The last two years I have been blessed to be a part of Umarex’s shooting team. During this time, I’ve learned a lot about shooting, and, more significantly, learned what I don’t know about shooting. I like to think I’ve been pretty open about my limitations. Shooting in competition will expose those limitations as sure as the sun rises.
Early on the Calendar: RMAC
As I write this here in late January, two of the three major competitions we attend and shoot have announced their dates for 2026. First on the calendar is the Rocky Mountain Airgun Challenge, hosted by Utah Airguns in lovely Springville, Utah. Utah Airguns has set the date for the Garth Kilpatrick Range based event for June 23rd through the 28th.
This event hosts competitions in the following disciplines: 100 Yard Benchrest, Long Range Big Bore, Small Bore Precision, and Speed Challenge. This event hosts a lot of shooters, but could use some more of YOU airgun shooters from the mountain west and beyond.
The centerpiece of this event is the benchrest competition. Each shooter shoots two cards, on different days and at different times. This helps keep any conditional challenges equal during the competition. The big bore competition is real stretch, literally. Targets on the mountainside can be farther than a quarter mile away! This competition tests equipment and your ability to make the correct ranging call on each shot. It’s science, skill, and consistency that are measured here.
For excitement, both the speed competition and small bore precision competition do the trick. Being fast and accurate in both competitions help. A lot. Speed is maximized by fast shooting, rhythm, and accuracy under time. Precision requires the ability to shoot accurately from contorted or odd positions, out beyond 250 yards with 30 caliber or smaller air rifles.
Be ready to deal with desert conditions, wind, and moon dust if you go to RMAC.
Oh, Oh, Oh, Ohio or Whatever the Black Keys Said
Pyramyd Air has also announced the dates for the Pyramyd Air Cup for 2026. This year the PA Cup will run from August 5th through the 8th. Historically, the Pyramyd Cup has been held in September, so the move to August will close up the distance between the previous competition somewhat. That said, the Pyramyd Air Cup is ran like a well oiled machine. There are three events that take place at the fine, and I do mean fine facilities of the Cardinal Shooting Center Range in Marengo, Ohio (Seriously, this place is MASSIVE and hosts national shotgun and smallbore events all throughout the year.).
The one constant in the competition scene is the benchrest. Punching paper at 100 yards and dealing with the unpredictable Ohio winds is what’s for dinner at the PA Cup! Once again, shooters take on two cards in different conditions and see where the pellets lay. It’s fun and always a challenge to get a better shot on each successive target.
The next event on the docket here is Pyramyd’s take on speed, the Gunslynger. This competition is divided into two classifications, PCP and Springer. The rules vary between the two, and I’ll not go into the details here, but I will advise you to shoot both! The springer competition is hugely satisfying and it should not be passed up.
The third event on the card at the PA Cup is field target. This event plays by the AAFTA rules and is considered a Grand Prix Field Target competition. As such, there are no cash prizes presented for this category of the Cup. If you have not shot FT before, I highly recommend entering this competition. This event favors very accurate .177 caliber pellet rifles, but .22 caliber rifles can be used here as well, so long as they don’t exceed 20 ft-lbs of energy. You’ll want a few shooting accessories like a shooting stick or long bipod, seat, and an elbow bag.
WIth the time alloted, the Pyramyd Air crew does an amazing job organizing and keeping events flowing. It really is quite remarkable.
While there are plenty of shooting teams represented at the Pyramyd Air Cup, this event is all about independent shooters. People drive from all over the midwest and northeast to shoot their custom rifles here. What could make it better? More independent shooters!
As soon as registration opens up, I highly recommend that you sign up for one or both of these events as your vacation schedule and travel ability allows. I’m very serious about this. These events are 100% worth it and you will meet some amazing people along the way.
Airguns of Arizona presents Extreme Benchrest, typically during October each year. At the time of this writing, Airguns of Arizona has not announced the dates for EBR. As soon as we know those dates, we will let you all know here on the blog!
Mark Davis, avid outdoorsman, family man, and outdoors writer is the eCommerce Marketing Manager for Umarex USA.