The Bianchi Cup
Encyclopedia
The Bianchi Cup is the NRA National Action Pistol Championship, a major Action Pistol
tournament held over three days in late May, in Columbia, Missouri at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club. It has the largest purse of any tournament on the action pistol calendar and is the premier action pistol championship tournament in the world. The Bianchi Cup is the only major shooting tournament that has retained its original course of fire since its inception.
It is one of the most prestigious events in shooting, with the best shooters in the world in competition each May in Missouri
. Due to the high accuracy required in each stage, the tournament is widely considered one of the most difficult championships in all of the shooting sports
.
weekend every year since its inception in 1979. It is the first tournament that turns the sport of competition shooting as a whole from amateur to professional status by offering the winner a large cash prize in addition to trophies. Before NRA took control in 1984 the overall winner took home the entire cash purse of $30,000 in addition to the Bianchi Cup itself. It has its origins in the law enforcement
shooting community. Recently, with the creation of the Production Division, it has become one of the fastest growing disciplines in the action shooting
community.
The Bianchi Cup is one of the three championships of action shooting's triple crown, along with the IPSC
U.S. Nationals, and the Steel Challenge
.
Since its inception in 1979, 1985 championship year being the exception, the Bianchi Cup has retained its original courses of fire, consisting of four matches known as the "Events": Practical, Barricade, Moving Target and Falling Plates. Speed, accuracy, and precision, all three are equaling important factors and are considered fundamentals that form the core of the match, but most importantly, strong mental discipline on match days is the ultimate key to winning the Championship. Such is the case in the open division, where the top finishers are known to shoot perfect scores of 1920 separated by x-counts and one bad shot out of 192 can easily put a potential winner down 10–15 places in the rankings. Each event is timed and is worth 480 points, equaling a total of 1920 possible points plus 192 tie-breaking x's. In 1985 Practical Event was temporarily replaced by the 60-shot, 600 points International Rapid Fire Event, almost identical to that of the ISSF 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol
Match. The main differences for the Bianchi Cup/NRA Action Pistol version was that it must be fired from a standing, hands-over-shoulder starting position, gun holstered, on five Bianchi D-1 "Tombstone" cardboard targets placed 25 yards downrange, using center fire handguns, with the option of using the ground as support if one can make the time limit without incurring any late shot penalties. The total possible score for that year was 2040 points plus 204 x's. This sudden deviation from the original format proved unpopular so the organizers dropped it and re-instated the Practical Event the following year since.
Action pistol competitors are permitted to use a two-handed grip (except for the 8 second 10 yard weak-hand series in the Practical Event), and in most cases competitors must start from standing position with their guns holstered and hands above the shoulders. One exception being the Barricade Event, where competitors start with gun in holster and both hands on the barricade. During the course of the match, participants fire at turning or moving cardboard silhouette targets – known as the D-1 (or AP-1 as of 2007) "Tombstones", and steel plates that must be knocked down to count as hits.
The NRA National Action Shooting Tournament is a money-winning event. For his victory in 2008, Doug Koenig took home the 2008 Bianchi Cup trophy, plus total cash awards of over $8,000. Robert Vadasz Metallic Sight win netted him over $5000. For 2009, total prize money awarded increased over 30% from the previous year. NRA continues to improve the Cup in the original spirit of John Bianchi's vision. The already generous awards schedule has added additional prizes over the years for Newcomers, Juniors, & new for 2010 the Grand Senior category. Sponsorship from major corporations such as MidwayUSA
, Safariland
, Smith & Wesson
, Colt
, & Sig Sauer have helped make this possible.
From 2009 30th Anniversary onwards, the NRA Bianchi Cup offers an Open Division, Metallic Division and the new Production Division to bring more shooters to the sport. Recent years have also introduced a Celebrity Pro-Am as a Saturday Event. This fan favorite spectacle has included participants from the music, film, and television branches of the entertainment industry including Mark Wills
, Michael Peterson
, Marshall Teague
, & Michael Talbott
. Cowboy Mounted Shooting
sensation Kenda Lenseigne made her first appearance at the Celebrity Pro-AM in 2010 and won.
This event draws shooters from all over the world. In 2008, international competitors hailed from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands
, United Arab Emirates and the United States.
The Bianchi Cup is unique in that a newcomer's orientation is always held at the Competitor's meeting. Former & current Champions as well as the Match Staff are usually in attendance to help new shooters in their first attempt at the National Action Pistol Championship.
Class awards are awarded to various categories to include High Law Enforcement, High Woman, High Junior, High International, High Newcomer, High Senior, High Service, High Semi-Auto, High Revolver, and Aggregate.
NRA has re-instituted a few measures to lower entry fee cost. One was to "bring a buddy". If a competitor were to bring a friend who had never competed at the NRA Bianchi Cup, both competitors would have a reduced entry fee. NRA also offers reduced fees for Juniors, Production Firearms, Active Duty Military and those that register early.
