There will be major rimfire and centerfire pistol competitions at the 2025 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. Hundreds of shooters will participate in these popular individual and team events, which commence in mid-July.

CLICK HERE for CMP National Pistol Matches INFO PAGE »

The pistol competitions begin on July 13, 2025 with Military & Police and CMP 1911 pistol matches. These continue through the 14th, when the CMP will also conduct a Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) led by USAMU, Military Team, and CMP instructors. Following classroom instruction and practice on the range, SAFS participants will fire an M17 EIC Match.

On July 15 the GSSF Glock Challenge match will be held. On the 16th the .22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate, Team Matches, and Rimfire EIC matches will be held. In the past, these matches have been hugely popular — with 480+ Rimfire competitors from novices to experts.

Following the rimfire pistol matches, there will be centerfire Pistol Aggregate and Team Matches on July 17, followed by .45 Pistol Aggregate and Team matches on July 18. Then, on the 19th, the big President’s 100 Pistol Match, National Trophy Individual Match, and National Trophy Pistol Team Matches will be held. There will be plenty of talent on the firing line. In recent years, over 90% of the top 50 Service Pistol shooters were Distinguished. The Pistol Games conclude on Saturday the 19th, with Pistol Games Awards at the end of the day.

This video shows .45 ACP centerfire pistol competitors at Camp Perry

2025 Nat’l Matches Calendar | 2025 Camp Perry Pistol Schedule

Interested in competing in the Camp Perry Pistol Matches this summer with either a .22 LR Rimfire pistol or centerfire pistol? It’s not too late to register. CLICK HERE for Pistol Match Online Registration.

Pistol Online Registration » | Pistol Registration Print Form »

Talented shooters stand shoulder to shoulder on the firing line…

There should be over 450 competitors in the .22 Rimfire EIC match.

It took decades of competition to acquire all those patches — that’s dedication to the sport.

The 2024 National Pistol Matches take place July 14-21 at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Site in Port Clinton, Ohio. These matches are run by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and Ohio National Guard. If you want to shoot in the National Pistol Matches this year, it’s not too late to register (links below). CLICK HERE for more information about the National Pistol Matches.

The National Pistol events, open to adults and juniors of all experience levels, include several traditional matches like the President’s Pistol (President’s 100), National Trophy Individual, and National Trophy Team events alongside a series of 900 Aggregate matches for .22, .45, and centerfire pistol. The CMP Games competitions, such as the Military & Police and 1911 As-Issued Matches, will also be part of the National Matches schedule (see Calendar below). The last pistol matches run on Sunday the 21st, with Pistol Games Awards at the end of the day.

The GSSF GLOCK National Challenge returns to the schedule in 2024, while the Service Revolver EIC Match has been renamed the Philip Hemphill Memorial Service Revolver EIC Match in honor of Philip Hemphill, a celebrated national champion who passed in 2023. There will be plenty of talent on the firing line. In recent years, over 90% of the top 50 Service Pistol shooters were Distinguished.

CMP will also conduct indoor Air Pistol National Matches at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. Rental air pistols are available for a modest fee.

This video shows .45 ACP centerfire pistol competitors at Camp Perry

2024 Nat’l Matches Calendar | 2024 Camp Perry Pistol Schedule

Interested in competing in the Camp Perry Pistol Matches this summer with either a .22 LR rimfire pistol or centerfire pistol? It’s not too late to register. CLICK HERE for Pistol Match Online Registration.

Pistol Training and Practice Opportunies

In connection with the National Matches, a Pistol Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) will be held July 15, 2024. Participants in SAFS are instructed by some of the top military marksmen and women in the country on firearm safety and competition basics, both within the classroom and on the range. All firearms and ammo are provided for the live-fire portion of the clinic.

The 2024 National Matches will include a Pistol Small Arms Firing School.

For those looking for a little extra time on the range before competing, be sure to sign up for Pistol Practice on July 15 and 16 (cost: $5.00 per practice time). Competitors will receive a Pistol Practice card at check-in, with additional practice time open for purchase (if available).

