2018 NRA Extreme Long Range National Championships

The second annual NRA Extreme Long Range (ELR) Match took place at Camp Atterbury, IN, on July 12, 2018 during the National High Power Rifle Championships. This particular ELR match consists of shooting 36-inch square plates from 1500 to 2000 yards, with no practice shots or sighters, demonstrating a shooters’ ability to engage ELR targets from a cold bore. Critical to ELR shooting is knowing ballistics, estimating the wind, and having an extremely accurate rifle―paired with equally precise ammunition.

Some big names attended this year’s event, including David Tubb and Bryan Litz, who placed seventh and 11th respectively. Meanwhile, the top slot was taken by Paul Philips of Applied Ballistics, shooting a .416 Barrett while being spotted by John Droelle and Bill Gravatt. Chase Stroud and Stanley Cutsforth took second and third, both shooting .375 caliber rifles.

Applied Ballistics’ ELR Team Champions: John Droelle (l.), spotter and wind coach; shooter Paul Phillips (r.), shooting a .416 Barrett Applied Ballistics rifle with 550-grain Cutting Edge Bullets, Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 mm scope, McMillan ELR Beast Stock, Bartlein barrel, BAT Action, VihtaVouri Powder, assorted Applied Ballistics gadgetry, Crosstac Mat, Edgewood rear bag, Phoenix Precision Bipod, Gross Bipod Mat, Holland level, and Alex Sitman Bedding

For a complete listing of the final aggregate results from the 2018 NRA ELR National Championship, see the scoresheet below.


Though only the second of these events, the match has experienced a real surge in popularity, well attended by the aforementioned big names, and sponsored by some of the best in the business. Cutting Edge Bullets, Nightforce, McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, Holland’s Shooters Supply, Applied Ballistics, Vihtavouri Powder, and Crosstac, all of whom played a role in Paul’s big win, were also major sponsors of the event. Below is a banner listing all of the match’s sponsors.


Read about last year's event at this link: www.ssusa.org/articles/2017/8/7/new-nra-one-mile-extreme-long-range-rifle-match.

Photos by Tactiholics