matches to state tournaments to National Championships. Knowledge is power when it comes to scoring targets under contention, what to do in the case of a malfunction, or even how to file a protest correctly. These rules are in place for a reason and it benefits everyone to both know and operate by these rules.

Maintain Composure and Humility — Exhibit Good Sportsmanship
One aspect of competing that cannot be forgotten is bearing. As I mentioned earlier, you must be prepared for both good and bad to happen. All too often we all see “that guy” (or that “that guy’s” gear) flying off of the firing line in disgust. Remember that we all must maintain our composure and humility in all conditions, not matter what happens. After all, it’s just a game. To put it into perspective, if it were easy, attendance would be a lot higher. Sportsmanship must be displayed in an effort to keep from ruining the day for all those around you. It doesn’t cost anything to smile, and smiling never killed anyone. So turn that frown upside down and keep on marching, better days will come.

Like a Boy Scout — Always Be Prepared
Lastly, I would like to cover preparedness. Being prepared goes beyond simply having your magazines loaded and a zero on your rifle. It means approaching the firing line, knowing what you are about to do, being ready for what is going to happen (good or bad), and being ready for the results. If you approach the firing line to merely shoot 10 shots standing in your next LEG match, you are not going to be pleased with the result. You must be prepared mentally and physically, not only for the next stage, but also the next shot. By being prepared physically (equipment ready), you give yourself peace of mind which is an essential part of being prepared mentally, and by being prepared mentally, you are less likely to become distracted and are more likely to maintain focus for each and every shot.

Conclusion — Informed Competitors Make for Better Matches
The culmination of these efforts results in a shooter that knows how to be ready for success on the range, but also and perhaps more importantly, a shooter who knows what it means to be a competitor. When you have a range full of competitors who know and follow the rules and proper match procedures, the match runs smoothly, everyone shoots well, and a good time is had by all. In the end, isn’t that what it’s all about?


* After this article was originally written, the CMP separated its rules into multiple Rulebooks, which can all be downloaded from the CMP.org/rulebooks page:

The CMP Games Rifle and Pistol Competition Rules 2025 (12th Ed.) for CMP-sanctioned matches for As-Issued Military Rifle and Pistol events including Special M9 and M16 EIC Matches, and Service Pistol, and Rimfire Sporter.

The CMP Highpower Competition Rules 2025 (28th Ed.) for CMP-sponsored and sanctioned matches for Highpower Rifle events in National Trophy Matches, Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Matches, CMP Cup Matches and other CMP-sanctioned competitions.

The CMP Smallbore Rifle Competition Rules 2025 (7th Ed.) for CMP-sponsored and sanctioned matches for Smallbore Rifle events in National Trophy Matches, CMP Cup Matches and other CMP-sanctioned competitions.

The CMP Pistol Competition Rules 2025 (28th Ed.) for CMP-sponsored and sanctioned Pistol Matches in the National Matches, National Trophy Matches, Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Matches, and other CMP-sanctioned competitions.

This article by SFC Norman Anderson originally appeared in the CMP First Shot Online Magazine.

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May 13th, 2025

National Smallbore & Air Gun Events at Camp Perry This Summer

Camp Petty national matches rimfire smallbore air rifle

This summer the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will host Smallbore and Air Gun events during the annual CMP National Matches in Port Clinton, Ohio. The National Matches, held at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Base since 1907, is conducted through a partnership between the CMP and the Ohio National Guard. All events are open to the public, with spectators allowed.

The National Smallbore and National Air Gun phases run in tandem, along with the National Pistol series, to allow athletes the option of competing in a variety of disciplines during their Camp Perry visit. Additional Aggregate events have been included for those firing in air rifle and three-position smallbore competitions, with challenging elimination team matches also part of the Air Gun and Smallbore schedules.

Camp Petty national matches rimfire smallbore air rifle

CLICK HERE to Register for Smallbore National Matches »

This year’s rimfire (smallbore) matches are scheduled for July 9-19, 2025. There will be iron sights and “any sights” (scoped) prone events as well as 3×20 (three-position) individual and team matches. All smallbore events are held on Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range, featuring a covered firing line and CMP’s own outdoor electronic targets. See below:

Camp Petty national matches rimfire smallbore air rifle
Camp Petty national matches rimfire smallbore air rifle

Air Rifle and Air Pistol Events at Camp Perry
For air rifle and air pistol competitors can attend the National Air Gun Championships, held on the electronic target range within the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. There will be two days of training sessions, followed by two days of 60-shot competitions. The Air Rifle events will run July 10-13, while Air Pistol will follow on July 14-17.