, as a Law Enforcement Training Match. In conjunction with the help of 1975 IPSC
World Champion, Ray Chapman, he got exactly what he wanted.
• In 1984, the National Rifle Association
re-designated the event the NRA Bianchi Cup, National Action Pistol Championship.
• The competition has four stages, which make up the match aggregate. Each of these stages consists of 48 rounds for a total possible score of 480 for each stage and 1920 for a perfect overall score.
The four shooting events are:
The Practical Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits.
The Barricade Event: From within shooting boxes and behind barricades, a shooter fires at targets on either side of the barricade at different distances and under varying time limits.
The Falling Plate Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at 8-inch round, steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards under varying time limits.
The Moving Target Event: From within shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards, the shooter fires at a target moving from left to right with the target being exposed for only 6 seconds.
• Competitors shoot all these events from both standing and prone positions and are also required to shoot with both strong and weak hands at various stages. On top of these events, the championship also features many side events that do not impact the match aggregate score. The competitors use handguns. The most popular caliber choices are 9mm, .38 Spl.
, .38 Super
, and .45 ACP
. These pistols are drawn out of holsters when the signal to fire is given at each stage.
• The first competitor to fire a perfect score was Doug Koenig of Pennsylvania
in 1990 with a 1920-157X.
• This event draws top shooters from all over the world. International competitors have hailed from Austria
, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy
, Japan, Lithuania
, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines
, Saudi Arabia (1987–1989), Republic of South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan
(1996), Thailand
(1993 and 1994), and the United Kingdom.
• The first NRA World Action Pistol Championship match was held in the United States at the present home of the NRA Bianchi Cup in Columbia, MO. 1994 was the first year; there were five countries competing for the Open Team event and three countries competing for the Women's Team event. Thereafter the World Action Pistol Championship was held in Adelaide Australia 1997, Hamilton New Zealand 1999, Italy 2001 and again in the USA in Columbia MO in 2004. The NRA World Action Pistol Championships were then to be rotated to sponsor countries every two years from 2006 (Australia, Blacktown Rifle & Pistol Club) and returning to the United States every eight years (2012). In 2008 it was conducted in Hamilton
, New Zealand, November 5–8. For 2010, the event returned to Sydney, Australia at the Blacktown Rifle & Pistol Club.
A new Bianchi Cup made of sterling silver
is produced each year and awarded to the winner, as well as a silver Bianchi Champion belt buckle. Smaller trophy cups & silver belt buckles emblazoned with the Bianchi Star are awarded to the division champions.
1979: Ron Lerch 1816-062x
1980: Mickey Fowler 1889-085x
1981: Mickey Fowler 1890-088x
1982: Mickey Fowler 1903-145x
1983: Brian Enos 1903-612x
1984: Brian Enos 1910-257x
NRA National Action Pistol Champions
1985: Rob Leatham
2034-155x
1986: W. Riley Gilmore 1916-144x
1987: John Pride 1912-151x
1988: John Pride 1918-163x
1989: Lemoine Wright 1914-152x
1990: Doug Koenig 1920-157x
1991: W. Riley Gilmore 1920-166x
1992: Doug Koenig 1920-169x
1993: Bruce Piatt 1920-170x
1993: Brian Kilpatrick, Australia 1920-173x
1994: John Pride 1920-174x
1995: John Pride 1920-179x
1996: Mickey Fowler 1918-184x
1996: Ross G. Newell, Australia 1920.163x
1997: Bruce Piatt 1920-181x
1998: Doug Koenig 1920-180x
1999: Bruce Piatt *1920-185x (High Score)
2000: Doug Koenig *1920-185x (High Score)
2001: Doug Koenig 1920-184x
2002: Doug Koenig 1920-184x
2003: Doug Koenig 1920-183x
2004: Doug Koenig 1920-177x
2005: Doug Koenig *1920-185x (High Score)
2006: Bruce Piatt 1920-177x
2007: Doug Koenig *1920-185x (High Score)
2008: Doug Koenig 1918-185x
2009: Bruce Piatt 1920 – 181x
2010: Doug Koenig 1920-179x
Stock Firearm (Production) Champions
1994: Bruce Gray-Category Winner 1883-112x
1995: Rod Jones- Category Winner 1810-105x
1996: Bruce Gray-Category Winner 1889-125x
1997: Steve Sweeney-Category Winner 1850-115x
Production Class Champions
2009: Dave Sevigny 1806-101x
2010: Kyle Schmidt 1856-121x
Metallic Sight Firearm Champions
1998: Chad Dietrich 1905-125x
1999: Fred Craig 1863-127x
2000: Rob Leatham
1897-145x
2001: Vance Schmid 1896-130x
2002: Rob Leatham
1884-136x
2003: Frederick Craig 1886-128x
2004: Rob Leatham
1905-144x
2005: Rob Leatham
*1910-153x (High Score)
2006: Rob Leatham
1902-145x
2007: Rob Leatham
1902-153x
2008: Rob Vadasz 1902-138x
2009: Rob Leatham
1909-145x
2010: Rob Vadasz 1904-146x
NRA National Action Pistol Women’s Champions
1980: Edith Almeida 1821-073x
1981: Edith Almeida 1652-045x
1982: Edith Almeida 1304-077x
1983: Sally Van Valzah 1765-091x
1984: Lee Cole 1761-096x
1985: Lee Cole 1957-119x
