There were 14 members of the United States National Rifle Team (USNRT) that traveled to the United Kingdom in July for the 156th Target Rifle Imperial Meeting at the National Shooting Centre—Bisley, outside of London, England. The Imperial Meeting is the British equivalent of the U.S. National Matches and was inaugurated in 1860 by Queen Victoria. She fired the first shot and gave a prize of 250 pounds to the winner that year. The latter tradition continues to this day with the winner of the final match, the King’s (or Queen’s) Prize, receiving the honor.
The following account from this year’s Imperial Meeting was submitted by U.S. National Rifle Team Bisley 2025 Tour Adjutant, Mike Carlo.
U.S. National Rifle Team at 156th Imperial Meeting
By Michael Carlo
If you have never been to Bisley as a fullbore shooter, you are making a huge mistake. I should have gone 10 or more years ago; I’d be a better shooter for it. Not only is it a fantastic place to shoot, but it is challenging. You will walk away a better wind reader and more tuned into the international aspect of the sport. Three-to-the mound-shooting is where wind readers win and spotter chasers fail. The targets are generous enough that the ammunition issued was good. In fact, I’d say better than good by the scores shot. You wouldn’t see so many clean strings if it was not good. Which is another point, while it’s expensive to shoot at Bisley, the fact that you don’t to have to bring your own ammunition is a huge bonus for overseas shooters.
Additionally, it rains in Bisley, so you’re going to get wet. Those who learn to shoot in it and not let it affect them have the advantage and win. While those that are fussy, like me, will often struggle. Dealing with a steamed-up front lens is a real thing that the U.S. National Rifle Team needs to figure out. I’ve noticed the Brits have the foresight well behind the muzzle, unlike some of us Americans.
While competing in Bisley, I had the privilege of shooting with people from England, Canada, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Channel Islands, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. They all said, “We are glad the Americans came to shoot here,” but I assumed they were being nice. However, as days went on, I heard this so many times, I began to engage in conversation about it, and they were very happy to have us. They want us to come shoot over there and they want good competition. These are fiercely competitive people who want to beat you on your best day, not your worst. They will help you learn the range, and even offered a “range walk” where the winds and flags were discussed.
We were invited to stay at the Canadian Pavilion, which is the Canadian Rifle Team’s clubhouse. They are renovating the building and have plans for additional rooms in hopes of creating a sort of “International House of Prone Shooters.” We had fantastic hospitality from the crew that runs the place, and they want us to come back. Team Canada embraced us and shared their building with us. I doubt we could have been as successful without a comfortable place to stay and knowing that a meal was going to be there for us. Coffee, tea and bottled water was available whenever we wanted it. Thank you to Team Canada and the Canadian Pavilion crew.
Being a new adjutant who has never shot overseas proved to be a challenge in some ways, as I simply did not know what I did not know. I had to take some time away from shooting to do some admin work and sleuth out some information that was not obvious (at least to me). Match bulletins in America are straightforward, with everything you need to know usually on one or two pages. However, in England they publish a book called the “Bisley Bible,” plus a program and other information. You must have all of it to get the answers to questions. Fortunately, the staff at the NRA UK were friendly and helpful to me.
On the last day of the King’s Final, when Brandon Green fired his last shoot, we cheered and then I realized we were going to have to “chair” him around the camp—I had no idea what I was in store for and no idea the extent of the privilege.
Fresh from the shoot, we walked him down a cheering crowd of hundreds to the NRA UK office, where we had to bring him into the building in an antique 100-year-old chair. That chair was swapped out for a sturdier one. Next, champagne was poured for all the team. We drank, and Brandon was taken upstairs to receive his prize and sign the winner’s book. On his page, it starts at 1972 and ends in the 2030s. Of the many impressive names on that page, his is now included.
As I was told what was expected of me as the U.S. team adjutant, I became as stressed as if I was shooing Brandon’s last shot at 1,000 yards myself. I was told that traditionally shooters have already selected someone to manage the whole “chairing” affair. I wanted our team to honor the traditions they have at Bisley and do it well. Each U.S. National Rifle Team member came through and brought pride and honor to our country. All over America right now are men with sore shoulders from carrying the weight of that chair and Brandon.
Wearing our Class As on a hot afternoon, we sweated as we carried Brandon and drank from cups of silver to toast him. It was a day we will all remember the rest of our lives. We were expected to keep a tight schedule and had 20 houses to visit with the last being the Canadian Pavilion, where the Napoleonic Cannon was fired at approximately 10:00 p.m. The King’s Prize winner fired the cannon along with four others. What struck me the most was that this ceremony and celebration was not just for Brandon as the King’s Prize winner, but we were often toasted as a team of Americans.
The final tradition I was educated about is the playing of cricket at dawn on Stickledown Range. I was told that if no Americans were present with Brandon for cricket at dawn it would be a poor showing for our team. So, I and another team member stayed with Brandon until the sun came up and we played cricket for a short time. As per tradition, Brandon picked up his number board that he had shot from at the 1,000-yard line to take it home, and I called it a night.
As I walked through the deserted streets of Camp Bisley by myself listening to the morning birds and admiring the peacefulness of the place in the morning sun, I realize that I had not only been to a historic place but witnessed a historic event. I’m incredibly proud to have been part of that group of men that went over to Bisley Camp and walked away with our heads held high.
Even if Brandon had not won the King’s Prize, it would have been a trip well done. Having taken second in probably the most important team match was another moment of pride for me personally. But most importantly for me as the adjutant, I learned quite a bit. I was able to see our teammates succeed, learn and walk away from shooting at Bisley better teammates, and members of our international fullbore shooting community. Seeing John Wilson win a 10-way tie shoot-off for the Times Match was another highlight we all enjoyed.
Go to Bisley, shoot and be part of the best place on the planet for fullbore. All this reminds me that we need more opportunities for shooting real in America, specifically shoot in threes (three-to-a-mound), and not with string fire at 900 and 1,000 yards. It will make our team stronger and more competitive in 2028.
Finally, a big thank you to The NRA Foundation for its support of the U.S. National Rifle Team, which helped make this international tour possible, along with our 2028 World Long-Range Championship cycle sponsors: Berger Bullets, VihtaVuori Powders and Lapua Ammunition. Additionally, we would like to thank the companies who have been longtime supporters of our sport: Kelbly’s, Custom Competition Machines, Mudcat’s Precision Machine, Manson Precision Reamers, Sierra Bullets, Starline Brass, Brux Barrels, Bartlein Barrels, Krieger Barrels, Creedmoor Sports, Kowa Optics, Nightforce Optics and Swarvoski Optik (scopes, spotters, binoculars and rangefinders), and DB Machine (ladder front sights).
Learn more about the U.S. National Rifle Team at usnrt.com.
Most Popular