Camp Petty national matches rimfire smallbore air rifle

About the CMP National Matches:
The 2025 CMP National Matches will include the CMP National Trophy Pistol and Rifle Matches, National Games Matches, National Smallbore Matches, National Air Gun Championships, and the National Mid-Range and Long Range Matches. The month-long summer series also includes a variety of educational clinics for all experience levels.

To learn more about the upcoming CMP National Matches and review the National Matches schedule, visit the CMP website at thecmp.org/cmp-national-matches.

Camp Petty national matches rimfire smallbore air rifle

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May 12th, 2025

Gun Run Competition — Fitness and Marksmanship Combined

gun run biathlon pistol rifle ar15 tactical match fitness

When most shooters think of biathlon, they imagine the winter sport which combines cross-country skiing with rimfire rifle shooting. Now there’s a new type of biathlon, a true “run and gun” competition with rifles and pistols. The Gun Run competitors move on foot over natural terrain, with 5-8 shooting stages over the course, typically 5 km (about 3 miles).

gun run biathlon pistol rifle ar15 tactical match fitness

The Gun Run is a two-gun, centerfire biathlon. It is designed to test your physical fitness, marksmanship, and equipment. Competitors will carry their rifle, pistol, ammunition, mags and anything they believe they need to complete the course. They will travel over various distances depending on the match — but most often a 5 kilometer marked course consisting of natural terrain, roads, and trails. There will be anywhere from 5 to 8 shooting stages. There are night events, two-person team events, and even a land navigation event where you must use map and compass to complete the course.

The Gun Run is not a CrossFit competition and it’s not USPSA. This is a challenging event that test personal fitness and marksmanship with both rifle and pistol.

gun run biathlon pistol rifle ar15 tactical match fitness

How to Participate in The Gun Run Events
Click below for the list of The Gun Run 2025 Events with links to sign-up pages. The next competition is the Gun Run Land Nav slated for May 24, 2025 at DeWitt’s Outdoor Sports in Ellerbe, North Carolina. This is a special, more challenging event. Instead of following a 5k course marked with signs, competitors will navigate an unknown distance course using a map and compass. After, that, the next Gun Run event will be held June 21, 2025 at The Sawmill Training Complex in Laurens, SC 29360.

The Gun Run 2024 Schedule Events and Contact INFO »

Here are some comments from TheGunRun.us Website:

Origins of The Gun Run
This isn’t a new concept … matches like this originated in Texas 20 years ago and have spread all over the country. Prior to that, Colonial Era Americans would gather on the village green sometimes multiple times a week and conduct close order drill with rifle marksmanship competitions. Shooting is as old a past time for this country as this country is old.

Fitness Challenge
Carrying all your gear in 90 degree weather up and down hills is not easy. Having the best gear and being a good marksman can help but having a level of fitness where you can maneuver with gear on is extremely important. The end result of all of this is improving your training plan. Whether it be physical or on the range, every event you compete in should give you areas to work on. Sometimes new kit needs to be bought but most often it is our fitness that needs the most improvement.

gun run biathlon pistol rifle ar15 tactical match fitness

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May 9th, 2025

Rob Leatham Wins SSUSA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award

rob leatham springfield armory pistol shooting golden bullseye competitor award NRA
Shooting Sports USA Editor John Parker presents Rob Leatham with NRA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award at the 2025 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits. SSUSA photo by Peter Fountain.

rob leatham springfield armory pistol shooting golden bullseye competitor award NRARob Leatham Wins Golden Bullseye Award
Renowned competitive pistol shooter Rob Leatham has received the inaugural (first-ever) Shooting Sports USA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award. Leatham received the award at the 2025 National Rifle Association Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia. CLICK HERE for full story.

Winners of NRA Golden Bullseye Awards are determined by NRA Media staff, who represent more than a century of collective experience in the shooting industry. In particular, the NRA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award recognizes a competitive shooter who has displayed outstanding performance in competition and has “given back” to the shooting sports world by providing guidance and support to the next generation of competitive shooters.