Learn more about the 2024 National Pistol Matches at thecmp.org/cmp-matches/national-trophy-pistol-games-matches.

About the National Matches:
The annual National Matches have been held at the Camp Perry National Guard Training Site since 1907. The month-long series is comprised of 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 National Matches also include educational clinics for shooters of all experience levels. View National Matches schedule and programs at: Thecmp.org/cmp-national-matches.

There will be major rimfire and centerfire pistol competitions at the 2024 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. Hundreds of shooters will participate in these popular individual and team events, which commence in mid-July.

CLICK HERE for CMP National Pistol Matches INFO PAGE »

The rimfire/centerfire pistol competitions begin on July 15, 2024 with the handgun Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) followed by M9 Pistol Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) pistol matches. The SAFS will be led by USAMU, Military Team, and CMP instructors. Following classroom instruction and practice on the range, SAFS participants will fire an M9 EIC Match with the goal of earning points towards the prestigious Distinguished Badge.

On July 17, the .22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate, Team Matches, and Rimfire EIC matches will be held. In the past, these matches have been hugely popular — with 480+ Rimfire competitors from novices to experts.

Following the rimfire pistol matches, there will be centerfire Pistol Aggregate and Team Matches on July 18, followed by .45 Pistol Aggregate and Team matches on July 19. Then, on Saturday the 20th, the big President’s 100 Pistol Match, National Trophy Individual Match, National Trophy Pistol Team Matches, and GSSF Glock National Challenge will be held. There will be plenty of talent on the firing line. In recent years, over 90% of the top 50 Service Pistol shooters were Distinguished. The last pistol matches run on Sunday the 21st, with Pistol Games Awards at the end of the day.

This video shows .45 ACP centerfire pistol competitors at Camp Perry

2024 Nat’l Matches Calendar | 2024 Camp Perry Pistol Schedule

Interested in competing in the Camp Perry Pistol Matches this summer with either a .22 LR Rimfire pistol or centerfire pistol? It’s not too late to register. CLICK HERE for Pistol Match Online Registration.

Pistol Online Registration » | Pistol Registration Form PDF »

Talented shooters stand shoulder to shoulder on the firing line…

There should be over 450 competitors in the .22 Rimfire EIC match.

It took decades of competition to acquire all those patches — that’s dedication to the sport.

After the Opening Ceremony, the 2022 National Matches at Camp Perry officially commence on July 12th with the handgun Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) followed by M9 Pistol Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) pistol matches. The SAFS will be led by USAMU, Military Team, and CMP instructors. Following classroom instruction and practice on the range, SAFS participants will fire an M9 EIC Match with the goal of earning points towards the prestigious Distinguished Badge.

On July 13th, the .22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate, Team Matches, and Rimfire EIC matches will be held. In the past, these matches have been hugely popular — with 480+ Rimfire competitors from novices to experts.

Following the rimfire pistol matches, there will be centerfire Pistol Aggregate and Team Matches on July 14, followed by .45 Pistol Aggregate and Team matches the July 15. Then, on Saturday the 16th, the big President’s 100 Pistol Match, National Trophy Individual Match, National Trophy Pistol Team Matches, and GSSF Glock National Challenge will be held. There will be plenty of talent on the firing line. In recent years, over 90% of the top 50 Service Pistol shooters were Distinguished. The last pistol matches run on Sunday the 17th, with Pistol Games Awards at the end of the day.

2022 Nat’l Matches Calendar | Camp Perry Pistol Match Photos

Talented shooters stand shoulder to shoulder on the firing line…

The license plate says it all — perfection at Perry is a 10X.

There should be over 450 competitors in the .22 Rimfire EIC match.

It took decades of competition to acquire all those patches — that’s dedication to the sport.

It’s Pistol Time at Camp Perry this weekend. Today Saturday July 17, 2021, Perry’s Pistol ranges will see hundreds of competitors for the President’s 100 Pistol Match, the National Trophy Individual Match, the National Trophy Team Matches, and the Glock Match. Tomorrow, July 18th, the handgun phase of the CMP National Matches concludes with the Oliver Hazard Perry Pop-Up Pistol Match, Military & Police Pistol Match, 1911 As-Issued Pistol Match, and the final Glock Match. After the last match of each day, the CMP Pistol Games Awards will be distributed to the top shooters. SEE 2021 CMP National Matches Calendar.

