Jon Shue continued his dominance in bullseye competition this summer after capturing his third consecutive NRA National Precision Pistol Championship title with a stellar performance. Held for the first time at the scenic Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, the championship ran from July 6-10 and brought together more than 140 top precision pistol shooters from around the country. Shue emerged victorious in the Match 100 Grand Aggregate—the core of the competition—with a final score of 2649-122X, securing not only the coveted Harrison Trophy, but also the High Civilian award.
The 2025 NRA Precision Pistol Nationals marked a new chapter for the competition as it transitioned to the Cardinal Shooting Center, a venue known for its quality ranges, large campground and wooded surroundings. Against this serene backdrop, Shue stood at the top of the podium after the awards ceremony, flanked by runner-up Travis Jorgenson (2646-122X) and third-place finisher Ryan Franks of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (2643-128X), who also took home the High Service honor. The close scores underscored the intensity of competition in a championship that rewards bullseye pistol marksmanship prowess.
At the heart of the competition is Match 100, the NRA National Precision Pistol Championship Grand Aggregate. This match combines each competitor’s scores across the .22 Caliber, Centerfire and .45 Caliber championships to determine the overall winner. The top shooter earns the prestigious Harrison Trophy plaque—widely regarded as the most iconic award in the bullseye pistol discipline.
SHUE SECURES THREE-PEAT
For Jon Shue, a third consecutive NRA National Precision Pistol Championship title didn’t come easy—nor without drama.
As he stood clutching the Harrison Trophy at the Cardinal Shooting Center post-awards, the North Carolina native could finally exhale after what he called a far tougher field than the year prior at Camp Atterbury.
“It feels pretty amazing,” Shue said after his win. “This year, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit came back out strong and really gave it to me. I just happened to come out on top—barely.”
His margin of victory may have been slim, but Shue’s path to the top was anything but ordinary. On the morning of the .22 Caliber Championship, Shue suffered a severe allergic reaction—likely from a spider bite—that caused his hand to swell so badly, he could barely grip his pistol.
“I woke up swollen and scrambling for Benadryl,” he recalled. “Didn’t want to have to use the EpiPen because that would’ve sent me to the hospital—and that would’ve been it. So, I pushed through, even if I didn’t shoot my best in .22.”
Despite the setback, Shue rallied during the Centerfire and .45 Caliber championships, ultimately edging out his competition to secure the Match 100 Grand Aggregate victory with a score of 2649-122X. His Centerfire Championship score of 888-47X placed him at the top of that leaderboard as well.
Shue’s success is rooted in a blend of unwavering focus and trusted equipment. He’s continued to compete with the same set of pistols, backed by longtime sponsor Cabot Guns, who’ve supported him since 2016. “Cabot’s been a wonderful sponsor,” he said. “They’ve helped me tremendously over the years.” On the .22 caliber side, Shue also credited Pardini USA, highlighting the ongoing support of Vladimir and Alex.
From fending off fierce competition to fighting through a near-disabling allergic reaction, Jon Shue’s latest title run was anything but typical. But in classic Shue fashion, he let determination carry him through. “Anytime you can three-peat in anything, it’s special,” he said. “Doesn’t matter what it is. You’ve got to want it. And I still do.”
NRA PRECISION PISTOL NATIONALS
In the Grand Aggregate special category awards, Daniel F. Kupar took the High Senior honor with a score of 2603-104X, while Lisa Emmert-Traciak earned High Woman with 2612-123X. Leading the Police shooters was Sgt. Shane Murphy, who topped that leaderboard with 2614-113X.
Grayson Palmer topped the .22 Caliber Championship leaderboard with 886-46X, followed by Ryan Franks in second place with 883-43X. Claiming third place was Jon Shue with 883-39X.
Shue also came out on top in the Centerfire Championship with 888-47X, four points ahead of runner-up Travis Jorgenson, who posted a score of 884-46X. Additionally, Ryan Franks finished in third place with 878-46X.
