The 39th NRA National Action Pistol Championship (better known as the NRA Bianchi Cup for its world famous silver trophy) began yesterday with the newly-reinstated Multi-Gun Aggregate. Founded in 1979 by former police officer and holster maker John Bianchi, the Bianchi Cup attracts some of the world’s best pistol shooters. Held in Hallsville, MO, at the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club, the tournament is one of action shooting’s heralded Triple Crown, along with the IPSC U.S. Nationals and the Steel Challenge.
The top 40 competitors from the first 1920, Match X, will advance to the Colt Championship Final. For the Final, 16 Open competitors, and four each for Metallic, Production, Ladies, Juniors, Seniors, and Grand Seniors will all fire the same four NRA Bianchi Cup events as a second 1920. The winner of the Colt Championship Final Round will be the 2017 NRA Bianchi Cup Champion. As in previous years, separate trophies will be given to the champions in other classes and categories. Additionally, individual event winners and results of team competitions will be determined from Match X.
This year’s event sponsors include Colt, sponsoring the Colt Championship Round; Kimber, sponsoring the Practical Event; Sig Sauer, sponsoring the Moving Target Event, along with 5.11 Tactical, Action Target, AT Wall, City of Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Custom Metal Products, Dsport, Graf & Sons, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Otis Technology, Sierra Bullets, Taurus, and Zero Bullets.
“The Bianchi Cup could not be the world’s most prestigious pistol match without the support of its sponsors, said Executive Director of NRA General Operations Josh Powell. “We thank each of them for their outstanding support and look forward to another exciting and intense competition this year.”
Editor’s Note: There were a few errors in the Bianchi Cup preview article published earlier this week. 2016 Production Champion Adam Sokolowski of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit will be competing in Metallic this year, not in Production as we erroneously reported. Additionally, 2016 Women’s Champion Tiffany Piper is not competing at Bianchi this year, and previous Women’s Champion Julie Golob is also not competing. In our haste to report the news, sometimes we get it wrong. Please let us know when we do, either by commenting on the article or by emailing [email protected].