This video shows .45 ACP centerfire pistol competitors at Camp Perry


Civilians and military shooters competed together at the 2019 NTT Pistol Match.

The 2021 National Matches encompass multiple pistol competitions, including a Centerfire Pistol 900 Aggregate, a .45 Pistol 900 Aggregate, and a CMP Revolver Match. To learn more about CMP events at the 2021 National Matches at Camp Perry, visit the CMP Nat’l Matches Website.

It took decades of competition to acquire all those patches — that’s dedication to the sport.

See Photos from 2019 NRA Pistol Championships

Shooting Sports USA has a slide-show featuring 40 images from the 2019 NRA Pistol Championships at Camp Perry. SSUSA Editor John Parker noted: “A big thank you to Mr. John Rickards for his hard work on the firing line to grab the majority of these great images.”

HOW TO SEE 40 PHOTOS — IMPORTANT: Click the above photo. Then when you get to the SSUSA.org site, put your finger (or mouse arrow) on the first photo. Then SWIPE LEFT to see the next of 40 total images. As you progress, you can then swipe back and forth.

An American Tradition — National Pistol Matches at Camp Perry

The National Matches at Camp Perry are a great American tradition. Over the past 114 years, hundreds of thousands of competitors have attended the matches at Perry on the shores of Lake Erie. Don Weihl, an avid shooter now in his 80s, has great memories from pistol matches at Camp Perry. In a story for the CMP, Don recounts the halcyon days of pistol competition at Camp Perry, when thousands of shooters competed on the pistol firing lines each summer. Don attended over 40 matches at Camp Perry starting in 1963. Here is part of his account:

Best Camp Perry times were in the Sixties
The 1963 through 1967 years were the best…

There were more than 2,000 competitors each year. There were 600 targets — numbered 1 through 600, from left to right — across the ranges and grouped into six ranges, 100 targets wide. The matches ran like a well-oiled machine. There was a print shop on the base. All competitors could get a printed match report for each match, not too long after scores were in.

Most nights in those years, there were movies for the competitors and their families in the base theater. The mess hall in those years served three meals a day to over 3,000 hungry mouths – every day.

Most of our readers are rifle guys, but it’s fun to shoot a pistol match now and then. You don’t need a lot of equipment, and if you shoot IDPA (Int’l Defensive Pistol Assn.) matches, you can really win with a $400 pistol and $20.00 worth of bulk 9mm ammo. That’s a bargain compared to what you’ll spend on a competitive PRS or F-Class rig and custom hand-loads.

This Editor got his start in competitive shooting with local IDPA matches. I shot a Glock 34, and a SIG Sauer P226, and even did one match with a S&W Snubbie. I eventually settled on the SIG, as it fit my hand better than the Glock, was more accurate, and was every bit as reliable. The P226 also pointed better than the Glock for me — something that helps with target acquisition.

If you want to get into the IDPA game, Shooting Sports USA has a good article that explains the basic rules and classifications. IDPA is not your grandad’s bullseye pistol match. There is movement and action. Stages are timed, and competitors engage targets from cover if available. Singled-handed shooting is sometimes required, as is shooting while moving. You can compete with pretty much any handgun suitable for self-defense — but no $4000 Raceguns with fancy optics. The fact that you can be 100% competitive without spending a ton of money is what makes IDPA so popular.

Shooting Sports USA polled IDPA shooters at the 2016 IDPA Nationals to determine their favorite gun brands and models. The #1 choice was the 9mm Glock 34 for the SSP (Standard Service Pistol) and ESP (Enhanced Service Pistol) Classes. Next most popular was the Smith & Wesson M&P Pro.

IDPA Gun Chart from Shooting Sports USA.

