Metal Madness To Become Rimfire-Only Shooting Sport

by
posted on December 31, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Metal Madness recently announced that starting next year it will be a rimfire-only shooting sport. The new rule goes into effect on January 1, 2019.

This new proclamation makes sense, since 99 percent of Metal Madness participants are shooting rimfire guns, mostly due to the lower costs involved. The move to rimfire only will surely streamline match administration processes, making it easier to conduct matches so the focus can be on shooters having a good time.

There's also the speed factor. Metal Madness is largely a speed game, and as such, the speed of a rimfire gun is ideal for it.

The founder of Metal Madness, Ed White, provides additional details on this change to .22 LR.

Says White: "When Metal Madness started in 2014, we allowed .45 ACP and smaller for classification The larger calibers forced us to make the targets heavier, to prevent damage to the steel. The heavier targets made it nearly impossible to hear the rimfire rounds strike the targets. As Metal Madness progressed, more of our participants were switching to rimfire to offset the ammo cost, also finding that the rimfire firearms were faster than the centerfire ones." 

Keeping the cost of entry to any shooting sport is always going to be a good thing. Since target frames and steel are damaged more by centerfire guns, the elimination of them from the sport should help increase the lifespan of the equipment necessary to conduct Metal Madness matches.

There will still be lanes for centerfire use at Metal Madness events, but no classification or bracket information will be recorded.

For more information on Metal Madness, click here.

Latest

2026 GARC Akron 6
2026 GARC Akron 6

Collegiate Rifle: Akron Closes Season with Record Performance at GARC Championship

Akron set a school smallbore record of 2346 and finished fifth at the 2026 GARC Championship at West Point, just one point behind Army.

Cameron Hicks Takes FITASC and EZGO Shootout Titles at 2026 Seminole Cup

Cameron Hicks wins FITASC HOA over 205 shooters at the 2026 Seminole Cup, matching his father’s FITASC victory from 2003.

Rhode Island Wins Inaugural National Intercollegiate Rifle League Title

Rhode Island wins inaugural Scopos Intercollegiate Rifle League team title while Georgia Military College’s MacKenzie Sookhoo sweeps all eight individual competitions.

USPSA Managing Director Reflects on Record-Setting 2025, Outlines Vision for 2026

USPSA Managing Director Alan Turner recaps a record-breaking 2025—including all-time highs in membership, participation and Nationals attendance—and highlights 2026 initiatives.

New: Real Avid Master Maintenance Collection for Glock

Real Avid bundles 13 Glock-specific tools and cleaning supplies into one comprehensive kit covering sight installation, trigger work, maintenance and cleaning.

Hillsdale College Opens Doors to New Nimrod Complex with Two-Day Public Open House

Hillsdale College to host public open house March 6-7 at its new Nimrod Complex, a new indoor/outdoor range at the Halter Center.



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.