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or the third year, the Wyoming Tactical Rifle Championship (WTRC) brought world class competitors to the state in July 2013. For those that enjoy the sport of shooting, this is a challenging competition that receives national notability.
by Kati Hime photos by Ken Stoecklin, Beartooth Photography
The WTRC is the combined effort of Chuck MacIntosh of Mac’s Guns in Gillette, and Frank Bliss of the Bliss Ranch, located just north of Gillette. Chuck and Frank bring together a variety of fabulous sponsors to put on the three day event. Held in July (in 2014 from July 11 - 13), 2013’s third annual event welcomed teams from all over the country. “We had teams come from New Mexico, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Ohio, to name a few,” Chuck MacIntosh says. Two man teams combine the skills of multiple specialties. “Each team consists of one precision rifleman and one carbine shooter, while both competitors
must be proficient with a pistol,” the event description says. The WTRC goes on to say that rifle targets vary 0-1000 yards, carbine 0-500 yards, and pistol 0-50 yards. The teams may choose their firearms, however they must use the same firearm throughout the match. Caliber requirements for rifle/carbine are .30 caliber or smaller and less than 3200 feet per second; service pistols at 9mm caliber or larger. Pistols must also be “field durable, and carried in a safe secure field practical holster,” WTRC rules a dd. For rifle/carbine, field practical sights are allowed, as are field practical support devices and range estimating devices. Pistol magazines beyond +2 cartridge base pads are
not allowed, while optical pistol sights are as long as they “…can be securely retained in a holster and the competitor understands there are no alibis for breakage,” WTRC rules say. The competition is a grueling physical event. Days one and two challenge the two man teams with 1.5 miles of rugged terrain and targets. “Each day involves running two timed courses of fire,” WTRC rules explain. The teams are monitored and scored by a field range o?cer. On day three, the teams compete in a shoot off, with points awarded to the top ten teams which are added to the overall total. The best individual marksman is awarded through a final
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