1986: Christie Rogers 1759-096x
1987: Lorna Pavelka 1787-088x
1988: Christie Rogers 1836-111x
1989: Yoko Shimomura 1882-129x
1990: Christie Rogers 1885-124x
1991: Janina Tenace 1888-134x
1992: Lorna Pavelka 1899-142x
1993: Judy Woolley 1898-148x
1994: Judy Woolley 1906-148x
1995: Dewi Hazeltine 1908-150x
1996: Sharon Edington 1899-140x
1997: Sharon Edington 1906-142x
1998: Anita Mackiewicz *1914-148x (High Score)
1999: Vera Koo 1894-137x
2000: Robyn Estreich 1902-157x
2001: Vera Koo *1910-137x (High Score)
2002: Vera Koo 1905-151x
2003: Vera Koo 1894-141x
2004: Vera Koo 1886-136x
2005: Vera Koo 1894-149x
2006: Vera Koo 1897-143x
2007: Julie Goloski 1903-139x
2008: Vera Koo 1870-136x
2009: Julie Goloski Golob 1907-138x
2010: Jessie Abbate 1906-163x
NRA World Action Pistol Champions – Open
1994: John Pride 1920-174x
1997: Adrian Hunter 1920-150x
1999: Doug Koenig 1920-180x
2004: Doug Koenig 1920-177x
2006: Bruce Piatt 1920-176x
2008: Doug Koenig 1920-181x
2010: Doug Koenig *1920-188x (High Score)
NRA World Action Pistol Champions – Metallic
1994: N/A
1997: N/A
1999: N/A
2004: Jerry Miculek
1893-122x
2006: Frank Reiche 1852-124x
2008: Vance Schmid *1902-133x (High Score)
2010: Tony Drabsch 1887-125x
NRA World Action Pistol Champions – Production
2010: Marc Kleser 1839-109x
NRA World Action Champions – Stock Gun
1999: United Kingdom
and the late Ray Chapman – one of the original "Combat Masters" of IPSC
shooting, as a law enforcement training match. In the early years only the top-finishing competitors from wildly varying disciplines – from Olympics ISSF Pistol/NRA Conventional Pistol Bullseye to IPSC
, were personally invited by the match creators to compete together equally. Over the years the match became proving ground for high-tech, cutting-edge firearm technology that competitors were encouraged to exploit due to the relatively unrestricted equipment rules in hopes that insights gained can be practically applied to law enforcement applications. See racegun
s for more descriptive details regarding these specialized "Cup" guns.
The Courses of Fire that comprise the 1920 aggregate points consists of four separate matches:
The Practical Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits.
The Barricade Event: From within shooting boxes and behind barricades, a shooter fires at targets on either side of the barricade at different distances and under varying time limits.
The Falling Plate Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at 8 inch round steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards under varying time limits.
The Moving Target Event: From within shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards, the shooter fires at a target moving from left to right with the target being exposed for only 6 seconds.
Competitors shoot from both standing and prone positions and are also required to shoot with both strong and weak hands at various stages.
It has also been covered in other press, including numerous professional and amateur videos uploaded to You Tube
, Shooting Sports USA the digital magazine, American Rifleman magazine, Down Range TV with Michael Bane, the popular Gun Nuts media firearms blog, and NRAblog.
Action shooting
Action shooting is a term that encompasses target shooting events where the shooter's score is based on both the accuracy and elapsed time. Disciplines covered by the term include:*United States Practical Shooting Association...
tournament held over three days in late May, in Columbia, Missouri at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club. It has the largest purse of any tournament on the action pistol calendar and is the premier action pistol championship tournament in the world. The Bianchi Cup is the only major shooting tournament that has retained its original course of fire since its inception.
It is one of the most prestigious events in shooting, with the best shooters in the world in competition each May in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. Due to the high accuracy required in each stage, the tournament is widely considered one of the most difficult championships in all of the shooting sports
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
.
NRA Bianchi Cup
The Bianchi Cup is traditionally held the week before Memorial DayMemorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend every year since its inception in 1979. It is the first tournament that turns the sport of competition shooting as a whole from amateur to professional status by offering the winner a large cash prize in addition to trophies. Before NRA took control in 1984 the overall winner took home the entire cash purse of $30,000 in addition to the Bianchi Cup itself. It has its origins in the law enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
shooting community. Recently, with the creation of the Production Division, it has become one of the fastest growing disciplines in the action shooting
Action shooting
Action shooting is a term that encompasses target shooting events where the shooter's score is based on both the accuracy and elapsed time. Disciplines covered by the term include:*United States Practical Shooting Association...
community.
