Chris Simmons Wins International Precision Rifle Federation PRS World Championships
Lapua congratulates Team USA’s Chris Simmons on winning the first-ever International Precision Rifle Federation Precision Rimfire World Championships. This highly anticipated match took place August 28 through September 3 at the Piancardato Tiro A Volo range in Collazzone, Italy. Chris was shooting a Vudoo rifle with Lapua X-Act .22 LR rimfire ammunition. Simmons posted an Aggregate score of 165.00 points with a time of 1480.45. The first four finishers were also from the USA. CLICK HERE to see hundreds of photos from the event.

The International Precision Rifle Federation (IPRF) World Championships drew top shooters from 23 nations. The three-day event had competitors tackle a challenging course of fire at different distances, shooting from both supported and unsupported obstacles, with long-range shots, and moving targets, all within tight time constraints.

Simmons, no stranger to the winner’s circle, was part of a two-year selection process to represent the United States at the inaugural IPRF event. Over the past nine months, Simmons took his training to another level, getting up before daylight to hit the range. He also spent many evenings after work shooting 10-12 different positions in a 90-second timeframe, firing hundreds of rounds daily.

Match was conducted in a beautiful hillside location in Collazone, Italy.

After surviving tricky wind conditions and bad wind calls, Simmons found himself in second place prior to going into the last two stages. He then performed great in the final two stages, taking the overall win: “Paul Dallin and I ended up tied and it came down to the fastest aggregate time of all the stages,” commented Simmons. “I won the World Championship by 23 seconds in 2023! Paul is a hell of a shooter and competitors and was tough to beat. Congratulations to him on his second-place finish!”

Top Five Shooters at IPRF Rimfire World Championships:
1. Chris Simmons, USA
2. Paul Dallin, USA
3. Payton Grimes, USA
4. Tyler Orth, USA
5. Radek Novak, Czech Republik

“It was an honor to be able to represent Team USA in the World Precision Rifle Championships in Italy. Thank you to Lapua for supporting both myself and Team USA with quality ammunition,” stated Simmons.

Member of Team USA with a patriotic stars and stripes rimfire rifle.

Competitors came from 23 different countries from around the world.

The USA’s Payton Grimes was top lady shooter and 3rd overall.

The event included unusual stages with across-the-water shots.

Ammo Testing at Lapua Rimfire Performance Centers
The Lapua X-ACT .22 LR ammunition used by Chris Simmons was matched to his VuDoo rifle at a Lapua Rimfire Performance Center in the USA. Unique lots of ammunition are tested at 50 and 100 meters simultaneously, identifying the best performing ammunition for purchase. This service is available to any shooter who wishes to gain a competitive advantage. Schedule your testing at either of Lapua’s Rimfire Performance Centers located in Mesa, Arizona, or Marengo, Ohio.

To learn more about the Lapua Rimfire Performance Centers or to schedule an appointment, visit Rimfiretest.com.

Lapua has hired skilled competitive shooter Ryan Sponauer as the new Rimfire Performance Center Manager for the sophisticated Lapua rimfire ammunition test center in Mesa, Arizona. At that center, rimfire rifle owners can test lots of Lapua rimfire ammo in their own rifles. In the Mesa, Arizona facility as well as other Lapua Rimfire Performance Centers, visitors can test lots of ammunition at both 50 and 100 meters simultaneously to determine which lots shoot best in their guns.

Sponauer brings a long and accomplished competitive shooting background to Mesa’s Lapua Rimfire Performance center. He started with three-position and prone at the age of 14 at The Blue Trail range in Wallingford, CT, where he won numerous state and regional matches. Sponauer, who graduated from the University of North Georgia, shot for their NCAA 3-P and Air Rifle teams, served as multi-year team captain, and managed lot testing ammunition for the team. Sponauer and his team went on to win the 2021 Southern Conference Championship.

Sponauer commented: “I am very excited to give back to the shooting community with this position because the sport has given me so much. The lot testing we offer gives any shooter a significant competitive edge allowing them to compete to their maximum potential.”

Patterned after the world-renowned Lapua Test Center in Germany, both the Marengo, Ohio, and Mesa, Arizona Lapua Rimfire Performance Centers allow shooters to test multiple lots of ammunition under tightly-controlled conditions. Each of the Lapua Rimfire Performance Centers offer the ability to test ammunition at both 50 and 100 meters, simultaneously. By comparing the results of various ammunition lots at both distances, the best performing lots can offer a competitive advantage. To learn more about the Lapua Rimfire Performance Centers or to schedule an appointment, visit Rimfiretest.com.

About Lapua
For 100 years, Lapua has been producing the highest quality small caliber cartridges and components for civilian and professional use. Lapua is a part of the Capstone Precision Group, exclusive U.S. distributor for Berger, Lapua, Vihtavuori and SK-Rimfire products. For more information, visit Lapua.com