Along with SSP and ESP, there are three other main IDPA classes: Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) for .45 ACPs (mostly 1911 types), Concealed Carry Pistol (CCP), and Revolver (REV). All classes have a minimum power factor. Scores are based on time and shot placement on the IDPA target.

IDPA Scoring System
The official IDPA Target (right) has multiple scoring zones. If you don’t hit the target’s center mass zone or head zone (both appear green in illustration), you drop one or three points. Here’s the formula: Score (in seconds) = Time + Points Down + Penalties. In IDPA, “points down” (and penalties) are added to your time. If you hit the outer edge of the target, you get 3 points down. Nearer center can be 1 point down. Center hit or head shot is 0 points down. See IDPA Scoring for Dummies.

Five Tips for New IDPA Shooters

1. Dry-Fire Practice at Home
You can improve your grip and sight acquisition dramatically with 30 minutes of dry-firing every week. Get some quality snap caps and go to it. One tip — don’t do this in your back-yard if the nosy neighbors can see. We had one friend who was dry-firing in his yard and got an unexpected visit from the local police (with guns drawn). That can turn out badly to say the least…

2. Practice One-Handed Shooting (Both Strong-Hand and Weak-Hand)
Most of the worst misses I saw during IDPA matches were during stages requiring one-handed shooting. A lot of pistol shooters have spent all their time shooting two-handed. That’s the best technique, but in an IDPA match, you may be required to shoot one-handed. If you’re a righty, shooting with the left hand only will feel really weird, and your accuracy will be poor unless you practice. We suggest starting your one-handed training with a rimfire pistol, then transition to your centerfire pistol.

3. For 9mm, Don’t Bother to Hand-load Your Ammo
This may seem like sacrilege, but if you’re only shooting one match a month, it’s probably not worth the time and money to reload 9x19mm. I did reload my 9mm ammo on a progressive for a couple years. After looking at money and time, I just started buying commercial 9mm reloads which worked fine. I was only saving a few cents per round by reloading, and that wasn’t worth the time invested.

4. Get a Good Holster That Fits Right
In IDPA matches you normally draw from holster during the match. I saw a lot of people struggle because they had Kydex holsters that would not release easily, or leather holsters that fit too tight or rocked during draw. Try a few different brands at the local store.

5. Be Smooth, Be Calm, and AIM Your Shots
Many folks come into IDPA thinking it’s all about speed. But there are score zones on the official IDPA target, so you need to focus and AIM. Don’t just “run and gun”. If you stay calm, align your sights in the center of the target for EVERY shot, you will end up with a higher score with fewer “points down”. Speed will come with time. It is better to make sure each one of your shots is a hit.

IDPA Classifications and Power Factor Requirements

Note — these are brief summaries. For full Class requirements, read the IDPA Rules.

Stock Service Pistol (SSP) Division
Round must be at least 9mm with 125 Power Factor. Very few gun mods are allowed. Double action pistols, such as the Sig P226/228, must start with hammer down. SSP must fit in full IDPA gun test box (which measures 8.75” x 6” x 1.625″).

Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP) Division
Round must be at least 9mm with 125 Power Factor. This was created for single-action pistols such as the Browning HP, but ESP also allows DA/SA pistols, such at the CZ 75, to start “cocked and locked”. ESP must fit in full IDPA gun test box.

Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP)
Round must be .45 ACP only, with minimum 165 Power Factor. You will see mostly 1911-type single-action pistols in this class. Single action-only firearms start cocked and locked. CDP must fit in full IDPA gun test box.

Concealed Carry Pistol (CCP)
IDPA created this division in 2014. It requires a minimum 9mm cartridge with a 125 Power Factor. Guns are sized smaller than other classes: barrel length must be 4.375″ or less. CCP must fit in compact IDPA Test box which measures 7.75″ x 5.375″ x 1.375″.

Revolver Division (REV) — Stock and Enhanced
In 2016 the IDPA created a Revolver Division (REV) with two sub-categories: Stock Revolver and Enhanced Revolver. Stock Revolvers use speedloaders while Enhanced Revolver can employ moon-clips for faster loading. (NOTE: There is also a BUG REV class for small revolvers).