The Bianchi Cup is one of the three championships of action shooting's triple crown, along with the IPSC
International Practical Shooting Confederation
The International Practical Shooting Confederation is a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting. Accuracy, power and speed are all required to achieve a maximum score.-Founding and organization:...
U.S. Nationals, and the Steel Challenge
Steel Challenge
The Steel Challenge is a speed shooting championship and governed by the Steel Challenge Shooting Association . The competition was founded by Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman. The targets, made of steel, range in size from 10" round plates to 18"x24" square plates...
.
Since its inception in 1979, 1985 championship year being the exception, the Bianchi Cup has retained its original courses of fire, consisting of four matches known as the "Events": Practical, Barricade, Moving Target and Falling Plates. Speed, accuracy, and precision, all three are equaling important factors and are considered fundamentals that form the core of the match, but most importantly, strong mental discipline on match days is the ultimate key to winning the Championship. Such is the case in the open division, where the top finishers are known to shoot perfect scores of 1920 separated by x-counts and one bad shot out of 192 can easily put a potential winner down 10–15 places in the rankings. Each event is timed and is worth 480 points, equaling a total of 1920 possible points plus 192 tie-breaking x's. In 1985 Practical Event was temporarily replaced by the 60-shot, 600 points International Rapid Fire Event, almost identical to that of the ISSF 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol
25 m Rapid Fire Pistol
25 metre rapid fire pistol is one of the ISSF shooting events. The event has been a part of the Olympic program ever since the beginning in 1896, although its rules changed greatly before World War II, after which they were only slightly changed until the two major revisions of 1989 and 2005...
Match. The main differences for the Bianchi Cup/NRA Action Pistol version was that it must be fired from a standing, hands-over-shoulder starting position, gun holstered, on five Bianchi D-1 "Tombstone" cardboard targets placed 25 yards downrange, using center fire handguns, with the option of using the ground as support if one can make the time limit without incurring any late shot penalties. The total possible score for that year was 2040 points plus 204 x's. This sudden deviation from the original format proved unpopular so the organizers dropped it and re-instated the Practical Event the following year since.
Action pistol competitors are permitted to use a two-handed grip (except for the 8 second 10 yard weak-hand series in the Practical Event), and in most cases competitors must start from standing position with their guns holstered and hands above the shoulders. One exception being the Barricade Event, where competitors start with gun in holster and both hands on the barricade. During the course of the match, participants fire at turning or moving cardboard silhouette targets – known as the D-1 (or AP-1 as of 2007) "Tombstones", and steel plates that must be knocked down to count as hits.
The NRA National Action Shooting Tournament is a money-winning event. For his victory in 2008, Doug Koenig took home the 2008 Bianchi Cup trophy, plus total cash awards of over $8,000. Robert Vadasz Metallic Sight win netted him over $5000. For 2009, total prize money awarded increased over 30% from the previous year. NRA continues to improve the Cup in the original spirit of John Bianchi's vision. The already generous awards schedule has added additional prizes over the years for Newcomers, Juniors, & new for 2010 the Grand Senior category. Sponsorship from major corporations such as MidwayUSA
MidwayUSA
MidwayUSA is a privately-held American retailer and wholesaler of various hunting and gun-related products. The company is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, and sells in the continental United States and internationally, through a separate division. The company markets online and through...
, Safariland
Safariland
Safariland, LLC is a division of BAE Systems, Inc. a subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based defense and aerospace company BAE Systems PLC. It is a major designer and manufacturer of equipment for sporting, military, law enforcement, investigation and public safety personnel.-History:The company was...
, Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
, Colt
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
, & Sig Sauer have helped make this possible.
From 2009 30th Anniversary onwards, the NRA Bianchi Cup offers an Open Division, Metallic Division and the new Production Division to bring more shooters to the sport. Recent years have also introduced a Celebrity Pro-Am as a Saturday Event. This fan favorite spectacle has included participants from the music, film, and television branches of the entertainment industry including Mark Wills
Mark Wills
Daryl Mark Williams is an American country music artist, best known professionally as Mark Wills. Signed to Mercury Records between 1996 and 2003, he released five studio albums for the label — Mark Wills, Wish You Were Here, Permanently, Loving Every Minute and And the Crowd Goes Wild — as well...
, Michael Peterson
Michael Peterson (singer)
Michael James Peterson is an American country music artist. He made his debut on the country music scene in 1997 with his self-titled debut album, which produced five Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, including the Number One hit "From Here to Eternity"...
, Marshall Teague
Marshall R. Teague
Marshall R. Teague is an American film and television actor. He is known for his role in the 1989 cult movie Road House and for his recurring role on the 1990s science fiction series Babylon 5 as a Narn named Ta'Lon...
, & Michael Talbott
Michael Talbott
Michael Talbott is an American actor who is perhaps best known for his co-starring role as Det. Stanley Switek in the 1980s series Miami Vice....
