Competitors’ Corner: April 2022

Highlights from the April 2022 issue of Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competitive shooting journal

by
posted on March 28, 2022
** 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. **
2022 April Compcorner 1

Do you know who your state champion is? You can find out by reading April’s cover feature highlighting the 2021 NRA State Champions (page 20), including the winners of NRA-sanctioned BB Gun, Air Rifle, Precision Pistol, Action Pistol, Smallbore Rifle, High Power Rifle, F-Class, Blackpowder and Silhouette Rifle and Pistol championships held around the country. As the 2022 shooting season gets into high gear, it’s great to look back at the memories created last year and recognize the achievements of our friends on the firing line. In addition, you can always catch local match coverage in Shooting Sports USA’s Score Sheets section (page 18) throughout the year.

In this month’s Product Focus (page 12), author Frank Melloni reviews the Canik SFx Rival 9 mm pistol, an affordable option for action shooters competing in Production and Carry Optics divisions. Priced under $700, the SFX Rival package includes the pistol, plus a custom Kydex holster, two 18-round magazines and five different optics mounting plates.

While jumping from one action shooting division to another can be straightforward, things can become complicated quickly when trying to do so under another organization’s ruleset. Field Editor Chris Christian’s guide on crossing division lines in action shooting (page 26) will help you make the shift to a new semi-automatic pistol or revolver division without having to purchase a new gun.

In the early 20th century, John Browning introduced to the world the .380 ACP—a versatile cartridge that remains in use today, especially in sub-compact pistols for concealed carry. In his article this month, author Brad Miller provides a short history of the .380 ACP cartridge, as well as performance comparisons of different loads in a variety of pistol configurations (page 32).

Additionally, this month Field Editor Chris Christian examines the so-called “obsolete” .38 Short Colt and .38 Long Colt cartridge choices for action revolver shooters. Basically, a shorter .38 Spl. cartridge, Christian says, “They’re identical to the .38 Spl. in all respects except for their case length.” Learn how that case length difference has propelled the popularity of .38 Short Colt and .38 Long Colt with modern revolver competitive shooters (page 38).

John Parker
Editor in Chief, Shooting Sports USA

Are you a subscriber?

Not receiving the monthly digital magazine announcement in your inbox? Become a subscriber. Not only is it completely free, it only takes a minute to sign up, and it guarantees you’ll never miss a single issue of the NRA’s competitive shooting journal. Subscribe here.

Latest

2026 SBR Nrachampionshippreview 3
2026 SBR Nrachampionshippreview 3

2026 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championship Preview

The NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championship returns to Ohio’s Cardinal Shooting Center in 2026 with expanded junior programs, major sponsor support and three national titles at stake.

Cartridge Case Materials Explained: Brass, Steel, Aluminum and Nickel-Plated Brass

A breakdown of four common cartridge case materials—brass, steel, aluminum and nickel-plated brass—covering cost, performance, reloadability and identification.

New: Federal Subsonic Rifle Target Loads

Federal Ammunition’s new Subsonic rifle target loads eliminate the supersonic crack that suppressors cannot silence, shipping now with three cartridges at 1,000 fps from $36.99 to $54.99.

New: Ruger 250th Anniversary Series

Ruger’s 250th Anniversary Series marks the U.S. semiquincentennial with eight limited-production items.

Erich Mietenkorte Sweeps Smallbore, High Power at 2026 Bernd Meier Silhouette Championship

Team Lapua’s Erich Mietenkorte wins both discipline titles at 2026 Bernd Meier Silhouette Invitational Championship in British Columbia in March.

Jessie Harrison’s Dominant Run at the 2026 US Steel Nationals

Taurus Team Captain Jessie Harrison claims Ladies Carry Optics, Ladies Open and Ladies Overall honors at 2026 US Steel Nationals.

Interests



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