“This award honors the highest level of achievement in competitive shooting — and there is no one more deserving to receive it first than Rob Leatham”, said John Parker, Editor-in-Chief ofShooting Sports USA. “For more than 40 years, Rob has set the bar — not just with his championship titles, but with his relentless pursuit of excellence, his sportsmanship and his influence on generations of competition shooters. He’s a competitor, a pioneer and a true ambassador of the shooting sports.”

Interview with Rod Leatham for The Armory Life

Competing since 1978, Leatham has amassed a remarkable record of success over the past four decades — eight-time IPSC World Champion, 11-time NRA Bianchi Cup Action Pistol Champion, 34-time USPSA/IPSC National Champion (Overall & Aggregate), eight-time Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Champion, seven-time IDPA champion, and more.

rob leatham springfield armory pistol shooting golden bullseye competitor award NRA

Rob Leatham, By the Numbers:

34X USPSA / IPSC NATIONAL CHAMPION (Overall and Aggregate)
11X NRA BIANCHI CUP ACTION PISTOL CHAMPION
8X IPSC WORLD CHAMPION
4X USPSA CLASSIC NATIONALS AGGREGATE CHAMPION
14X USPSA / IPSC NATIONAL “SENIOR” CHAMPION
10X IPSC WORLD “TEAM” CHAMPIONS #TeamUSA
19X SINGLE STACK CLASSIC CHAMPION
3X AMERICAN HANDGUNNER WORLD SHOOTOFF CHAMPION
8X STEEL CHALLENGE WORLD SPEED SHOOTING CHAMPION
7X IDPA NATIONAL CHAMPION
2019 IDPA WORLD SENIOR CHAMPION
2006 ICORE INTERNATIONAL REVOLVER WORLD CHAMPION – LIMITED DIVISION​

“I am truly honored to have been selected as the first recipient of this new award from NRA’s Shooting Sports USA,” said Rob Leatham. “I have loved shooting all my life, and I’m humbled and thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to do this for a living with Springfield Armory. Thank you to Dennis Reese and the Springfield Armory team for making my dreams come true.”

» SEE Full Rob Leatham Career Feature Story and Interview

Rob Leatham has more than four decades behind the trigger as a professional shooter, trainer and expert. It is this background that has earned him the moniker of “The Great One”, or simply TGO. In fact, Springfield Custom created the “TGO 1″ handgun named in his honor and designed by the man himself. This special edition featured the Rob Leatham signature on the wood grips.

rob leatham springfield armory pistol shooting golden bullseye competitor award NRA

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May 9th, 2025

Top Lady Shooters Offer Smart Safety and Marksmanship Advice

Lady Shooter advice NRABlog.com Tiffany Piper Julie Golob
Photo courtesy NRAFamily.org.

The NRABlog has interviewed seven prominent lady shooters, asking them for tips for other lady shooting sports enthusiasts, particularly new shooters. Top female competitors such as 2016 Bianchi Cup Winner Tiffany Piper and Team S&W Co-Captain Julie Golob offer good advice on competitive shooting as well as using firearms for self-defense. Read the full article here.

Here Are Some of the Top Tips from Leading Ladies:

Lady Shooter advice NRABlog.com Tiffany Piper Julie Golob

Theresa Vail, Hunter and Host of NRA All Access “If you’re new to shooting or wanting to start, find some girlfriends that are interested in trying it with you. Having female friends go to the range with you takes the pressure off and makes a typically male-dominant arena much less intimidating. There is such thing as strength in numbers!”

Tiffany Piper (Action Pistol): The best piece of advice I would give is practice makes perfect. In New Zealand, we barely get enough range time with our noise restrictions so muscle memory and technique are key. Study up on shooting techniques, watch YouTube videos of other professional women shooters, and try out what you see. Don’t get intimidated thinking it’s a male’s sport[.]”

Lady Shooter advice NRABlog.com Tiffany Piper Julie Golob

Julie Golob (Team S&W, 3-Gun and Pistol): “If something isn’t clear, just ask about it! Shooters are some of the best people you’ll ever meet, but we can be confusing and use a lot of shooter slang and lingo. When in doubt, ask!”