. Cowboy Mounted Shooting
Cowboy Mounted Shooting
Cowboy Mounted Shooting is a competitive equestrian sport regulated by several national organizations such as CMSA, SASS, MSA, etc. that requires the riding of a horse to negotiate a shooting pattern where targets are engaged with theatrical-stage-blank ammunition that is certified to break a...
sensation Kenda Lenseigne made her first appearance at the Celebrity Pro-AM in 2010 and won.
This event draws shooters from all over the world. In 2008, international competitors hailed from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, United Arab Emirates and the United States.
The Bianchi Cup is unique in that a newcomer's orientation is always held at the Competitor's meeting. Former & current Champions as well as the Match Staff are usually in attendance to help new shooters in their first attempt at the National Action Pistol Championship.
Class awards are awarded to various categories to include High Law Enforcement, High Woman, High Junior, High International, High Newcomer, High Senior, High Service, High Semi-Auto, High Revolver, and Aggregate.
NRA has re-instituted a few measures to lower entry fee cost. One was to "bring a buddy". If a competitor were to bring a friend who had never competed at the NRA Bianchi Cup, both competitors would have a reduced entry fee. NRA also offers reduced fees for Juniors, Production Firearms, Active Duty Military and those that register early.
History of the Bianchi Cup
• The event originated in 1979; by former police officer John Bianchi of holster maker Bianchi InternationalBianchi International
Bianchi International of Temecula, California is a worldwide producer of leather and nylon goods for the law enforcement industry. Since the 1970s they have produced items from gun holsters to duty belts and everything related in between...
, as a Law Enforcement Training Match. In conjunction with the help of 1975 IPSC
International Practical Shooting Confederation
The International Practical Shooting Confederation is a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting. Accuracy, power and speed are all required to achieve a maximum score.-Founding and organization:...
World Champion, Ray Chapman, he got exactly what he wanted.
• In 1984, the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
re-designated the event the NRA Bianchi Cup, National Action Pistol Championship.
• The competition has four stages, which make up the match aggregate. Each of these stages consists of 48 rounds for a total possible score of 480 for each stage and 1920 for a perfect overall score.
The four shooting events are:
The Practical Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits.
The Barricade Event: From within shooting boxes and behind barricades, a shooter fires at targets on either side of the barricade at different distances and under varying time limits.
The Falling Plate Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at 8-inch round, steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards under varying time limits.
The Moving Target Event: From within shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards, the shooter fires at a target moving from left to right with the target being exposed for only 6 seconds.
• Competitors shoot all these events from both standing and prone positions and are also required to shoot with both strong and weak hands at various stages. On top of these events, the championship also features many side events that do not impact the match aggregate score. The competitors use handguns. The most popular caliber choices are 9mm, .38 Spl.
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
, .38 Super
.38 Super
The .38 Super or .38 Super Automatic is a pistol cartridge that fires a diameter bullet. The Super was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP or .38 Auto. The old .38 ACP propelled a bullet at . The improved .38 Super Auto pushed the same bullet at...
, and .45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
. These pistols are drawn out of holsters when the signal to fire is given at each stage.
• The first competitor to fire a perfect score was Doug Koenig of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1990 with a 1920-157X.
• This event draws top shooters from all over the world. International competitors have hailed from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Japan, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Saudi Arabia (1987–1989), Republic of South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
(1996), Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(1993 and 1994), and the United Kingdom.
• The first NRA World Action Pistol Championship match was held in the United States at the present home of the NRA Bianchi Cup in Columbia, MO. 1994 was the first year; there were five countries competing for the Open Team event and three countries competing for the Women's Team event. Thereafter the World Action Pistol Championship was held in Adelaide Australia 1997, Hamilton New Zealand 1999, Italy 2001 and again in the USA in Columbia MO in 2004. The NRA World Action Pistol Championships were then to be rotated to sponsor countries every two years from 2006 (Australia, Blacktown Rifle & Pistol Club) and returning to the United States every eight years (2012). In 2008 it was conducted in Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, New Zealand, November 5–8. For 2010, the event returned to Sydney, Australia at the Blacktown Rifle & Pistol Club.
Champions
- NRA National Action Pistol Champion, winner of the Bianchi Cup
- Metallic Division Champion, winner of the Metallic Division Cup
- Production Division Champion, winner of the Production Division Cup
- Women's Division Champion, winner of the Women's Division Cup
- Senior Division Champion, winner of the John Cameron Memorial Cup
- Junior Division Champion, winner of the Junior Division Cup
A new Bianchi Cup made of sterling silver
Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....
is produced each year and awarded to the winner, as well as a silver Bianchi Champion belt buckle. Smaller trophy cups & silver belt buckles emblazoned with the Bianchi Star are awarded to the division champions.
Previous Champions
Bianchi Cup Winners1979: Ron Lerch 1816-062x
1980: Mickey Fowler 1889-085x
1981: Mickey Fowler 1890-088x
1982: Mickey Fowler 1903-145x
1983: Brian Enos 1903-612x
1984: Brian Enos 1910-257x
NRA National Action Pistol Champions
1985: Rob Leatham
Rob Leatham
Robert Jennings Leatham , also known as "TGO" is a successful professional shooter...
