2018 NRA World Shooting Championship Stages

It’s September, and that means it’s time for the NRA World Shooting Championship. Now in its fifth year, the fan favorite multi-discipline tournament begins tomorrow, September 20, at the Peacemaker National Training Center in Gerrardstown, WV. The match has a unique format in that all guns and ammo are provided to shooters. While the $25,000 first place cash prize and large, merchandise-laden prize table with the usual trimmings are present (thanks to generous sponsorship from companies like Kimber), there’s been a few changes this year, stage-wise.

“The stages this year are going to be a little more fluid as we are trying to add movement and depth,” said Cole McCulloch, director of NRA Competitive Shooting. “It has been fun putting the stages together and we look forward to watching everyone compete through all of them! Stage designs will be posted at each stage on game day! Remember don’t shoot the good guys and have fun!”

The biggest change is certainly the addition of Biathlon. How exactly did this Olympic discipline end up occupying Stage 12?

“This year we opted to add the Biathlon shooting discipline to the NRA World Shooting Championship, as we are constantly seeking to improve the world’s greatest test of shooting,” added McCulloch. “Biathlon is a remarkably difficult discipline that tests a shooters ability to shoot well with an elevated heart rate in generally unsupported positions.”

NRA staff is truly committed to presenting competitors a true test of shooting prowess by adjusting sports involved. Also new this year is the Silhouette Rifle stage, where shooters will tackle chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams at 490 yards.


Here’s a stage-by-stage breakdown of this year’s match, along with scoring info:

Stage 1: NRA America’s Rifle Challenge, sponsored by Interordnance, Inc.

• Rifle: I.O. M215 KeyMod
• Optic: Bushnell Elite Tactical 1-6.5x24 mm
• Ammo: Global Ordnance 5.56
• Course of Fire: Field course
• Target: Paper and frangible
• Scoring Type: Time plus
• Par Time: 180 seconds

Stage 2: 3-Gun, sponsored by Strategic Armory Corps

• Rifle: ArmaLite M-15 Competition
• Optic: Vortex Crossfire Red Dot
• Ammo: Nexus 5.56 mm 77-grain Match
• Pistol: Canik TP9SFx
• Ammo: Federal 9 mm 124-grain FMJ
• Shotgun: Mossberg JM Pro Series
• Ammo: Rio 12-gauge 2-3/4 1-1/8, No. 8
• Course of Fire: Field course
• Targets: Mixed steel and paper
• Scoring Type: Time plus
• Par Time: 180 seconds

Stage 3: NRA Precision Pistol, sponsored by Kimber

• Pistol: TBD
• Ammo: Federal .45 ACP 230-grain FMJ
• Course of Fire: Static Course
• Distance: 25 Yards
• Target: NRA B-16 25-Yard Slow Fire Paper
• Scoring Type: Points
• Point Value: X-Ring = Bonus, 10- to 5-rings true to points, outside 5-ring = 0
• Par Time: 5 minutes

Stage 4: NRA Action Pistol Falling Plate Event, sponsored by SIG Sauer

• Pistol: SIG P320 X-FIVE Full-Size
• Ammo: SIG 9 mm 115-grain FMJ
• Course of Fire: Static course
• Distance: 20, 25 yards
• Target: Six, 8-inch round steel falling plates
• Scoring Type: Points
• Point Value: Each plate, 4 points
• Par Time: Eight and nine seconds, 20 and 25 yards, respectively

Stage 5: USPSA, sponsored by Canik

• Pistol: Canik TP9SFx
• Ammo: Federal 9 mm 124-grain FMJ
• Course of Fire: Field course
• Target: Mixed steel and paper
• Scoring Type: Time plus
• Point Value: A = 5, B = 4, C = 4, D = 3
• Par time: 180 seconds

Stage 6: Cowboy Action Shooting, sponsored by Henry and Ruger

• Rifle: Henry Big Boy Classic
• Revolver: Ruger Vaquero Bisley
• Ammo: Federal 45 Long Colt 225-grain
• Course of Fire: Field course
• Target: Mixed steel
• Scoring Type: Time plus
• Par Time: 180 seconds

Stage 7: Precision Rifle Series, sponsored by Strategic Armory Corps

• Rifle: Surgeon RACS Limited
• Optic: Leupold VX-3i LRP 6.5-20x50 mm
• Ammo: Nexus .308 Win. 168-grain HPBT Match
• Suppressor: AWC
• Course of Fire: Field course
• Target: Mixed steel
• Scoring Type: Time plus
• Par Time: 180 seconds

Stage 8: Designated Marksman Rifle Challenge, sponsored by JP Enterprises

• Rifle: JP LRP-07 Long Range Precision Rifle
• Optic: Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42 mm
• Ammo: Federal 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing
• Course of Fire: Field course
• Target: Mixed steel
• Scoring Type: Time plus
• Par Time: 180 seconds

Stage 9: NRA Silhouette, sponsored by Smith & Wesson

• Rifle: S&W M&P 15 Sport II Optics Ready with M-Lok Handguard
• Optic: Bushnell Forge 3-18x50 mm
• Ammo: Federal .223 Rem.
• Course of Fire: Static course
• Distance: 490 yards
• Target: Mixed steel
• Scoring Type: Time plus
• Par Time: 180 seconds

Stage 10: 6-Stand Sporting Clays, sponsored by Mossberg

• Shotgun: Mossberg International Silver Reserve II Super Sport Over Under
• Ammo: Rio 12-gauge 2-3/4” 1-1/8 No. 8
• Thrower: Crazy Quail Mini
• Clays: White Flyer
• Course of Fire: To be announced at match
• Target: Frangible
• Scoring Type: Points
• Point Value: Each broken clay is worth 4 points
• Par Time: None

Stage 11: Trap Sporting Clays, sponsored by Crazy Quail and Mossberg

• Shotgun: Mossberg International Silver Reserve II
• Ammo: Rio 12-gauge 2-3/4” 1-1/8 No. 8
• Thrower: Crazy Quail Mini
• Clays: White Flyer
• Course of Fire: To be announced at match
• Target: Frangible
• Scoring Type: Points
• Point Value: Each broken clay is worth 4 points
• Par Time: None 

Stage 12: Biathlon, sponsored by Magnum Research

• Rifle: Magnum Research MLR22AT
• Optic: Bushnell CQTS 2.0 Elite Tactical
• Ammo: CCI .22 LR Standard Velocity
• Course of Fire: Field course
• Target: Falling steel
• Scoring Type: Time plus
• Par Time: 180 seconds

Scoring
Since there are 12 vastly different disciplines, all with their own individual scoring systems, occasionally there are modifications to the discipline scoring guidelines, which are reflected in the stage briefs. As in years past, Practiscore is utilized for scoring throughout the match.

There are two types of scoring systems: Time plus stages have a competitor’s individual score calculated from time plus penalties. Match points are the individual score divided by the first place state winner’s score.

Points stages have a competitor’s individual score from the total number of scoring hits per stage. This will vary depending on the stage design, for example clays, target scoring rings, etc. The score will be determined by adding points on the target, plus a bonus for each X.

SSUSA will be providing coverage of the match, check back for updates as the match progresses. Scores will be available at wsc.nra.org