The United States turns 250 this summer, and the NRA is marking the occasion the way it ought to be marked—with Americans behind their rifles, on the clock, coast to coast. The new ARC Across America National Challenge is a nationwide competitive shooting event running from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2026, built on the NRA America’s Rifle Challenge Level 1 format and open to every AR-15 owner in the country with the guts to step up to the line and see what they’ve got.
The concept is simple and the ambition is enormous: 250-plus clubs and ranges hosting ARC matches across all 50 states over the course of one summer, with competitors ranked nationally against each other. Five participating clubs per state gets it done. That number is well within reach, and the NRA is calling on local ranges to step forward and lead the charge. Every club that hosts a match becomes part of something bigger than a single stage—a nationwide celebration of the skills, discipline and traditions that built this country and the freedom that keep it running.
ARC’s Level 1 format sits at the heart of the challenge. Four stages of fire test accuracy, rifle control and safe firearms handling in a structured but welcoming environment. It’s the same course of fire that the recent NRA ARC Match Director Summit at Camp Atterbury trained 37 match directors from 25 states to run, and it’s purpose-built to be a solid entry point in competitive shooting. First-time competitors won’t feel overwhelmed, while experienced riflemen won’t be bored—ARC is built for everyone.
The challenge runs on a re-entry format, which means competitors aren’t locked into a single performance. Shoot a match, study the scorecard, go back to the range and train on what needs work, then come back and do it again. Every run is a chance to improve the national ranking, sharpen skills and take another shot at prizes from ARC partners and sponsors. The format rewards the competitor who puts in the reps, not just the one who shows up once and gets lucky.
For clubs and ranges, hosting an ARC Level 1 match is designed to be straightforward. Two range configurations are available: a full course format for ranges with 100-yard capability and a reduced course format for facilities with 25-yard bays. Both deliver the same structured competitive experience, so a club’s range footprint is never a barrier to participation. Beyond the match itself, hosting ARC drives range activity, introduces firearms owners to organized competition and strengthens local shooting communities—exactly the kind of engagement that keeps clubs thriving.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, Americans picked up their rifles and built a nation. This summer, the National Rifle Association of America is inviting their descendants to pick up theirs and celebrate what they built. Whether competing for a national ranking, personal improvement or the pure satisfaction of ringing steel and punching tight groups under pressure, ARC Across America is the stage. The only question is who’s ready to answer the bell.
To learn more about competing in or hosting NRA America’s Rifle Challenge events, visit arc.nra.org.
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