Keith Sanderson Wins 2019 NRA National Pistol Championship

by
posted on July 14, 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. **
2019-nrapistol-awards1.jpg

Above: Keith Sanderson (center), Jonathan Shue (left) and SFC Adam Sokolowski on stage at the awards ceremony.

Rapid Fire Pistol specialist and three-time Olympian Keith Sanderson is the 2019 NRA National Pistol Champion, finishing the match with a score of 2647-111X, only two points ahead of runner-up Jonathan Shue, the back-to-back winner at Camp Perry in 2017 and 2018. Favorable conditions at Camp Perry, including mild winds, allowed for a score to reach 2647 for the first time in many years.

Keith Sanderson and Cole McCulloch | 2019 NRA Pistol Nationals
Sanderson receiving an award for winning the .45 Cal. Championship from NRA Competitive Shooting Division Director Cole McCulloch.


Previously, Sanderson won the NRA National Pistol Championship in 2015, which saw him defeat 12-time champion Brian Zins by 14 points. (Learn more about Keith Sanderson at the Lapua website.)

The match was held July 7-12 at Camp Perry, OH, and had at total of 664 shooters. This year marked the last time that the NRA Pistol Nationals will be conducted at Camp Perry, as they are headed to Camp Atterbury in the state of Indiana next summer.

Keith Sanderson, 2019 NRA National Pistol Champion
Jonathan Shue pointed out a surprise he left for Keith Sanderson on the bottom of the Harrison Trophy.


In second place this year was the aforementioned Shue, who finished with a grand aggregate score of 2645-127X. He was also the runner-up in the .45 Cal. Championship with a score of 881-46X, additionally the runner-up in the Centerfire Championship with 880-35X.

Rounding out the top three at Camp Perry was the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit's SFC Adam Sokolowski, finishing in third place with a score of 2640-139X. Sokolowski also won the NRA Preliminary Pistol Championship with a score of 882-43XZ. Last year, the talented action and precision pistol shooter won the NRA Bianchi Cup, but finished the 2018 Pistol Nationals in second place.

A full match report will be published in a future issue of the digital magazine.


See more: Our 40 Favorite NRA National Pistol Championships Photos From 2019

Latest

Legends Lynngipson NRA ATA 3
Legends Lynngipson NRA ATA 3

Legends: Lynn Gipson 1958–2026

Lynn Gipson, who led the Amateur Trapshooting Association for 14 years and was newly elected to the NRA Board of Directors, died April 18.

Lapua Renews as Official Ammunition Supplier of U.S. Biathlon Ahead of New Olympic Cycle

Lapua has renewed its partnership with U.S. Biathlon as the organization’s official ammunition supplier for the upcoming Olympic cycle.

ATA Grand American Returns to Sparta With a Full Event Lineup

The Amateur Trapshooting Association’s 127th Grand American runs July 29 through August 8 in Sparta, Illinois, with a tribute to the late Lynn Gipson.

Team Winchester and Team White Flyer Stack the Podium at 2026 World English

Team Winchester and Team White Flyer shooters earned multiple podiums at the 2026 World English Sporting Clays Championship.

From Milestones to Movement: Inside USPSA’s 2026 Blueprint

Alan Turner outlines USPSA’s 2026 priorities: club recruitment rewards, mobile app upgrades, junior memberships and championship planning.

Derrick Mein Secures Silver at ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Kazakhstan

Team Federal’s Mein took silver at the ISSF World Cup in Almaty after Turkey’s Tolga Tuncer set a world record to take gold.

Interests



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