After a rip-roaring Opening Ceremony, the 2016 National Matches at Camp Perry commenced with the handgun Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) on July 11th, followed by Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) pistol matches on July 12th. The SAFS was led by USAMU, Military Team, and CMP instructors. Following classroom instruction and practice on the range, SAFS participants fired a true M9 EIC Match with the goal of earning points towards the prestigious Distinguished Badge.

On July 12th, the CMP .22 Rimfire and Service Pistol EIC matches were held. These matches were hugely popular — with 480 Rimfire competitors and 400 Service Pistol shooters. This year, there was plenty of talent on the firing line. Of the top 50 Service Pistol shooters, 46 were Distinguished, including the top 18 competitors.

See All National Trophy Pistol Matches Results | View Camp Perry EIC Match Photos

The USAMU’s SSG Greg Markowski won the Service Pistol EIC Match with a score of 293-11X. Fellow USAMU team members SFC Lawrence Cleveland (286-5X) and SFC James Henderson (284-9X) finished second and third respectively.

In the .22 Rimfire EIC Pistol Match a USAMU shooter again took top honors. SFC Michael Gasser shot 293-5X to become the overall winner. Close behind, with identical 292-11X scores, were Jonathan Shue and SGT Ryan Franks. It’s notable that both Shue and Franks had many more Xs than SFC Gasser, the overall winner.

Talented shooters stood shoulder to shoulder on the firing line…

The license plate says it all — perfection at Perry is a 10X.

There were 480 registered competitors in .22 Rimfire EIC match.

USAMU Shooters won both EIC pistol matches (.22 Rimfire and Service Pistol).

Many U.S. Military Service Personnel attended the EIC Matches

It took decades of competition to acquire all those patches — that’s dedication to the sport.

This week, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit is pleased to host pistol teams from the various U.S. Armed Services in the 56th Annual Interservice Pistol Championship. Our Handloading Shop members have enjoyed discussing pistol accuracy and enjoying the camaraderie of competitive shooters from all over. In that spirit, this week’s topic will focus on handloading for best pistol accuracy, rather than our usual rifle-oriented information.

Optimize the Taper Crimp
One often-overlooked aspect of handloading highly-accurate pistol ammunition is the amount of crimp and its effect on accuracy. Different amounts of taper crimp are used with various handloads to obtain best accuracy. The amount is based on bullet weight, powder burn rate and charge, plus other factors. It is not unusual for our Shop to vary a load’s crimp in degrees of 0.001″ and re-test for finest accuracy.

Use Consistent Brass
Brass is also important to pistol accuracy. While accurate ammunition can be loaded using brass of mixed parentage, that is not conducive to finest results, particularly at 50 yards. It is important for the serious competitor/handloader to use brass of the same headstamp and ideally one lot number, to maximize uniformity. Given the volumes of ammunition consumed by active pistol competitors, using inexpensive, mixed surplus brass for practice, particularly at the “short line” (25 yards), is understandable. However, for the “long line” (50 yards), purchasing and segregating a lot of high-quality brass to be used strictly for slow-fire is a wise idea.

Importance of Uniform COAL
Uniformity of the Case Overall Length (COAL) as it comes from the factory is also important to achieving utmost accuracy. More uniform case lengths (best measured after sizing) contribute to greater consistency of crimp, neck tension, ignition/burn of powder charge, and so on. Cartridge case-length consistency varies from lot to lot, as well as by maker. Some manufacturers are more consistent in this dimension than others. [Editor’s note: It is easy to trim pistol brass to uniform length. Doing this will make your taper crimps much more consistent.]

Primers and Powders — Comparison Test for Accuracy
Pay attention to primer brands, powder types and charges. Evaluating accuracy with a Ransom or other machine rest at 50 yards can quickly reveal the effect of changes made to handload recipes.

Bullet Selection — FMJ vs. JHP
Bullets are another vital issue. First, there is the question of FMJ vs. JHP. A friend of this writer spent decades making and accuracy-testing rifle and pistol bullets during QC for a major bullet manufacturer. In his experience, making highly-accurate FMJ bullets is much more difficult than making highly-accurate JHPs, in large part due to the way the jackets are formed. Small die changes could affect accuracy of FMJ lots dramatically.

