Shooting the National Defense Match

by
posted on September 21, 2011
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
keefe2015_fs.jpg (2)

While I held the camera, American Hunter Managing Editor Jeff Johnston handled a rifle—and handled it well at the NRA National Defense Match on August 14 and 15 at Camp Perry, Ohio.

Jeff, who had never been to Camp Perry, grabbed an FN SCAR and a Nightforce scope, hopped in his truck and headed to the Mecca of competitive shooting. As I was running a still or video camera, Jeff ran his rifle over the surprisingly challenging course.

The NDM target has five tombstones in blue, yellow, green, red and white, and the shooter has to look at the menu to see what order and from what position he or she has to shoot. As the video I shot of Jeff shows, it’s harder than it looks, but a whole lot of fun. The targets at this match were electronic from the Swiss firm ShotResponse, and they were great for instantaneous scoring, but as you’ll see, Jeff had a little trouble here and there.

Jeff is a good shot and has done some 3-gun shooting but is new to NRA Competitions, so I chronicled what a new match shooter might expect. I followed him throughout day one on the NDM, and my biggest regret is I didn’t hand him the camera.

Next time, you won’t catch me without a rifle at this one.

Latest

Guns Of Shanghai F
Guns Of Shanghai F

The Guns of Shanghai 1937: A Prelude to WWII's Brutal Urban Combat

Often overlooked by Western military historians, the Battle of Shanghai in 1937 was an early sign of the brutal urban combat that would characterize much of World War II. An incredible array of arms was used in the fighting.

New For 2026: Vortex Strike Eagle 1-10X 24 mm FFP LPVO Riflescope

Previously offered in 1-6X and 1-8X variants, new for 2026, Vortex is introducing the Strike Eagle 1-10X 24 mm FFP riflescope.

Gun of the Week: Ruger RXM

On the surface, the RXM appears to be similar to the Glock G19-inspired selection of striker-fired, polymer-frame pistols on the market, but a closer look reveals that there's much more to this modular design.

Rifleman Q&A: How Frequently Should You Clean?

AN NRA member and his brother have identical rifles. One brother cleans every time he shoots. The other cleans every 100 rounds. Which barrel will last longer?

The Armed Citizen® March 20, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

NRA Launches New Official App

The National Rifle Association proudly unveiled its new official NRA App today, marking a significant milestone in enhancing member engagement and delivering convenient access to essential NRA resources on the go.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.