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:
We first ran this story a few years back. We’re republishing it today as a reminder to our readers that safety should be their paramount concern at the range. Avoid distractions and always check your barrel for obstructions before you chamber a round or pull the trigger. A moment of inattention can result in a catastrophic kaboom.
Discharging a .338 Lapua Magnum round with a cleaning rod in the barrel — that’s a recipe for disaster. What happens when a fired .338 caliber bullet and a cleaning rod try to occupy the same place at the same time? Well you get a catastrophic kaboom, with metal pieces flying all over the place, and a shooter very lucky to escape without serious injury. This incident occurred recently in Manatee, Florida, as reported by Sniper’s Hide member Queequeg. We thank SnipersHide.com for granting permission to publish these revealing images in the Daily Bulletin. CLICK HERE for more Kaboom info from the ‘Hide.
This story should serve as a chilling reminder to follow proper safety practices whenever you are at the range. Always check to make sure there is no obstruction in the bore BEFORE loading a live round.
.338 Lapua Magnum + Cleaning Rod + Inattention = Kaboom!
Kaboom at Manatee!
Sniper’s Hide member Queequeg recently published shocking photos of a catastrophic kaboom involving a .338 Lapua Magnum (Savage action). The action was blown off the rifle, shrapnel went through the roof, and the barrel split at the tenon before taking an excursion downrange. The action did crack in the front but the lugs remained engaged so the bolt did not slam to the rear (luckily for the shooter).
Here’s the report: “This happened [January 20, 2014] at the Manatee Gun and Archery Club. Al, Ren and myself were there with a couple other folks. Ren was at bench 12, I was at 13. The fellow at 11 was running a Savage .338 Lapua. He had a very bad day! He damn sure could have killed himself and quite likely Ren as well.”
Queeqeg added: “After the boom, I heard Ren ask ‘Are you alright’ and then turned to look in time to see the fellow reacting in total shock — literally stunned. Ren and I went over to him and could not see any major injuries. Ren was uninjured as well but had a lot of fiberglass splinters on him. The barrel nut is what I presume punched the two holes in the roof. The shooter is a regular there[.] He had been having a problem with sticky cases though he said he was certain the loads were mild. That’s why he was content to knock the sticky ones out with the rod. He simply forgot to remove the rod after knocking out the last stuck case. You can see what happened next.”
To learn more about this incident, go to the original Snipers Hide Forum Thread. There you’ll find more details and four pages of related discussions.
The Important Lesson Here
What did the .338 LM shooter do wrong here? You will say — “Well that’s obvious, he left a cleaning rod in the barrel and then shot a round.” Yes, that was a potentially fatal error. But that was his second mistake — one that occurred only because he made a more fundamental judgment error first.
The FIRST mistake was not acknowledging the problem with his ammo. Had he heeded the warning signs, he would still have a rifle (and an unsoiled pair of trousers). When he first observed that he was having problems with extracting cases, a warning light should have gone off in his head. Presuming his extractor was not broken (and that the chamber was cut properly) he should have been able to extract his brass if he was running safe loads. The lesson here we all need to learn is that if you observe a serious ammo-related issue, it is time to stop shooting. Don’t try to invent work-arounds just to extend your range session, when there are clear signs that something is wrong, very wrong.
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.
Good Guide for PRS/NRL Competitors
Currently, PRS/NRL tactical competition is the fastest growing rifle shooting discipline with both centerfire and rimfire matches around the country. Are you thinking of getting started in the Practical/Tactical shooting game? Looking for ways to be more stable when shooting from unconventional positions? Then you may want to read Marcus Blanchard’s Practical Shooter’s Guide (A How-To Approach for Unconventional Firing Positions and Training).
Unlike almost every “how to shoot” book on the market, Blanchard’s work focuses on the shooting skills and positions you need to succeed in PRS and NRL matches and similar tactical competitions.
Blanchard provides clear advice on shooting from barricades, from roof-tops, from steep angles. Blanchard says you need to train for these types of challenges: “I believe the largest factor in the improvement of the average shooter isn’t necessarily the gear; it’s the way the shooter approaches obstacles and how they properly train for them.”