2034-155x
1986: W. Riley Gilmore 1916-144x
1987: John Pride 1912-151x
1988: John Pride 1918-163x
1989: Lemoine Wright 1914-152x
1990: Doug Koenig 1920-157x
1991: W. Riley Gilmore 1920-166x
1992: Doug Koenig 1920-169x
1993: Bruce Piatt 1920-170x
1993: Brian Kilpatrick, Australia 1920-173x
1994: John Pride 1920-174x
1995: John Pride 1920-179x
1996: Mickey Fowler 1918-184x
1996: Ross G. Newell, Australia 1920.163x
1997: Bruce Piatt 1920-181x
1998: Doug Koenig 1920-180x
1999: Bruce Piatt *1920-185x (High Score)
2000: Doug Koenig *1920-185x (High Score)
2001: Doug Koenig 1920-184x
2002: Doug Koenig 1920-184x
2003: Doug Koenig 1920-183x
2004: Doug Koenig 1920-177x
2005: Doug Koenig *1920-185x (High Score)
2006: Bruce Piatt 1920-177x
2007: Doug Koenig *1920-185x (High Score)
2008: Doug Koenig 1918-185x
2009: Bruce Piatt 1920 – 181x
2010: Doug Koenig 1920-179x
Stock Firearm (Production) Champions
1994: Bruce Gray-Category Winner 1883-112x
1995: Rod Jones- Category Winner 1810-105x
1996: Bruce Gray-Category Winner 1889-125x
1997: Steve Sweeney-Category Winner 1850-115x
Production Class Champions
2009: Dave Sevigny 1806-101x
2010: Kyle Schmidt 1856-121x
Metallic Sight Firearm Champions
1998: Chad Dietrich 1905-125x
1999: Fred Craig 1863-127x
2000: Rob Leatham
Rob Leatham
Robert Jennings Leatham , also known as "TGO" is a successful professional shooter...
1897-145x
2001: Vance Schmid 1896-130x
2002: Rob Leatham
Rob Leatham
Robert Jennings Leatham , also known as "TGO" is a successful professional shooter...
1884-136x
2003: Frederick Craig 1886-128x
2004: Rob Leatham
Rob Leatham
Robert Jennings Leatham , also known as "TGO" is a successful professional shooter...
1905-144x
2005: Rob Leatham
Rob Leatham
Robert Jennings Leatham , also known as "TGO" is a successful professional shooter...
*1910-153x (High Score)
2006: Rob Leatham
Rob Leatham
Robert Jennings Leatham , also known as "TGO" is a successful professional shooter...
1902-145x
2007: Rob Leatham
Rob Leatham
Robert Jennings Leatham , also known as "TGO" is a successful professional shooter...
1902-153x
2008: Rob Vadasz 1902-138x
2009: Rob Leatham
Rob Leatham
Robert Jennings Leatham , also known as "TGO" is a successful professional shooter...
1909-145x
2010: Rob Vadasz 1904-146x
NRA National Action Pistol Women’s Champions
1980: Edith Almeida 1821-073x
1981: Edith Almeida 1652-045x
1982: Edith Almeida 1304-077x
1983: Sally Van Valzah 1765-091x
1984: Lee Cole 1761-096x
1985: Lee Cole 1957-119x
1986: Christie Rogers 1759-096x
1987: Lorna Pavelka 1787-088x
1988: Christie Rogers 1836-111x
1989: Yoko Shimomura 1882-129x
1990: Christie Rogers 1885-124x
1991: Janina Tenace 1888-134x
1992: Lorna Pavelka 1899-142x
1993: Judy Woolley 1898-148x
1994: Judy Woolley 1906-148x
1995: Dewi Hazeltine 1908-150x
1996: Sharon Edington 1899-140x
1997: Sharon Edington 1906-142x
1998: Anita Mackiewicz *1914-148x (High Score)
1999: Vera Koo 1894-137x
2000: Robyn Estreich 1902-157x
2001: Vera Koo *1910-137x (High Score)
2002: Vera Koo 1905-151x
2003: Vera Koo 1894-141x
2004: Vera Koo 1886-136x
2005: Vera Koo 1894-149x
2006: Vera Koo 1897-143x
2007: Julie Goloski 1903-139x
2008: Vera Koo 1870-136x
2009: Julie Goloski Golob 1907-138x
2010: Jessie Abbate 1906-163x
NRA World Action Pistol Champions – Open
1994: John Pride 1920-174x
1997: Adrian Hunter 1920-150x
1999: Doug Koenig 1920-180x
2004: Doug Koenig 1920-177x
2006: Bruce Piatt 1920-176x
2008: Doug Koenig 1920-181x
2010: Doug Koenig *1920-188x (High Score)
NRA World Action Pistol Champions – Metallic
1994: N/A
1997: N/A
1999: N/A
2004: Jerry Miculek
Jerry Miculek
Jerry Miculek is a speed shooter and competition shooting instructor, experienced in nearly every type of firearm made. He is renowned as one of the fastest revolver shooters in the world, emptying a five-shot revolver in 0.57 seconds in a group the size of a playing card. Miculek currently holds...