Tori Nonaka (Team Glock): “I always recommend to new shooters to first concentrate on the basics of gun safety. That way they will be more comfortable when they next learn about the particular gun…. Their confidence will grow as they familiarize themselves with their specific weapon. Then, it’s all about practice at the range.”

Corey Cogdell (Olympic Trap Shooter): “It’s empowering for women to know how to use a firearm in a sporting atmosphere as well as for self-defense. So if you are new to firearms, check out your local gun club and take a lesson! There you’ll find instructors and other shooting sports enthusiasts who will be more than willing to help you.”

Lady Shooter advice NRABlog.com Tiffany Piper Julie Golob

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May 9th, 2025

Handgun 101: Diagnosing Accuracy Problems with Pistols

NSSF Chris Cheng Pistol Accuracy Handgun Shooting Skills

When shooting pistols do your shots normally land smack dab in the middle of the target? If not, you may have some technique problems that are causing your shots to move off center. Top Shot Champion Chris Cheng has produced a good video for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) that helps handgunners diagnose accuracy issues. By shooting 3-shot groups and looking at the pattern and location of the shots, you can see what you’re doing wrong (or right). Here are some examples. Note, this process works best for shooters whose shots fall typically in one target zone. If your shots are all over the target, your form is inconsistent and problems will be harder to diagnose.

1. Low Left — Jerking Trigger: Here we see three (3) shots at the 7 O’clock position. This shows that the shooter is jerking the trigger, meaning that the shooter is pulling the trigger too quickly and therefore forcing the barrel to drop when breaking the shot. This is a very common problem, particularly with novices who are reacting to the noise/recoil of the pistol.

NSSF Chris Cheng Pistol Accuracy Handgun Shooting Skills

2. 9 O’Clock — Too Little Trigger Finger: If we see three (3) shots at the 9 O’clock position, what this can be indicative of too little trigger finger on the trigger. And therefore with every shot, the shots are getting pushed to the left. Try moving your trigger finger on to the pad of your index finger. Also try dry firing drills.

NSSF Chris Cheng Pistol Accuracy Handgun Shooting Skills

3. High Left — Anticipating Recoil: In this next example, we see three shots around the 11 O’clock position. What could be happening here is that the shooter is anticipating the recoil, and is actually lifting the gun up when he shoots. We recommend slowing down, working on your breathing, and, again, do dry-firing drills.

NSSF Chris Cheng Pistol Accuracy Handgun Shooting Skills

4. 3 O’Clock — Too Much Trigger Finger: Finally, if you see three (3) shots at the 3 O’clock position, this can indicate that there is too much trigger finger on the trigger. Therefore when the shot breaks the shooter is pulling each shot to the right. Note: Each of these descriptions is for a RIGHT-handed shooter. If you are a left-handed shooter you’ll want to reverse those descriptions.

NSSF Chris Cheng Pistol Accuracy Handgun Shooting Skills

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May 8th, 2025

“Mad Minute” Shooting Drill with a .303 Brit Lee-Enfield Rifle

Lee Enfield Mad Minute one-minute rifle drill British Army Gary Eliseo Dennis Santiago
British Lee-Enfield Model SHT’22/IV Rifle, courtesy www.iCollector.com.

Our friend Dennis Santiago was a technical advisor for History Channel’s Top SHOT TV show. One of the notable Top Shot episodes involved the “Mad Minute”, a marksmanship drill practiced by the British Army in the decades preceding World War I. Dennis observed that the Top Shot competitors didn’t fare too well in their “Mad Minute” attempts, not scoring many hits in the allotted one-minute time period. That prompted Dennis to give it a try himself — seeing how many hits he could score in one minute with an authentic Lee-Enfield rifle. So, a while back, Dennis ran the drill at a range in California.

Dennis, an active high power rifle competitor and instructor, explained that a “Mad Minute” exercise takes practice to perfect: “Here is a ‘Mad Minute’ drill, done using a period correct Lee-Enfield (SMLE) No.1 Mk III rifle and Mk VII ammo. I got to the Queen’s Regulations (15 hits in one minute) on the second run and put a good group on the target at 200 yards. This is ‘jolly good fun’ to do every once in a while. This is ‘living history’ — experiencing a skill from a time when the sun never set on the British Empire.”

Dennis Does the Mad Minute

Lee Enfield Mad Minute Mark IV
British Lee-Enfield Model SHT’22/IV Rifle, courtesy www.iCollector.com.