The final day of this year’s NRA Precision Pistol Nationals featured the .45 Caliber Championship. Topping the .45 aggregate leaderboard was longtime bullseye shooter John Zurek, who posted a score of 886-42X. In second place was AMU shooter Greg Marksowski with 883-47X. Rounding out the .45 Caliber Championship podium in third place was Travis Jorgenson with 883-43X.
As in past years, the NRA conducted its Distinguished Revolver Match. Greg Markowski came out on top with 283-9X, with second place going to Jared Sonti with a score of 280-6X. Markowski’s AMU teammate Jason Gregoire finished third with 276-6X.
Team competitions are also popular at the NRA Pistol Nationals, with events featuring two-, three- and four-person squads vying for top honors.
The Coming Through The Rye Trophy is one of the most prestigious prizes in competitive pistol shooting, awarded to the national team champions at the NRA Precision Pistol Nationals. This year, the race for the title was a back-and-forth battle between two powerhouses: Army’s “USAMU Gold” and civilian challengers “Team Zero/Lapua.”
USAMU Gold came out strong, edging ahead in the .22 team match by six points. But “Team Zero/Lapua” responded in the centerfire match, flipping the script with a nine-point lead of their own. Holding a slim three-point edge heading into the final .45 match and the decisive 3600-point aggregate, Team Zero/Lapua delivered under pressure—posting a two-point win in the .45 match to clinch the national title.
Their final score: 3459-124X. USAMU Gold finished five points back at 3454-125X.
Representing “Team Zero/Lapua” were Rob Mango, Dave Lange, Jason Hedrick, Keith Sanderson, Travis Jorgenson and John Zurek—a lineup that proved its mettle when it mattered most.
On the Team Service side, the AMU team named “USAMU Gold” was the one to beat with a score of 3454-125X. Team members were Greg Markowski, Jason Gregoire, Mate Standard, Ryan Franks and Anthony Heinauer. “All Guard Red” secured second place with team members Eric Lawrence, Mack Williams, Lisa Emmert-Traciak and Travis Wahlmeier posting a score of 3424-117X.
In the State Association Four-Person Team Match, “ISRPA” topped the leaderboard with 3390-105X. Team members were Steve Pardieck, Tom Reardon, Matthew Leung and Franklin Dessuit. The State Association runner-up team was “FSSA Gold,” with team members Sue Carter, Christopher Liming, Mark Goodman and John Fiji posting a collective score of 3209-67X.
2025 NRA NATIONAL PRECISION PISTOL CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD
BULLSEYE PISTOL’S NEW HOME
For the first time in its storied history, the NRA Precision Pistol Nationals were held at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, followed a few weeks later by the Smallbore Rifle Nationals. This marks a major transition for both disciplines, uniting two of the NRA’s most prestigious competitive shooting events at one of the country’s largest and most versatile venues.
“The Cardinal Center is a world-class facility—and the reason we’re here is because these folks know how to build ranges and support competitors. They’ve been all-in from day one,” NRA Competitive Shooting Division Director Cole McCulloch said. “We knew this venue had what NRA competitors needed: space, infrastructure and a culture of supporting the shooting sports.”
The move reflects a broader push within the NRA to modernize its competitions and respond directly to the needs of shooters—a shift driven by new leadership and a renewed commitment to competition shooting sports.
“When Doug Hamlin was elected EVP and CEO, it changed everything,” McCulloch added. “He listens and he’s committed to rebuilding competitive shooting from the ground up. “We used to run this with just two people. Now I’ve got seven on the NRA Competitive Shooting team—and that alone shows we’re serious about getting this right.”
Reflecting on the NRA’s first-ever pistol championship held at the Cardinal Shooting Center, Shue had nothing but praise for the venue—and optimism for the future.
“It was awesome,” he said. “I’ve shot here before, but this was the first time the NRA brought its championship to the Cardinal Center. The range has always been first-class, and the staff and vendors have always gone out of their way to support the shooters—especially new ones.”
Shue pointed to the facility’s size, layout and community engagement as key reasons the venue feels like a natural fit for the championship going forward. “There’s more than enough space, more than enough infrastructure to support not just the NRA Pistol Nationals, but really any major shooting event. This place is world-class. The sky’s the limit here.”
