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The NRA's National Rifle Matches held every year during the months of July and August.
The National Matches, considered America's "World Series of the Shooting Sports", have been a tradition at Camp Perry (located on the shores of Lake Erie, near Port Clinton, Ohio), Ohio since 1907. Each summer, the nation's finest civilian and military marksmen and women square off for five weeks of rifle and handgun competition in a variety of formats and events.
Brief History of the Civilian Marksmanship Program
The lack of marksmanship skills during the Spanish-American War persuaded Congress to pass a Congressional Act in 1903 to give federal funding to state militias to provide marksmanship instruction camps and practice rifle ranges. In 1906 the Ohio State Legislature appropriated $25,000 to purchase over 300 acres of land for a state rifle range and camp. By the summer of 1907 Camp Perry Training Site was home to a 200 yd., a 600 yd., and a 800 yd. rifle range. By 1909, Camp Perry had evolved into the largest and best rifle ranges in the United States. During World War I, Camp Perry was used as a training center for officers and marksmanship instructors. During World War II, Camp Perry was used as a new recruit reception center, and in 1943 became a prisoner of war camp housing 2500 German and 200 Italian POW's.
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