The CMP now allows “safe, jacketed ammunition” in Excellence-in-Competition (EIC) Service Pistol matches, although wadcutter ammunition is prohibited. Thus, the option to use very accurate JHP designs simplifies the life of CMP Service Pistol shooters in pursuit of the prestigious Distinguished Pistol Shot badge.

Hopefully, these tips will be helpful to any pistol shooters interested in accurate handloads, not just “Bullseye” shooters. Small tweaks to one’s normal routine can pay big dividends in improved accuracy and make practice and competition more rewarding.

Stay safe, and good shooting!

“He won by 16 Xs,” said Match Director Tom Hughes. “I can’t remember one ever being this close.”

2014 has been a great year for Patrick Franks. “This year was my first 1st-place win at Interservice (the 55th Interservice Pistol Championships at Fort Benning),” said Franks. “A lot of our team matches at Interservice and at Canton were milestone performances and looking back at those I just kept going with it while I’m here.”

“I thought I was shooting pretty well,” Franks continued. “Good for my average, good for being up here. Just tried concentrating on the team matches and ended up coming out better than I expected. Just enough.”

The USAMU Pistol Team enjoyed a clean sweep of the individual matches, won the .45 caliber team match, and secured the overall Team title. Congratulations to SSG Patrick Franks on winning his first National Pistol Championship, to SFC James Henderson for taking second, and to SGT Greg Markowski for taking third. (Markowski also won the Revolver Match). 13-time NRA Pistol Champion Brian Zins, a few weeks out of hip surgery, finished 10th.

Here are photos from the CMP Photo Gallery for the 2014 National Trophy Pistol Matches at Camp Perry.

For years Tiger Woods dominated the sport of golf. But even in his heyday, Tiger never had a run like IDPA ace Robert Vogel, who has an IDPA unbeaten streak dating back to 2007. For the sixth straight year, Bob Vogel (the IDPA’s only three-division Distinguished Master), has claimed the title of IDPA “Top Gun” winning the Stock Service Pistol (SSP) division title at the 2012 IDPA National Championships.

Vogel not only outgunned the entire field of 340+ shooters by 30 or more seconds this past weekend, but he also claimed the Most Accurate title to go along with his SSP win.

Vogel finished the match with six stage wins and a time of 206.62 seconds with just 31 points down over sixteen extremely challenging shooting stages. “The course design at the 2012 IDPA Nationals was technically very difficult and presented a serious challenge for even the most accurate of shooters”, said Joyce Wilson, IDPA Exec. Director.

There were many other impressive performances at the 2012 IDPA. Matthew Mink won the Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP) Division with a 238.93 (48), while Glenn Shelby took the Custom Defensive Pistol Division (CDP) title with a 248.48 (44) score. Team Comp-Tac’s Randi Rogers once again won High Lady, shooting 301.99 (114). Scott Warren earned High Senior honors with a strong 264.96 (79) performance.

Miculek Wins Enhanced Service Revolver Division
Jerry Miculek, the wizard of wheelguns, continued his string of consecutive Enhanced Service Revolver (ESR) titles, winning the 2012 title with a time of 298.14 (75). “There is nobody in the shooting sports like Jerry Miculek. Besides being a once-in-a-lifetime shooting talent, Jerry is above all an ambassador for the sports he competes in and the companies he represents,” said IDPA’s Joyce Wilson. “While most top shooters would leave the range immediately after shooting in the rain, Jerry stayed behind and spent time talking to the match staff and volunteers. That’s why you’ll never find an IDPA club or match where Jerry Miculek isn’t warmly welcomed.”

The 2012 IDPA National Championships took place September 19-22 in Oxford, North Carolina. Complete results from the 2012 IDPA Nationals are found on the IDPA website Match Page. To learn more about IDPA shooting, visit www.IDPA.com, read the DOWN ZERO Blog, or check for updates on the ShootIDPA Facebook Page.