The early morning sun cuts through the mist over Lodi, Wisconsin, as the crack of rifles echoes across the rolling fields of the Winnequah Gun Club. It’s June 1, 2025, and for the first time in its history, this quiet Midwestern range is hosting the NRA National High Power Rifle Across-the-Course (OTC) Championships—a weeklong test of endurance and precision that draws some of the best rifle shooters in the country.
This isn’t just another match. It’s the World Series of high power rifle shooting, and Winnequah Gun Club, with its newly installed Shotmarker electronic target system, is stepping onto the national stage with confidence.
The championship kicked off with a warm-up match on Sunday, but the real action began Monday morning. Competitors checked in at dawn, with rifles slung over shoulders and eyes sharp with focus. By 8:15 a.m., the first rounds were flying downrange. Over the next five days, shooters will shoot at 200-, 300- and 600-yard targets, firing from standing, sitting and prone positions in a grueling competition that demands both physical stamina and laser-like consistency.
For the shooters, this is more than a competition—it’s a proving ground. Each shot is a statement. Each relay, a chance to climb the leaderboard or fall behind. And with the competition ending on Saturday, every trigger pull counts. Additionally, the CMP-sanctioned EIC Match will be on Saturday.
Winnequah Gun Club’s dramatic transformation into a national championship venue didn’t happen overnight. The club invested in a full overhaul of its target systems, installing Shotmarker e-targets that allows shooters to track their hits in real time with a smartphone or tablet. A new Wi-Fi network blankets the range, and competitors are required to bring their own personal devices to access scores—no paper scoring here.
The new Shotmarker electronic targets stand out against the green Wisconsin landscape and are a symbol of the club’s commitment to progress. And for the shooters, the e-targets mean no pit duty and more time to socialize.
Each day begins with the raising of the colors and a safety briefing, maintaining NRA standards with high power rifle sporting tradition. At the match, shooters from many backgrounds all share the firing line. Some are chasing national records. Others are here for the love of the sport, the camaraderie and the challenge.
Wednesday brings the team matches, with four-person teams putting their marksmanship skills on display. It’s a highlight of OTC week, as well as a chance for clubs, service members and state associations to compete for bragging rights and awards.
On Friday, the final rounds of the 2025 NRA High Power OTC aggregate will be fired, and the awards ceremony—set to begin 90 minutes after the last ceasefire—will crown this year’s champions. Medals, plaques and NRA honors await, but for many, the real reward is the journey—the hours of practice and the friendships forged on the firing line.
Saturday’s EIC Match will close the curtain on a historic week of high power competition. For Winnequah Gun Club, it’s a milestone. For the competitors, it’s a cherished memory. And for the sport of high power rifle shooting, it’s a reminder that tradition and innovation can share the same range.
You can keep up with the results of the 2025 NRA National High Power Rifle OTC Championships at the Winnequah Gun Club website.
For more about the 2025 NRA National Matches, including the High Power Mid-Range Nationals, Long-Range Nationals, Precision Pistol Championships and Smallbore Rifle Championships, please visit competitions.nra.org.
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