Tips to succeed from NRA World Shooting Championship veterans

The 2016 NRA World Shooting Championship presented by Kimber and Nightforce starts tomorrow, when competitive shooters from across the nation and around the world will descend on West Virginia’s Peacemaker National Training Center to vie for the title of World Shooting Champion.

The competition’s 12 stages unite a wide array of shooting disciplines, from pistol to shotgun, ARs to rimfire, and even cowboy action shooting. Stepping up to take on some of the world’s best requires training, determination, and skill, although scoring some pointers from WSC veterans might be the extra edge competitors need to dethrone Bruce Piatt this year.

Let’s hear from some WSC alumni: 

Bruce Piatt
Reigning NRA World Shooting Champion 

"The format at the NRA World Shooting Championship is unique in the aspect that you don't know what you have to shoot until you show up, so training for the event is a little difficult. My advice is to pack some good eye and ear protection, bring an open mind, be prepared to listen to the stage descriptions, figure out the best way you can take the guns they provide, and post the best score you can. When the match supplies all the guns and ammo, all you have to do is deal with "the performance.” This is the most level playing field in the shooting sports that anyone from around the world can come and play."

Dianna Muller
Reigning NRA World Shooting Championship High Overall Lady

"The NRA World Shooting Championship match is such a different breed -- it's really a difficult match for which to "prepare!” Over the past two years, I've learned to relax. I focus on relaxing in my own sport, because when you focus on the expectations over the procedure, it usually never works out in the shooter's favor. The same goes for this match. You are tackling disciplines outside your expertise and using guns you aren't familiar with, and that can really rattle your nerves if you don't prepare for that mental challenge. But you can use this match design to your advantage. Remove all expectations, because, who is great at ALL the disciplines (besides Jerry Miculek)?! Give yourself some room to be "not so great,” focus on the fundamentals and try to enjoy the match. It is kind of liberating throwing everything to the wind and seeing how you stack up against all kinds of shooters! Coming from such a gear intensive sport as 3-Gun, I really enjoy walking up to 12 different stages and shooting guns and ammo that are provided. Although there may be issues with that format, it's a great way to level the playing field, get down to brass tacks and see who is the most well rounded world champion shooter!"

Olympic shooter/Firearms instructor/NRA News Commentator