A Competitor’s Story: Barbara Schläpfer

by
posted on August 1, 2019
** 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. **
barb-iwa-1.jpg

Barbara Schläpfer, the NRA All-American shooter formerly with the Murray State Racers rifle team, was named the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Rifle Athlete of the Year, and set a school air rifle record (599) at the 2018 Buckeye Open.

What’s more, last season her average air rifle score set a new single-season record (594.3), and her smallbore average was 587.

As a member of the Murray State rifle team, Schläpfer helped the team qualify for the NCAA championship each of her four years of eligibility. At the 2019 NCAA rifle championship on the campus of West Virginia University this past March, Schläpfer and her fellow Racers brought home a fourth-place finish, with a combined team score of 4677-268X. Murray State last won the championship in 1987.

A native of Gais, Switzerland, Schläpfer’s recently competed at the 2019 IWK competition in Germany. This is one of her first after graduating from Murray State this past May with a degree in engineering physics. Schläpfer competes for her home country of Switzerland.

“The first day, I really struggled with the wind conditions during prone,” says Schläpfer, adding, “Air rifle during the second day was okay, but not really what I can do. The temperature was ridiculous, but the match itself went really well. I am happy with my 418.3 score.”

For smallbore rifle, Schläpfer uses a Bleiker with Lapua Center X ammunition. For air gun, she uses a Feinwerkbau with RWS pellets.


See more: TCU Wins 2019 NCAA Rifle Championship

Latest

1 2026 Georgia State Smallbore Rifle Prone Championship
1 2026 Georgia State Smallbore Rifle Prone Championship

Sollars Rallies, Bailey Holds On at 2026 NRA Georgia State Smallbore Championship

Larry Sollars and Simon Bailey won 2026 NRA Georgia State Smallbore titles in Conventional Prone and F-Class at River Bend Gun Club.

Karen Miles Rules Ladies Field at NSCA Nationals

Karen Miles won five Ladies titles at the 2026 National Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio, including Main Event High Overall.

Beretta Marks 500 Years With One-of-One APX Falco

Beretta and Burris unveil the APX Falco, a one-of-one 500th anniversary pistol with a red dot machined from the slide’s steel.

Alfred State College Wins Team Title at 2026 USA College Clay Target League National Championship

Alfred State and Montcalm’s Tanner Schmaus won national titles on tiebreakers at the 2026 USA College Clay Target League National Championship.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte Opens New PROOF Research Facility

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte opened PROOF Research’s newest Columbia Falls building, toured barrel and rifle production and fired a 22 Creedmoor rifle.

New: Watchtower Defense Vantage Handguns

Watchtower Defense’s new Vantage Series pairs ported slides and barrels with double-stack 1911 frames in full-size and compact versions.



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