United States National Rifle Team

by

since 1873

Palma match is considered the pinnacle of fullbore team shooting around the world

World Championship for Long Range Rifle Shooting

  • 2 day matches
  • for the development, promotion and funding of the Palma, Veterans, Young Eagles and Goodwill Teams.
  • 1873  first recorded International Long Range Rifle match was fired on Creedmoor Range
  • 1874 return match was held at Dollymount Range in Ireland
  • American team then travelled to Wimbledon to enter the Elcho Shield match

United States National Rifle Team, Inc
P.O. Box 177
Arcadia, OK. 73007

Homepage

About the United States National Rifle Team

The United States National Rifle Team is a nonprofit based in Arcadia, Oklahoma, that exists for the development, promotion and funding of the USA Palma, USA Veterans and USA Young Eagles rifle teams and related squads. These teams represent the country in international fullbore prone target rifle shooting, a discipline fired with iron-sighted bolt-action rifles at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. Its members also compete at local, state, regional and national levels.

The centerpiece of the discipline is the Palma Trophy team match, first hosted by the NRA in 1876 for the U.S. centennial with teams from Australia, Canada, Scotland and Ireland. It is described as the longest continuously running international rifle match, and the United States has won it 13 times. Today the match is held every four years alongside the World Long Range Championships, with 16-shooter teams firing 7.62mm NATO (.308 Winchester) Palma rifles. The Young Eagles serve as the national junior development team for shooters under 25, building the pipeline of future adult team members. For American gun owners, these teams carry on a long-range marksmanship tradition that dates to the earliest days of organized rifle competition in the United States.

Key Facts

  • 1876: NRA hosts the first Palma Trophy team match during the U.S. centennial
  • Every four years: Palma match held with the World Long Range Championships, rotating among host nations
  • 2003 and 2007: U.S. Young Eagles win gold medals at the World Championships
  • 2019: Palma match fired at Trentham, New Zealand; the U.S. team takes bronze
  • 2023: World Long Range Championship and Palma match held in South Africa

Sources

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