Lee Enfield Mad Minute Mark IVLee-Enfield No. 4 Rifle (1943), courtesy Arundel Militaria.

“Mad Minute” was a pre-World War I term used by British Army riflemen during training at the Hythe School of Musketry to describe scoring a minimum of 15 hits onto a 12″ round target at 300 yards within one minute using a bolt-action rifle (usually a Lee-Enfield or Lee-Metford rifle). It was not uncommon during the First World War for riflemen to greatly exceed this score. The record, set in 1914 by Sergeant Instructor Alfred Snoxall, was 38 hits. (From WikiPedia.)

Mad Minute Lee Enfield

History of the MAD MINUTE
Commentary by Laurie Holland, UK Shooter
The original military requirement of the “Mad Minute” saw the soldier ready to fire with a round in the chamber, nine in the magazine, safety on. This course of fire is still followed by the GB Historic Breechloading Arms Association and other bodies in their recreated “Mad Minute” competitions.

The first 10 would go quickly, but reloads were critical, this not done by a magazine change as Gary did with the RTM or in a modern tactical or semi-auto rifle, but through slick use of ‘chargers’. It is this aspect which fouls so many of my colleagues up as it is very easy to cause a jam and a large part of 60 seconds can go in sorting it out!

Charger clips were selected for those that just held the rounds firmly enough to stop then falling out, were sand-papered and polished with a stove / fireplace polish called ‘Zebrite’ so that the rimmed rounds would slip through the clips like corn through a goose.

lee enfield 1916 rifle

If you’re unfamiliar with the cock-on-closing Enfield action, it seems clumsy. With intensive practice it is very smooth and can be operated incredibly quickly. The trick is to whip the bolt back onto its stop and initiate a rebound movement that takes it and the cartridge well into the chamber thereby reducing the effort required to close the bolt and chamber the round.

The MAD MINUTE Training Standards and Target
“Mad Minute” was a pre-World War I term used by British Army riflemen during training at the Hythe School of Musketry to describe scoring a minimum of 15 hits on a target at 300 yards within one minute using a bolt-action rifle (usually a Lee-Enfield or Lee-Metford rifle). It was not uncommon during the First World War for riflemen to greatly exceed this score. The record, set in 1914 by Sergeant Instructor Alfred Snoxall, was 38 hits.

Mad Minute Lee Enfield
Royal Scots Fusiliers soldiers train with SMLE Mk III Lee–Enfield rifle.

Listed as “Practice number 22, Rapid Fire” of The Musketry Regulations, Part I, 1909, this drill required at least 15 shots on the Second Class target at 300 yards. The exercise was just one of several annual tests to classify a soldier as a sharpshooter, first or second class shooter depending on the points achieved.

Made Minute Second Class targetResearch indicates the Second Class target was a 48″ x 48″ square with 24″ inner circle and 36″ outer circle. The sight mark was a central 12″ x 12″ shape representing a soldier. ALL hits scored points (3 for center circle, 2 for outer circle, 1 for outer square). NOTE: Though some sources say the Mad Minute drill used a 12″-diameter round target, this appears to be a mistake from Ian Hogg’s book “The Encyclopedia of Weaponry”. No other source mentions a 12″ circle, which would be a mere 3.82 MOA. In reality the true drill target was a 48″ x 48″ square, roughly 15 times larger. (From No.WikiPedia.)

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May 8th, 2025

Keanu Reeves — This Hollywood Actor Can Really Shoot

Keanu Reeves John Wick Taran Butler Hollywood movie 3-Gun Video

Keanu Reeves, the A-List Hollywood actor who starred in The Matrix, Speed, Point Break, and other hit movies, is a talented shooter. For his role in the popular John Wick series of movies, Reeves has done extensive training with our friend Taran Butler, one of the nation’s top 3-Gun competitors. Check out this video showing Keanu Reeves running through some multi-gun stages. The actor’s speed on target is outstanding, and his transitions are very fast. We’ve run some multi-gun matches in the past. Trust us, it takes a lot of training and dedication to get this fast. You also need good equipment.

Watch Keanu Reeves Display Impressive Multi-Gun Speed in this Video:

Keanu Reeves John Wick Taran Butler Hollywood movie 3-Gun Video

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