1893-122x
2006: Frank Reiche 1852-124x
2008: Vance Schmid *1902-133x (High Score)
2010: Tony Drabsch 1887-125x
NRA World Action Pistol Champions – Production
2010: Marc Kleser 1839-109x
NRA World Action Champions – Stock Gun
1999: United Kingdom
Multiple and consecutive Bianchi Cup Champions
Country | Champion | Total | Years |
---|---|---|---|
Doug Koenig | 13 | 1990, 1992, 1998, 2000–2005, 2007, 2008, 2010-2011 | |
Bruce Piatt | 5 | 1993, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2009 | |
Mickey Fowler | 4 | 1980, 1981, 1982, 1996 | |
John Pride | 4 | 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995 | |
Brian Enos | 2 | 1983, 1984 | |
W. Riley Gilmore | 2 | 1986, 1991 |
Bianchi Facts
The Bianchi Cup is the brainchild of former police officer John Bianchi of holster maker Bianchi InternationalBianchi International
Bianchi International of Temecula, California is a worldwide producer of leather and nylon goods for the law enforcement industry. Since the 1970s they have produced items from gun holsters to duty belts and everything related in between...
and the late Ray Chapman – one of the original "Combat Masters" of IPSC
International Practical Shooting Confederation
The International Practical Shooting Confederation is a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting. Accuracy, power and speed are all required to achieve a maximum score.-Founding and organization:...
shooting, as a law enforcement training match. In the early years only the top-finishing competitors from wildly varying disciplines – from Olympics ISSF Pistol/NRA Conventional Pistol Bullseye to IPSC
IPSC
IPSC may refer to:* Induced pluripotent stem cell, a type of pluripotent stem cell* International Practical Shooting Confederation, a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting...
, were personally invited by the match creators to compete together equally. Over the years the match became proving ground for high-tech, cutting-edge firearm technology that competitors were encouraged to exploit due to the relatively unrestricted equipment rules in hopes that insights gained can be practically applied to law enforcement applications. See racegun
Racegun
A racegun is a type of handgun, shotgun, or rifle that has been modified for accuracy, speed, and reliability. Used primarily in NRA Action Pistol , USPSA/IPSC and similar styles of competition, raceguns are typically based on common guns and modified to function the best within a certain set of...
s for more descriptive details regarding these specialized "Cup" guns.
The Courses of Fire that comprise the 1920 aggregate points consists of four separate matches:
The Practical Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at distances from 10 yards to 50 yards under varying time limits.
The Barricade Event: From within shooting boxes and behind barricades, a shooter fires at targets on either side of the barricade at different distances and under varying time limits.
The Falling Plate Event: From the appropriate shooting line, the shooter fires at 8 inch round steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances from 10 to 25 yards under varying time limits.
The Moving Target Event: From within shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards, the shooter fires at a target moving from left to right with the target being exposed for only 6 seconds.
Competitors shoot from both standing and prone positions and are also required to shoot with both strong and weak hands at various stages.
2010
- Alpen Outdoor Corporation
- Ammo Safe, Inc
- ATK FederalFederal CartridgeFederal Cartridge is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alliant Techsystems, located in Edina, Minnesota. With a work force of nearly 1,000 in Anoka, Minnesota, Federal manufactures a complete line of shotshell, centerfire, and rimfire ammunition and components....
- Bagmaster
- Bass Pro ShopsBass Pro ShopsBass Pro Shops is a privately held retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise. Bass Pro Shops is known for a large selection of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor gear.-History:The owner, John L...
- Bladetech
- Brownell's
- Caspian Arms
- ColtColt's Manufacturing CompanyColt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
- Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Competition Electronics
- Cylinder & Slide
- D-Sport
- David Clark CompanyDavid Clark CompanyDavid Clark Company, Inc. is an American manufacturer, best known for noise attenuating headsets with boom microphones for use in military aviation, commercial aviation, industry and professional communication in high-noise environments...
- Dillon Precision
- Dynamic Finishes
- FNH USA
- Glock
- Glockworx
- Heckler & KochHeckler & KochHeckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
- Hodgdon Powder
- Hogue
- Holiday InnHoliday InnHoliday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
- HornadyHornadyHornady Manufacturing Company is an American manufacturer of ammunition and handloading components, based in Grand Island, Nebraska.The company was founded by Joyce Hornady in 1949 and is currently run by his son Steve Hornady who took over after his father's death in a plane crash in 1981.Hornady...
- Parkside Optical
- Maui JimMaui JimMaui Jim is an American luxury brand of sunglasses based in Peoria, Illinois. All sets of Maui Jim sunglasses feature UV-Ray blocking polarized lenses that enhance color, and almost all lines are marketed with an oceanic, sporty theme...
