Shooting Sports USA has spent decades chronicling the world of competitive shooting, evolving alongside the sport itself. When the NRA’s competitive shooting journal transitioned from print to digital in 2009—and later expanded with the launch of ssusa.org in 2015—it continued a long-standing mission to give competitors the news, knowledge and insights they couldn’t find anywhere else. Now, as part of a restructuring of NRA Media, the December 2025 issue marks the final edition of the digital magazine. Going forward, all the content readers have come to expect each month will live exclusively on the website.
Although the title Shooting Sports USA first appeared in 1988, the publication’s roots stretch back more than a century. It began as an insert in Arms and the Man, the forerunner to American Rifleman. As competitive shooting grew in popularity, the NRA launched NRA Tournament News in 1947, which evolved into American Marksman in 1976 with a broader focus on the competitive shooting community. In 1988, the magazine adopted the name Shooting Sports USA, becoming the nation’s leading journal dedicated to the shooting sports.
I took the reins as managing editor in January 2015 after Chip Lohman became Deputy Executive Director of NRA Publications. It has been an honor—then and now—to lead this iconic journal. While many outlets feature shooting sports in various forms, I’ve long believed that nowhere else offers the same in-depth, discipline-by-discipline coverage—from action pistol and sporting clays to the Olympics and the National Matches.
For this retrospective, I’ve selected some of my favorite covers from the past decade. As we look back, we celebrate the magazine’s evolution, the people who made it possible and its impact on competitive shooters across the country and the world. And as we close this chapter, we look ahead to ssusa.org, where the mission continues and the spirit of Shooting Sports USA carries into its next era.
Mar. 2015 — New Editor Takes the Helm
My first official cover as editor of the magazine featured the one and only Rob Leatham. The first installment of a two-part interview, he shared a treasure trove of action-shooting knowledge nuggets.
Jun. 2015 — AMU Coach Emil Praslick Retires
When longtime AMU coach Emil Praslick announced his retirement, I hopped on a plane to Ft. Benning to interview the legend himself. One thing he said stuck with me: “My job is to maximize the overall team score.”
Oct. 2016 — Ginny Thrasher’s Olympic Gold Medal
Ginny Thrasher stunned the world when she won the first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the tender age of 19. When she came back stateside, I drove to WVU for a fascinating interview with a true rifle shooting phenom.
May 2017 — Tyler Payne: AMU Long-Range Specialist
This is probably my favorite cover photo of all time. Taken while Payne was competing at the inaugural Precision Rifle Series Gas Gun match in Florida, I subsequently made my way to Ft. Benning for a wide-ranging conversation with a talented precision rifle marksman.
Aug. 2018 — Sokolowski Makes Bianchi Cup History
I was witness to history at the 2018 Bianchi Cup, where Adam Sokolowski earned his first overall victory. After previously winning the Production and Metallic titles, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Pistol Team shooter completed a rare Bianchi Cup trifecta.
Nov. 2019 — NRA World Shooting Champion Greg Jordan
After Greg Jordan became the first two-time NRA World Shooting Champion in 2019 at Peacemaker Training Center in West Virginia, I rushed with our photographer to get a great cover shot before the sun went down. While we didn’t quite accomplish that mission, we found a spot under the lights that did the trick.
Mar. 2020 — The Best High Power Rifle Cartridge?
This cover was the result of a conversation between former Editorial Director John Zent, Photography Director Peter Fountain and me. After some back-and-forth, we landed on this winner—and it became our most popular cover that year.
Oct. 2020 — JP GMR-15 Pistol-Caliber Carbine
NRA Media Senior Photographer Forrest MacCormack showcased his skill in this cover photo for one of my favorite guns, the JP Enterprises GMR-15 chambered in 9 mm Luger. The simple red background takes nothing away from this top-tier PCC—simply beautiful.
Aug. 2021 — Indiana First Lady Janet Holcomb at NRA National Matches
When the NRA National Matches were at Camp Atterbury, then–Indiana First Lady Janet Holcomb made it a tradition to fire the first shot to kick off the competition. This cover was one of the best of 2021.
Oct. 2021 — Tokyo Olympics: Gold Rush for Team USA
The first of two covers in this retrospective featuring skeet shooter Vincent Hancock, he’s pictured here with teammate Amber English. Their skeet gold-medal sweep at the Tokyo Olympics captured the country’s imagination.
Nov. 2022 — Rob Vadasz Wins 12th NRA NPSC Title
It’s pretty amazing how good an iPhone can be at capturing a photo—as this cover featuring Rob Vadasz after winning his 12th NRA National Police Shooting Championship title shows. As they say, the best camera is the one you have with you.
Nov. 2023 — Jerry Miculek Sets NRA Revolver World Records
When Smith & Wesson opened its new Tennessee headquarters, I headed there a day early to watch Jerry Miculek set two new NRA world records for revolver shooting. The videos don’t do it justice—the man is incredible.
May 2024 — NRA World Shooting Champion Brian Shanholtz
Virtually unknown, Brian Shanholtz stunned the field at the 2024 NRA World Shooting Championship when he topped the leaderboard to win the $25,000 grand prize. This photo of Shanholtz was taken at the longest awards ceremony in history.
Sept. 2024 — U.S. Olympic Skeet Triumph
Once again, I witnessed shooting sports history, this time at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Vincent Hancock won an unprecedented fourth men’s skeet gold medal after defeating his protégé and teammate, Connor Prince.
Feb. 2025 — Rob Leatham: First NRA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award
Coming full circle, this last cover featured here mirrors the first entry with another iconic image of Rob Leatham. The recipient of the inaugural NRA Golden Bullseye Competitor Award, Leatham provides another wide-ranging interview.
A magazine is only as strong as the people behind it. Every issue of Shooting Sports USA reflects the work of a dedicated team of editors, photographers, designers and contributors who bring competitive shooting to life. Senior Art Director Karen Haefs and Field Editors Art Merrill and Chris Christian have been invaluable collaborators. I’ve also benefited greatly from the support of Editorial Director Mark Keefe and NRA Media Executive Director Mike Sanford—and above all from Doug Hamlin, whose exceptional leadership as NRA Media’s Executive Director, and now as NRA EVP and CEO, has been central to this publication’s success. I also want to recognize two mentors who have since retired: former Editorial Director John Zent and past Managing Editor Chip Lohman.
From on-the-ground event coverage to gun reviews and in-depth features, their passion and expertise—and that of many others—have made this publication the trusted voice of competitive shooting. As we close this chapter, I express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this journey. Your hard work, creativity and commitment have made Shooting Sports USA a true home for the competition shooting community. Though the magazine’s format is changing, the spirit and teamwork behind it will continue to thrive online and beyond.
For nearly four decades under its current name—and more than a century in spirit—Shooting Sports USA has chronicled the achievements, challenges and triumphs of competitive shooters across the nation and world. While the final issue marks the end of the digital magazine, the legacy continues beyond format. The shooting sports are still growing, the athletes are still inspiring and our work lives on here at the website. Thank you for being part of this journey, for your passion and your unwavering support. The legacy of Shooting Sports USA lives on because of you.
Most Popular
