Members of IWLA have been competing in organized shooting competitions for many years
now, which have traditionally recognized the top competitors for each monthly match. In order
to increase participation at IWLA competitions, stimulate an interest in marksmanship, and
further develop our shooting skills, a "Competitor's Cup" has been introduced to recognize the
top shooters for the annual competitive shooting season. The Cup essentially combines monthly
standings across various disciplines (listed below) into an overall annual ranking. The following
notes are to serve as guidance in calculating points for the monthly matches, and to determine
overall standings in a fair and balanced manner.
The club hosts various types of matches spread between precision and action style shooting
with both rifle and pistol, which starting in 2024 result in five (5) separate shooting disciplines.
Current types of matches are repeated throughout the year, these being the five most common
types conducted at IWLA along with their respective frequency:
For Action Rifle: America's Rifle Challenge (ARC) (4x)
For Action Pistol / Rifle: USPSA / Steel Challenge, to include any "Super Steel" (4x)
For Precision Pistol: CMP Pistol match / Military and Police Service match (2x)
For Precision Rifle: CMP Highpower (HP) Rifle match (1x) and Rimfire Rifle match (1x)
NRL 22 Rimfire match (12x)
As for shotgun type events, these are being considered for future seasons. While dates may be
subject to change or a match canceled due to extreme weather, below is the proposed 2024
schedule. Check the calendar and home page for updates:
2024 Match Schedule:
Date
Match
Date
Match
6 Jan
ARC Rifle Match
6 Jul
USPSA/Steel Challenge Match
3 Feb
CMP Pistol Match
3 Aug
CMP Pistol Match
2 Mar
USPSA/Steel Challenge Match
14 Sep
ARC Rifle Match
6 Apr
CMP Rifle Match
5 Oct
CMP Rifle Match (Rimfire)
4 May
USPSA/Steel Challenge Match
2 Nov
ARC Rifle Match
1 Jun
ARC Rifle Match
7 Dec
USPSA/Steel Challenge Match
There are also monthly matches for NRL22
Before jumping into match specifics, points will be calculated for current IWLA members.
Part of the intent is to incentivize non-members to join. If a non-member competes in a specific
month, great! We encourage others to participate. However, their points towards the Cup only
start to count once they take the next step and join the chapter. No exceptions.
Discipline Details:
Most matches are self-explanatory in whether you shoot Rifle or Pistol. It is really only the
USPSA Steel Challenges that include a multitude of firearms options, along with different
calibers, and categories. More on this later. Listed below are rules set forth in the conduct of each
match type.
For the Action Rifle discipline, we conduct the ARC. A competitor may use irons or optics,
but will all compete in a single category as there are typically not nearly enough competitors to
break it down into two. The CMP does not even break this down with hundreds of competitors at
the National Championships. Shoot with what you have as long as it is a centerfire rifle. Rimfire
and PCCs will not count for Cup points. ARC matches in general should be easy to calculate.
We may expand with other match types in future years, but for the Action Pistol discipline, we
currently conduct either a USPSA Match or a Steel Challenge. Competitors generally use
pistols, rifles, Pistol Caliber Carbines (PCCs) chambered in centerfire or rimfire cartridges. With
so much variety, the simplest way to make it fair is to separate this discipline into two categories.
Those shooting centerfire pistols (and drawing from a holster) are competing against other pistol
competitors (whether Open, Limited, Production, Revolver, it doesn't matter). Those firing
centerfire rifle or more commonly PCC are competing in the rifle category. Each category is still
applied to the Action Pistol discipline.
Rimfire rifles and pistols are a great way for newer competitors to learn and get introduced to
the matches, which is absolutely encouraged. Again, only centerfire firearms will count to earn
Cup points. Those shooting rimfire rifles or pistols have a distinct advantage with less recoil, and
(for pistol) not having to draw from the holster. The one exception to this rule is if the match
director announces that the match is an All Rimfire match, where everyone is then on the same
playing field.
Occasionally, a competitor may opt to fire twice during a Steel Challenge, typically once with
a rifle (or PCC), and the other with a pistol. For points to count, a competitor needs to pick ONE
and declare BEFORE the match starts as to which they want to compete in. "Doubling up" is not
allowed, or else everyone would do it and Steel Challenges would be weighted heavier than other
disciplines.
Moving into the Precision Pistol discipline, we conduct the CMP Pistol match, which is
commonly a Military & Police match using service pistols. Only centerfire pistols may be used
with non-adjustable iron sights. Refer to the CMP rulebook for further details.
For the Precision Rifle discipline, we conduct a CMP Rifle match. Currently, one will be
styled after a Highpower Rifle across the course (XTC) match using only centerfire rifles, while
the other is typically a Rimfire Sporter Rifle match with a slightly different course of fire. Besides NRL22, the latter is
the one specific match where only rimfire rifles may be used. Refer to the CMP rulebook for
further details.
Staying with rimfire, the final discipline is NRL22, which matches are conducted nearly every
month. Because there can be a distinct advantage in the quality of rifle and optic used, there will
be two categories to compete within, either Open or Base. Just like the Steel Matches, a
competitor needs to announce which category they are firing within before the match begins.
Check with the match director for clarification.
Competitor Cup points:
Points are determined by taking a competitor's best placement in a match throughout the year,
and applying points earned for that specific discipline. Again, Cup points are for active IWLA
members at the time they competed. Non-members can still compete and earn the separate
medals awarded each month, but for Cup points, we simply skip over a non-member to the next
member. With a minimum of three competitors per category, points are awarded as follows:
Number of Competitors
Points to Winner
2nd Place
3rd Place
4th Place
5th Place
6th+ Place
3+
10
8
6
4
2
1
As shown, every competitor earns at least one point for competing. If there are not enough competitors (less than three),
then those one or two competitors will still receive one point for that match. With five categories and a maximum
of ten points available per discipline, a maximum score of 50 points can be earned during the
season for all disciplines combined. Competitors may increase their points in a discipline if they
place higher at a later match. For example, if a competitor places 4th at one ARC, then 2nd at
another ARC later in the year, the 4 points previously earned changes to 8 points for the Action
Rifle discipline. A table will be calculated, but a member competitors can expect to see their
points in a similar format:
Competitor
Action Rifle
Action Pistol
Precision Rifle
Precision Pistol
NRL22
2024 Total
I. Walton
4
2
10
1
6
23
As you can see in this example, our founder is a little better with rifle than with pistol. He has
earned 23 points for the year. His best placement in an ARC was 4th, he was 5th in a Steel
Challenge, he won a Precision Rifle match, placed 9th at a CMP Pistol match, and placed 3rd at
an NRL22 match.
The member competitor with the most points of the five disciplines added together is the 2024
IWLA Competitor's Cup Champion. The "Top Ten" competitors will all be recognized, which is
TBD, but expect a patch to proudly display on your range bag or hat and recruit others to join the
fun! In the event of a tie for any of the top three, a shoot off will be designed and conducted.
Any questions, please ask.
For more information, contact:
Nick Roberge, Match Director
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