The Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, is hosting the NRA National Precision Pistol Championships for the first time, as the 2025 matches officially got underway this week. The event, running July 6-10, brings together bullseye pistol shooters from around the country to test their skills in a grueling multi-day competition that crowns the best all-around marksman in precision pistol.
This year’s championship marks a significant milestone: it’s the first time both the NRA Pistol Nationals and the Smallbore Nationals will be held at the Cardinal Shooting Center—one of the most expansive competition shooting complexes in the country.
Competitors began with the traditional opening ceremony on Sunday, July 6, followed by preliminary events and the Harry Reeves Memorial Revolver Match, a fan-favorite tribute to one of the sport’s legendary figures.
From there, the schedule tightens. Monday featured the .22 Caliber Championship, while Tuesday shifted focus to Centerfire pistols and the prestigious NRA Distinguished Revolver Match. Wednesday marks the final stretch, with the .45 Caliber Championship and the Service Pistol EIC match, culminating in an awards ceremony scheduled for 6:00 p.m. that evening.
At the center of it all is Match 100—the NRA National Precision Pistol Championship, which aggregates scores from each competitor’s .22 Caliber, Centerfire and .45 Caliber performances. The top shooter will earn the coveted Harrison Trophy plaque, the sport’s most iconic hardware.
All eyes are on Jon Shue, the reigning champion, who returns to defend his title after claiming back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024. A dominant force in recent years, he is one of the most respected names in precision pistol. But in a sport where the smallest misstep can decide a championship, nothing is guaranteed—especially against a talented field of bullseye pistol competitors.
Team competition is also a major part of the event, with two-, three- and four-person matches filling the firing lines. Teams from around the country are vying for bragging rights and national recognition in their respective divisions.
Daily firing begins at 8:00 a.m. EDT, with competitors squaring off on NRA B-6 and NRA B-8 targets using pistols permitted under NRA rules. In addition, Tony Silva, the event’s Statistical Director, oversees score collection and verification to ensure accurate results throughout the competition.
As the championship progresses, the mood at the Cardinal Shooting Center is focused but electric—a gathering of tradition and marksmanship. With tight margins and high stakes, the 2025 NRA National Precision Pistol Championships are already delivering on their promise to showcase the best in the sport.
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