NSSA - National Skeet Shooting Association

The National Skeet Shooting Association is the world's largest organization dedicated to the sport of Skeet Shooting.

Changes Made in 2024 World Shoot Format

By

The World Shoot format has been modified for 2024. The changes start with the schedule of the Mini World, which will have one rotation of 12-gauge on Friday. This will allow for an earlier finish on Sunday afternoon. The order of events shot has also changed for the four-guns to the standard 12, 20, 28 and .410.

For the Main, the Wayne Mayes event will return to a shot event with a box of each gauge shot. This will occur on Monday before the Doubles event starts.

The 12-Gauge Main has also changed to a 200-target format, with 100 shot on Tuesday and 100 shot on Wednesday. Adding the Wayne Mayes and the additional 12-gauge targets requires extending the event through Saturday, October 5, so be sure to accommodate that day in your travel plans.

A revised registration form reflecting these changes has been posted on our World Shoot page. Changes have been made to the rotation options for the Mini and the Main, so please pay careful attention to your selections. Note that the rotations for the Doubles and 4-guns of the Mini have been combined, so you will only make one choice for the Mini World. One major change is reflected in Rotation 1 of the Mini, which will shoot the 12-Gauge on Friday. If you do not wish to shoot doubles, please indicate such or use the individual event boxes to make your event selections. Similarly in the Main, the Wayne Mayes and Doubles rotations are combined. If you do not plan to shoot the Wayne Mayes Event and will only shoot the Main Doubles, you will need to select Rotation 3 or 4.

If you previously pre-registered, you will maintain your original position for rotation assignments. Stephanie Haga is in the process of contacting everyone who has already pre-registered to get their updated rotation preferences.

If you have preferred rotations, we urge you to submit your registration form as soon as possible, as rotations are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. We strive to accommodate your first rotation preferences to the best of our ability, but you can improve your chances of receiving your preferred choices by submitting your registration form early. We look forward to hosting another successful World Skeet Championships again in 2024!
 

Final Shots: Kolar’s Don Mainland Passes

By

We are saddened to report the passing of Don Mainland, the man who established Kolar Arms as one of the leading manufacturers of clay target shotguns since the 1990’s. Mainland acquired the company founded by Larry Kolar in the 1980’s, moving the tube-set business to his machine shop in Wisconsin. After producing trap guns for Remington, Mainland then began production of Kolar-branded shotguns made in the USA. The company is currently in its third generation of Mainland operation, with Don’s son Jeff and grandson Sean now managing the business.

In addition to the Kolar gun business, Don started Letsch Manufacturing, Pioneer Products, and Racine Air. He was known as a true visionary and naturally gifted and driven leader. He had many passions, including clay target shooting, cycling, riding horses, and golf. Don was an accomplished bike racer who raced in Japan’s Kierin circuit in the early 1950’s and held the U.S. coast-to-coast cross-country record, which stood for 11 years. Don was also a proud United States Marine. Above all, Don was known as a loving and proud family man. He was married to Ruth for 71 years, and together they had four children: Michael, Mary, Jeffrey, and Lisa, as well as 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Under Don’s leadership, Kolar Arms grew from a personal passion to a leader in the firearms community, synonymous with excellence and commitment to quality — a reflection of Don’s own integrity. His contributions have been recognized by multiple shooting organizations, including being honored by NSSA in 2011, along with Larry Kolar, Claude Purbaugh, and Jess Briley, for revolutionizing the game of skeet with their development and advancement of sub-gauge tubes. He was inducted into the Wisconsin State Trapshooting Association and honored by other professional organizations for his contributions.

As we mourn his absence, we also celebrate his life — a life richly lived and generously shared. A funeral service will be held on November 9 in Racine, Wisconsin. NSSA-NSCA extends it sympathies to the Mainland family, Don’s Kolar Arms family, and his many friends. See Don’s full obituary.

 

Bobby Ellis Is Nationals VIP Package Winner

By

Congratulations to Bobby Ellis, NSCA member from Louisiana, whose purchase of two raffle tickets for Krieghoff and Kolar shotguns won him a 2024 National Sporting Clays Championship VIP Package.

NSSA-NSCA hosted two raffles for which winners were drawn on October 27 during the National Championship, the annual raffle of a Krieghoff K-80 valued at $22,745 that benefits the USA Sporting Clays Team and both NSSA and NSCA Krieghoff All-American programs, and the raffle of a Kolar Regal Extra shotgun valued at $30,000 that was donated by John Haugh to benefit the NSSA-NSCA Endowment Fund.

To encourage the purchase of both raffle tickets, NSSA-NSCA offered a drawing for a World Shoot or Nationals VIP Package to anyone who purchased both. Following the drawings for both gun raffle winners, the drawing was held on October 28 for the winner of the VIP Package. As an NSCA member, Ellis will use his VIP Package, which includes event fees, Hall of Fame banquet tickets, gun storage, parking passes, and more, for the 2024 National Sporting Clays Championship.
 