- MidwayUSAMidwayUSAMidwayUSA is a privately-held American retailer and wholesaler of various hunting and gun-related products. The company is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, and sells in the continental United States and internationally, through a separate division. The company markets online and through...
- Montana Gold Bullets
- Montana Silversmiths
- Mossy Oak Properties
- National Shooting Sports FoundationNational Shooting Sports FoundationThe National Shooting Sports Foundation, is a non-profit trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearms industry. Based in Newtown, Connecticut in the United States, NSSF's membership includes manufacturers, distributors, retailers, sportsmen's organizations and media.NSSF manages...
- Nighthawk CustomNighthawk CustomNighthawk Custom is a firearm company based in Berryville, Arkansas, United States of America that manufactures custom M1911 pistols, rifles, shotguns, and tactical knives for competition shooters, military, law enforcement, and self-defense.-History:...
- Northwest Territorial Mint
- Otis Technology
- Protocal Design
- Ramada Inn
- RoCo Firearms Technology
- SafarilandSafarilandSafariland, LLC is a division of BAE Systems, Inc. a subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based defense and aerospace company BAE Systems PLC. It is a major designer and manufacturer of equipment for sporting, military, law enforcement, investigation and public safety personnel.-History:The company was...
- Sig Sauer
- Sierra BulletsSierra BulletsFounded in 1947 in California, Sierra Bullets is an American manufacturer of bullets intended for firearms. Based in Sedalia, Missouri since 1990, Sierra manufactures a very wide range of bullets for both rifles and pistols. Sierra bullets are used for precision target shooting, hunting and defense...
- Sporting Shooters Association of AustraliaSporting Shooters Association of AustraliaThe Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia was established in 1948 to promote shooting sports and protect firearm owners' interests. The SSAA currently has over 120,000 members, making it the largest body representing licensed firearm owners in Australia, and covers all aspects of shooting...
- Smith and Wesson
- Stack On Products
- STI FirearmsSTI International IncSTI International, Inc. is a Texas-based company that manufactures complete M1911 pistols and parts for competition, duty and self-defense...
- Sturm, RugerSturm, RugerSturm, Ruger & Company, Incorporated is a Southport, Connecticut-based firearm manufacturing company, better known by the shortened name Ruger. Sturm, Ruger produces bolt-action, semi-automatic, full-automatic, and single-shot rifles, shotguns, semi-automatic pistols, and single- and double-action...
- SunBuster
- TrijiconTrijiconTrijicon ) is an American company, based in Wixom, Michigan, that manufactures and distributes optical sighting devices for firearms, including pistols, rifles, and shotguns....
- What-ya-Say Hearing Protection
- Wiley X
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- Zero Bullets
Media Coverage
Since 2008, Shooting USA on the nationally syndicated Outdoor Channel has covered the NRA Bianchi Cup championship.It has also been covered in other press, including numerous professional and amateur videos uploaded to You Tube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, Shooting Sports USA the digital magazine, American Rifleman magazine, Down Range TV with Michael Bane, the popular Gun Nuts media firearms blog, and NRAblog.
See also
- National Rifle AssociationNational Rifle AssociationThe National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
- Bianchi InternationalBianchi InternationalBianchi International of Temecula, California is a worldwide producer of leather and nylon goods for the law enforcement industry. Since the 1970s they have produced items from gun holsters to duty belts and everything related in between...
- Action ShootingAction shootingAction shooting is a term that encompasses target shooting events where the shooter's score is based on both the accuracy and elapsed time. Disciplines covered by the term include:*United States Practical Shooting Association...
- Steel ChallengeSteel ChallengeThe Steel Challenge is a speed shooting championship and governed by the Steel Challenge Shooting Association . The competition was founded by Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman. The targets, made of steel, range in size from 10" round plates to 18"x24" square plates...
- IPSCInternational Practical Shooting ConfederationThe International Practical Shooting Confederation is a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting. Accuracy, power and speed are all required to achieve a maximum score.-Founding and organization:...
- USPSAUnited States Practical Shooting AssociationThe United States Practical Shooting Association, or USPSA, is the national governing body of one form of Practical shooting in the United States, and is the US Region of the International Practical Shooting Confederation...
External links
- http://www.nrahq.org/compete/nm_actionshooting.asp NRA Bianchi Cup Homepage
- http://www.nrahq.org/compete NRA Competitive Shooting Programs
- https://www.nrahq.org/compete/bianchi/Default.asp Enter the Bianchi Cup
- http://www.nrablog.com The NRA Blog
- http://www.downrange.tv/blog/?p=1115
- http://www.bianchi-intl.com/history.html
- http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/mar/29/bianchi-cup-draws-worlds-most-skilled-handguns/
- http://www.myoutdoortv.com/news/nra-bianchi-cup-unveils-speed-star-event-honoring-ray-chapman.html
- http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20090601122936792
- http://www.americanrifleman.org/Video.aspx?vid=1877
- http://www.americanrifleman.org/Video.aspx?vid=1879
- http://www.issuu.com/compshoot/docs/2011nrabianchiguide