NRA World Multi-Discipline Shooting Championship

For more information, https://wsc.nra.org/.

For the past three years, Peacemaker National Training Center in Glengary, West Virginia, has hosted some of the best shooters in the world at the World Shooting Championship amongst the rolling hills of West Virginia. It was first held in 2014 when it was sponsored by Trijicon, but for the past two years it has been organized by the National Rifle Association with sponsorship from the likes of Magpul, Kimber, and Nightforce Optics.

The competition is set to award $250,000 in cash and prizes, so there is ample opportunity to get some cool cash or gear from the event. The event is broken up into three competitions divisions (Open Professional, Stock Professional and Amateur), allowing a range of shooters with a variety of skill sets to compete. The rules were recently changed for the 2016 event to allow professional shooters to use their own firearms and ammunition. If you do not want to, there is a wide range of provided firearms you can try out. There are 12 stages total in the event, giving you a broad breadth of pistol, rifle and shotgun segments to really test your skills.

The Cowboy Action stage is a fun chance to shoot some interesting cowboy-style guns.

Stage types were as follows:

• Stage 1: Cowboy Action
• Stage 2: NRA Precision Pistol
• Stage 3: NRA Action Pistol Falling Plates
• Stage 4: USPSA
• Stage 5: 3 Gun
• Stage 6: 5 Stand
• Stage 7: Wobble Clays
• Stage 8: .22 Rimfire
• Stage 9: 2 Gun
• Stage 10: DMR Challenge
• Stage 11: PRS Long Range Challenge
• Stage 12: NRA America’s Rifle Challenge

Entry prices are as follows:

• Open Professional: $395
• Stock Professional: $395
• Amateur: $325

This was my first time competing in the match and I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by it when I started reading down through all of the stage descriptions. I also recognized that it was an incredible opportunity to shoot some of the finest guns on the market and rub elbows with some of the greats of the shooting sports world. So, with two weeks left until the match was to begin I registered for what would be one of the most challenging matches I’d ever been in. During all three days of competition I was constantly dealing with a scenario or stage that put me out of my comfort zone. Nothing presented during the stages was impossible in and of itself though, but I had to be adaptive and quick in order to do well. Although these stages challenged me to the max, it was also a chance to experience different types of shooting competition that I otherwise might not have been able to try out. In some ways, it was like speed dating for the shooting sports.

In addition to pistols and shotguns, the competition gives you a chance to test your rifle shooting skills as well.

Unique Opportunity

Not only was I able to compete in stages that I don’t normally shoot, I also got to shoot guns that I otherwise wouldn’t have dreamed of owning. The STI DVC 3Gun pistol was an absolute pleasure to shoot with its 20-round 9mm magazine, fiber optic sights, and smooth trigger pull. It was a slick gun that shot as good as it looked. There were some great pistols there, but some of the rifles were to die for and there were plenty of semi-auto rifles around too. There were guns from Armalite, Smith & Wesson, Daniel Defense, and JP Enterprises in 5.56 and .308. Probably my two favorites were the Daniel Defense DD5V1 and the JP Enterprises LRP-07. The DD5V1 is Daniel Defense’s first .308 semi-auto rifle and I have to say they did an exquisite job. The recoil wasn’t too bad for a 16-inch barreled .308, it was plenty accurate, and as reliable as a Swiss watch. The JP LRP-07 was in a class all by itself though in terms of accurate .308 rifles. We shot these rifles on the DMR Challenge stage and none of us were wanting in the accuracy department using these puppies. Outfitted to the nines with accessories and options from JP Enterprises and topped with Nightforce 4-16 ATACR scopes, it was a long-range shooter’s dream. Even from awkward positions I had little trouble banging steel all the way out to almost 600 yards, unfortunately, the price matches its exceptional capabilities, so a new one is just not in the cards for me.

Testing your mettle on the pistol stages can be challenging and fun.

At the end of it all we were treated to wonderful catered meal at the awards banquet where we recalled our best stages and shook our heads at minor defeats. It was a wonderful three days of getting to see old friends, make some new ones, and learning where I needed to focus my efforts so that I can do better the next time. Constant improvement and learning is what it’s all about. The prize table wasn’t bad either, even if you didn’t do well you still had the opportunity to walk away with a good prize, whether that be a pistol, a rifle, an optic, or other firearms accessory. I should also mention that at the very beginning of the match all competitors were given a goodie bag with various catalogs, a Magpul Gen3 PMAG, a small ALOSOK bag, various stickers, and more.

If you are interested in competing in next year’s World Shooting Championship I highly recommend you keep an eye out on the NRA’s website for match information.  There they’ll give you the run down on entry fees, stage descriptions, directions, and more.

For more information, https://wsc.nra.org/.