The 4th Annual NRA/North–South Skirmish Association National Civil War Championship

The joint NRA, N-SSA National Civil War Championship matches were held at the N-SSA’s Fort Shenandoah outside of Winchester, Va., on Oct. 3-7, 2018. The 138^th Nationals brought out nearly 2,000 participants and almost that number again in family and visitors to the 50 year old shooting compound.

If you ever wondered what it was like to shoot an old muzzleloading black powder rifle, or to dress up in a civil war era style uniform and see for yourself just how accurate muskets from the Civil War were, then the N-SSA is a great way to get you and your entire family out for some camping and shooting fun, all while learning about and actually shooting history.

Established in 1950, the N-SSA is an affiliated NRA Shooting Club that holds two national events a year, just a little more than an hour drive from NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, Va. For the past 20 years, the NRA has sponsored a trophy for the highest scoring Senior and Junior Skirmishers and this year the awards were earned by Benjamin Waits (Sr. Skirmisher) and Grant Ostner (Junior Skirmisher).

Benjamin Waits also took the overall Grand Aggregate Award in the 4^th Annual NRA/N-SSA Civil War Championship. Established in 2015, the Civil War Championship match features competition at various distances using civil war rifled muskets, smoothbore muskets, revolvers and carbines. Skirmishers register for this Championship match individually and competition has become rather heated during the past two events as participation is expected to increase with the addition of smoothbore muskets to the event.


Photo by Phil Schreier

The NRA has long maintained a cabin on Sutlers Row at Fort Shenandoah and this year, NRA Museums Senior Curator Philip Schreier not only manned the cabin but he gave a presentation to the History & Heritage committee of the N-SSA on the Evolution of the Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle and its impact on world history.The NRA Cabin at Fort Shenandoah offers memberships, brochures, magazines and hats to NRA members who visit.

The NRA/N-SSA Senior and Junior Skirmisher awards are presented at both the Spring & Fall Nationals. The Civil War Championship Match is only hosted at the Fall Nationals. The 139^th Nationals will be held at Fort Shenandoah on May 15 – 19, 2019. For more information on the North- South Skirmish Association you can reach them at www.n-ssa.org.


Benjamin Waits (left) won the overall NRA/N-SSA National Civil War Championship Match and won the NRA Senior Skirmisher Award for the fourth time. N-SSA National Commander David T. Booz is at far right.


Grant Ostner (left) won the NRA Junior Skirmisher Award. Winners receive a laminated plaque with a photo of the trophy from the NRA and their name goes on a brass plate that remains with the trophy itself when it is displayed at the Spring & Fall Nationals. N-SSA National Commander David T. Booz (right) presented the awards accompanied by NRA Representative Philip Schreier in the uniform of an NRA NY State Official circa 1871. 

The NRA/ N-SSA National Civil War Championship medal. Only one medal is awarded annually. They were designed in 2014 to resemble the post-Civil War GAR Medals. It is unique in the canon of NRA awards.