The best smallbore rifle competitors in the country will converge on central Ohio this summer when the 2026 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championship returns to the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, for the second consecutive year. Competition runs July 19 through July 28, with three national champions crowned across Conventional Three-Position, Conventional Prone and F-Class Smallbore disciplines.
It’s the kind of event where a single X-ring can separate a national champion from the rest of the field—and where reputations are built over 10 grueling days of precision shooting at 50 yards, 50 meters and 100 yards.
The 2025 champions set high bars heading into this year’s competition. Mike O’Connor claimed both the Three-Position Championship and the coveted NRA Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy title, while Deena Wigger McDorman took home the Conventional Prone Championship (setting four NRA national records in the process) and Sam Pagliari earned the F-Class crown.
The 10-day program is divided into two main blocks. The Three-Position Championship opens the action, followed by the Conventional Prone and F-Class Championships, which are shot concurrently.
Three-Position Championship (July 19-22)
Packet pickup and non-squadded practice take place on July 19. Day 1 of competition (July 20) features the Metallic Sights Championship. July 21 is Team Day, with the Conventional Three-Position Team Match and the Whistler Boy on the schedule, followed by a competitors’ meeting and BBQ. The Any Sights Championship fires on July 22, with the dinner and awards ceremony that evening at 6:00 p.m.
Conventional Prone and F-Class Championship (July 23-28)
Registration, practice and the Drew Cup will open the NRA Prone Championship on July 23. The Drew will be shot during Prone and F-Class practice. Metallic Sights Day 1 for both Conventional Prone and F-Class fires on July 24, with a competitors’ meeting and BBQ to follow. Metallic Sights Day 2 is July 25. Team Day on July 26 includes the Dewar Team Match, Randle Team Match, Conventional Prone Team Match, F-Class Team Match and a Sporting Clays Fun Match. Any Sights Day 1 fires July 27, followed by the final day of competition on July 28, which wraps with the dinner and awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m.
Awards ceremonies for all non-monetary prizes are held on July 22 (Three-Position) and July 28 (Conventional Prone and F-Class). Dress code is business casual.
Junior Programs
The NRA and others are making a significant investment in the next generation of competitive shooters at the 2026 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championship.
A free marksmanship clinic for junior shooters will also be offered during the first two days of the Three-Position Championship, July 19-20. The clinic covers three-position fundamentals, a brief history of competitive smallbore shooting within the NRA and the trophies on the line. The highlight will be a hands-on wind-reading session—a critical skill at the Cardinal Center—complete with a practical exercise and coaches available for individual Q&A. By staging the clinic before the matches begin, juniors will carry those wind-reading lessons through the rest of the competition.
The William B. Thomas National Smallbore Championship Junior Scholarship provides a direct financial incentive for junior competitors. Any junior who enters and completes the National Three-Position Championship Grand Aggregate (Match 200) will receive a $500 check. Complete the Conventional Prone Championship Grand Aggregate (Match 100), and that’s an additional $500.
Additionally, the Whistler Boy Trophy is back. This two-person junior team match, fired on July 21, features both Light Rifle and Precision Rifle divisions. The course of fire is 20 shots from each position—prone, standing and kneeling—with metallic sights on the NRA A-50 target. Pick-up teams are allowed but are not eligible for national records.
Smallbore Championship Sponsorship
Major industry partners are stepping up in a big way for 2026.
Walther Arms is once again generously supporting the NRA Smallbore Championships, donating three engraved pistols to be awarded to the Three-Position, Prone and F-Class national champions. Ruger has donated four rifles for the Whistler Boy—two each for Light Rifle and Precision Rifle division winners. Eley has contributed ammunition for the Whistler Boy and other awards.
Additional support comes from Daisy Outdoor Products, the Black Hawk Rifle Club, Greg Tomsen and Patti Clark, Barbara Hampson, Jeff Doerschler, Chet Ruscio, Edie Fleeman, Bobbi Vititto and Claudia and Richard Duksa—plus many anonymous donors who contributed both financially and with countless hours of their time.
Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy, Special Awards and a Nod to Last Place
The NRA Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy Match returns as the ultimate test of smallbore versatility. Competitors must fire both the Conventional Prone Grand Aggregate (Match 100) and the Three-Position Grand Aggregate (Match 200), with the highest combined score taking home a Lones Wigger Rifle Trophy plaque, gold-tone NRA National Championship medallion and $500 prize.
For a lighter touch, there’s also a special award for last place in Three-Position—the lucky losers in iron sights, any sights and the aggregate will each receive cash awards.
Additionally, the Cardinal Shooting Center will be providing two tents in the grassy area behind the smallbore range for competitor comfort.
Entry Information
Online entries open at 10:00 a.m. on April 1, 2026, through Red Feather Outfitters, and online registration is strongly recommended. Walk-up entries will also be accepted per the posted match schedules. Range capacity at the Cardinal Center is 90 for Conventional Prone and F-Class, and 90 for Three-Position.
The first 50 Three-Position juniors to enter and the first 30 Prone juniors to enter will receive slots with a waiting list started. Once adults have had a chance to enter, waiting list juniors will be contacted to fill the slots (June 15).
Entry fees include an awards banquet dinner. Extra banquet tickets for guests are available for $25. Adult entry for the full four-day Conventional Prone Championship is $225 ($150 for juniors), the two-day Three-Position Championship is $150 for adults ($100 for juniors) and the four-day F-Class Smallbore 6400 is $225 ($150 for juniors). The full NRA Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy match entry is $350 for adults and $225 for juniors. Detailed fees for individual sight categories and team entries are listed in the match program.
NRA National Championships are open to all U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens who are members of their respective national shooting federations. NRA membership is not required but is recommended—national records are recognized for current NRA members only.
This year’s NRA National Smallbore Championship staff includes Match Director Joe Miller, Range Engineer Dane Hogle, Chief Statistical Officer Mary Furr, Chief Referee Patti Clark, Chief Scoring Officer Edie Fleeman and Chief Range Officer Clyde Furr.
The Cardinal Shooting Center is located at 616 State Route 61 in Marengo, Ohio. Lodging options include cabins, RV sites and primitive camping at the Cardinal Campground—reservations are accepted by phone at 419-253-0800 and are assigned first come, first served basis. Hotels including the Holiday Inn Express and Microtel Inn & Suites in nearby Sunbury are also available.
For more information, visit competitions.nra.org and redfeatheroutfitters.com.
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