Blanchard also offers good tips on shooting fundamentals. Here’s an example:
Blanchard on Trigger Control
“There will always be some amount of wobble when shooting in positions other than prone, and timing the shot to go off when the reticle is within the target is difficult to accomplish when poor trigger techniques are employed. The most common [mistake] I have seen is ‘slapping’ the trigger. The finger is usually hovering off the trigger, and when the shooter determines that NOW is the time to fire, they quickly pull their finger to the rear and ‘slap’ the trigger. The finger never pulls the trigger in the same place and often provokes a sympathetic contraction of the rest of the muscles in the hand, which results in unwanted movement before the bullet exits the muzzle.”
Author Marcus Blanchard has the credentials. A Marine Corps veteran, Blanchard is a regular Top 10 finisher in Precision Rifle Series events. In 2015 Blanchard was ranked 8th overall (nationwide) in the PRS series at year’s end. In 2016 Blanchard won the New Mexico Precision Rifleman’s Championship.
Check out the Table of Contents to see the Topics Covered:
Click image above to view larger Table of Contents.
6.5 Guys Recommend Practical Shooter’s Guide
The 6.5 Guys have reviewed Blanchard’s book and they recommend it highly: “What’s a good book for the beginning shooter who wants to get into long range precision rifle or the intermediate shooter who wants to improve his scores? [The Practical Shooter’s Guide] is particularly useful because it explores firing from various positions and props that are encountered in long range precision rifle [events]. This knowledge is completely missing from more traditional books where the shooter is usually slung up and shooting at a paper target. Marcus… goes into considerable detail about shooting from rooftops, reverse rooftops, side slopes, tank traps, barricades etc. This is the type of information that is very difficult to find. We consider ourselves reasonably knowledgeable shooters and this book provided us with new and useful information.” CLICK HERE for 6.5 Guys REVIEW.
6.5 Guys Review Marcus Blanchard’s Practical Shooter’s Guide
Former USMC scout-sniper Frank Galli explains that there is no voodoo when it comes to precision rifle marksmanship, but there ARE techniques that, when practiced, make the difference between good marksmanship and great marksmanship. Understanding the reasons that a bullet hits or doesn’t hit its intended target at ultra-long distances is a crucial element to learning.
Galli’s explanations of how to understand and compensate for wind speed and direction are excellent. In this book, Galli offers great wind-reading advice.
Published in 2020, Galli’s treatise is four years newer than Blanchard’s book, so it includes more of the latest gear and equipment. Galli’s book covers the fundamentals of precision marksmanship with easy-to-understand methodology. The book follow the same instruction process Galli uses in his live marksmanship classes (CLASS REPORT HERE).
This well-illustrated, 272-page book (2020 ed.) covers the latest equipment (scopes, LRFs, chassis systems, magazines, bags, bipods, tripods) favored by tactical competitors in PRS/NRL type matches.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brownells hosts the 4th Annual 2A Day (Second Amendment Day) on February 22, 2025, a nationwide event dedicated to celebrating Second Amendment rights, advocating for their preservation, and strengthening the firearms community. On 2A Day, you can visit a participating range and take advantage of free firearm rental or limited free ammo. There are participating ranges in Scottsdale, Arizona; Johnston, Iowa; Ballwin, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; and Auburn, Virginia. And some other local ranges may offer free firearm rentals or limited free ammo. Or head to the range of your choice and shoot for fun.
With support from sponsors including CCI, Federal, Fiocchi, Henry, Hornady, Leupold, Magpul, Remington, Smith & Wesson, and Volquartsen, 2A Day provides multiple ways for firearm enthusiasts to participate:
CELEBRATE — Brownells is partnering with shooting ranges across the country to offer free range time and limited complimentary ammunition for participants.
ADVOCATE — Brownells encourages gun owners to actively support the Second Amendment by engaging with lawmakers at both the state and federal levels. The Brownells 2A Day webpage provides links to help individuals contact their elected representatives.
JOIN — Gun owners are encouraged to join national and state organizations committed to protecting gun rights, such as the 2nd Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Gun Owners of America (GOA). Brownells will donate 4% of all sales from February 18-23 to 2A advocacy groups.
Second Amendment Day Official Target (Download for FREE)
“February 22nd is a day we, as a nation, can recognize, celebrate and do our part to secure one of the most important rights guaranteed by our Constitution – the right to keep and bear arms,” said Pete Brownell, Chairman of the Board at Brownells. “I hope Americans from all walks of life visit the range on this one day – 2/22 … and safely exercise their Second Amendment right, which is the underpinning of safety and security in America.”
“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.
