MARENGO, Ohio — The 2026 NRA National Precision Pistol Championship will be held July 4-8 at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. Defending champion Jon Shue, who completed a three-peat last year, is expected to headline a deep field chasing the Harrison Trophy, the most iconic award in bullseye pistol.
Shue captured his third consecutive title at the Cardinal Shooting Center last July, posting a 2649-122X in the Match 100 Grand Aggregate to hold off Travis Jorgenson (2646-122X) and U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit shooter Ryan Franks (2643-128X). The margins were razor-thin—just three points separated first from second and six from third—and the 2026 field promises to be just as tight. Whether Shue can extend his streak to four straight or if a new challenger emerges from the USAMU ranks or the civilian circuit will be the central storyline when competition opens on the Fourth of July.
The Cardinal Shooting Center made its debut as the home of the NRA Precision Pistol Nationals in 2025 and drew strong reviews from competitors and staff alike. The facility offers a covered bullseye range, on-site campground with cabins and RV sites, and enough infrastructure to support a field of 300. Dining options include on-site food service plus Subway, Arby’s and the “OH Prime” restaurant near the entrance. Hotels in nearby Sunbury are roughly 15 minutes away.
The championship revolves around Match 100, the Grand Aggregate that combines each competitor’s scores across the .22 Caliber Championship (Match 101), the Centerfire Championship (Match 102) and the .45 Caliber Championship (Match 103). Each sub-aggregate includes slow fire, National Match Course, timed fire and rapid fire stages. The overall winner receives the Harrison Trophy plaque. Competitors fire in Open and Metallic divisions and choose a regular award category of Civilian, Service or Police.
The week kicks off Saturday, July 4, with registration, paid practice and a campground fireworks display at dusk. Sunday opens with ceremonies at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Harry Reeves Memorial Revolver Match, then the Preliminary 900 and Preliminary Team Match.
Monday is .22 Caliber Championship day, with three relays of .22 followed by team matches and the .22 Rimfire EIC. Tuesday belongs to the Centerfire Championship, plus the NRA Distinguished Revolver Match and the evening Competitors’ Meeting.
Wednesday wraps up the individual program with the .45 Caliber Championship, Service Pistol EIC and the awards ceremony that evening. Thursday is held as a makeup day if needed.
Team competition remains a major draw. The four-person aggregate team match awards the Coming Thru the Rye Trophy, one of the most prestigious prizes in competitive pistol. In 2025, civilian squad Team Zero/Lapua edged USAMU Gold by five points in a back-and-forth battle that came down to the .45 match. Two-person and three-person preliminary team events are also on the schedule, and team entry cards can be purchased online during registration.
Registration is open now. The field is capped at 300 competitors. Entry for the full 2700 Aggregate package is $200 for Open/Metallic or .22 Only Championship competitors and $115 for juniors. Single-day championship entry is $90 for individuals and $50 for juniors. Four-person team cards are $120 and two-person team cards are $80. Side matches including the Harry Reeves, Distinguished Revolver and EIC events are $20 each. All entries must be paid by credit card.
This year’s Match Director is Dane Hogle, with Cardinal Center’s Tyler Milligan working as range engineer and Kenn Boyd serving as chief referee.
Competitor packets can be picked up starting July 4. Lodging reservations at the Cardinal Center Campground can be made by calling 419-253-0800. Golf carts are permitted on the grounds and competitors are encouraged to share rides to minimize traffic near the firing line.
For registration and complete match details, visit redfeatheroutfitters.com. For questions about the championship, contact Tyler Milligan at [email protected] or call 419-253-0190.
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