Sponsor a New Gun Rack at the NSC

By

The National Shooting Complex will have all-new, hand-crafted metal gun racks soon, and you have an opportunity to have your name on one or more of them. Each of the new gun racks will have two 4.5×12” metal plates on opposite sites on which we’ll engrave a sponsor/donor’s name.

The racks will be spread throughout the complex and have varying levels of exposure, so they are priced accordingly. Sponsorship/donor commitments are for a five-year period and include recognition on both metal plates. However, the first 50 gun rack sponsorships will have the recognition period doubled, meaning you get 10 years for the price of 5. Because we are a nonprofit organization, the sponsorship cost is a tax-deductible donation. See prices below.

Members may wish to have their own name on a gun rack, or perhaps you’d like to memorialize a late member, honor your club, recognize a friend, or promote your brand.

A limited number of gun racks sponsorships are available, so contact us right away to make sure you don’t miss out — and that you get the extended sponsorship term as one of the first commitments.

To sponsor one or more gun racks, contact Kris Hampton, khampton@nssa-nsca.com, or 210-771-2051.

Tips to Prevent Gun Theft, from Sportsman’s Insurance

By

Whether you’re traveling to San Antonio for the World Skeet Championships or National Sporting Clays Championship, or just to your local club, your trip is officially ruined if your gun is stolen! One moment of carelessness can leave your shotgun vulnerable to thieves. We asked our friends at Sportsman’s Insurance Agency, Inc. to share some tips on how not to be a victim of gun theft.

We’re looking forward to your arrival in San Antonio to participate in the World Skeet Championships and National Sporting Clays Championship. Sportsman’s Insurance has been providing insurance to NSSA-NSCA and its members for over 30 years. What follows are suggestions we’ve shared with our customers to help them protect their firearm investment and lower their risk of theft.

Before starting, we’d like to stress that “situational awareness” is the most important concept for protecting yourself as well as your firearms. Situational awareness is being aware of what is happening around you in terms of where you are, where you are supposed to be, and whether anyone or anything around you is a threat to your health and safety.

ONSITE STORAGE:

The safest option is to take advantage of the onsite storage service offered by the National Shooting Complex. The fee is $5 per day, per firearm, which is far less expensive than the cost to replace your firearm.

Secure onsite storage means you have less worries, freeing you to enjoy after-hours activities, eliminating the concern of theft from your vehicle or hotel room.

LEAVING THE GUN CLUB:

The majority of firearm thefts are from vehicles. If you choose not to store your firearms, we recommend that when you leave the club you drive directly to your hotel room to secure your firearms and shooting-related items before attending evening activities.

STORING YOUR GUNS IN YOUR VEHICLE:

If circumstances prevent you from going directly to your hotel, we recommend prior planning for protecting your firearms. For example, we know from experience that your firearm is NOT secured when lying exposed on the back seat of your vehicle. Prior to leaving the club, store your firearms on the floorboard or at the rear of your SUV, where the windows might be tinted. In addition, toss a blanket over the firearms, trying not to make it obvious that something might be underneath.

Note: Your shooting vest is not a good substitute for a blanket.

If eating at a restaurant, we recommend that you try to park your vehicle in sight. Also, choose a well-lit section of the parking lot to park your vehicle. Lastly, don’t forget to remove the NSSA-NSCA hangtag from your rearview mirror.

MAINTAIN A LOW PROFILE:

We recommend that you take an objective look at your vehicle to determine what message you’re sending to thieves, who are looking for crimes of opportunity. We’ve seen vehicles where bumper stickers and decals literally turn the vehicle into an advertising billboard, teasing potential thieves that firearms might be inside.

A thief will view your vehicle as an opportunity for a smash and grab. In as little as 60 seconds, you’ll lose everything.

CLEANING YOUR FIREARM:

It’s not uncommon to see someone cleaning their firearm on their truck tailgate, just before leaving the gun club. While you’re cleaning, this is an excellent time to exercise your situational awareness skills to help you spot potential problems.

Pro tip: It’s never a good idea to clean your firearm in the parking lot of your hotel.

LEAVING FOR HOME:

While it might be tempting to load up your vehicle with as much as possible before you turn in for the night, we recommend you consider an alternative. Load your firearms and shooting-related items just before your morning departure.

Hopefully you’ll find these tips useful no matter where travels take you.

For your convenience, Sportsman’s Insurance Agency agents will be available onsite, in the NSC clubhouse, during each event.
 

Clay-Target-Nation-LOGO-transparent-cropped

Skeet

Sporting Clays

National Shooting
Complex

Museum &
Hall of Fame

About