Registrations for the 27th Annual National Postal Matches are now open and will remain open until August 31st, 2023. The registration form appears below. A photocopy is acceptable, however all signatures must be original.

The top three winners from each of the nine NMLRA regions and internationally, for both rifle and pistol, will be announced in Muzzle Blasts. The top three winners overall for both rifle and pistol will each receive a national plaque.

The National Postal Matches are open to all current members in good standing. The competitions will consist of a four-target, 200- point offhand rifle aggregate and/ or a three-target, 260- point pistol aggregate. Rifle competitors may use any safe muzzle loading rifle of either traditional or modern design. Pistol competition is open to any safe muzzle loading pistol or revolver, traditional, or modern in style. Projectiles may be round ball, bullet, or sabot. Sights for both will be any metallic sights which include peep sights, but not telescopic sights. All rifle matches are to be shot offhand and pistol matches shot with one hand, arm extended. Rifle targets consist of Crow at 25 yards, 5 shots; Deer at 50 yards, 5 shots; Fox at 50 yards, 5 shots; Bear at 100 yards, 5 shots. Pistol targets consist of P2-25 yards target at 25 yards, 10 shots; Bottle Target At 25 yards, 1 shot per bottle; 6 shots. P1-50 yard target at 50 yards. 10 shots. All competitors will score their own targets and complete their sheets. The scores will be checked by the Postal Match committee.

The NMLRA does not score using NRA Scoring (The ball/bullet touching the ring receive the higher score). NMLRA scoring is over half the ball/bullet has to be in to receive the higher score. The reason for this is that not every shooter is using the same size ball/bullet. A .54 or .62 cal ball/bullet has a better chance of touching the scoring ring than a .32 cal ball/bullet. We have members that shoot smaller calibers (.22 flintlock pistols) to large caliber rifles (.62 round ball). The NMLRA measures center point of impact. All the matches at the NMLRA National matched are scored the same way.

The results of the 2022 Postal Matches are in. This was a great opportunity to compete on a national level, and has become a way of competing with old friends and new, too distant to compete with locally. As with all shooting, the real competition is with yourself. To keep things as affordable as possible, we offer the matches with or without the overlay. The 2023 Aggregate fee will be $14.00 with the overlay, $13.00 without it.

The National Pistol Winners:

1st Brian Rowell 198-3X

2nd Arthur McCall 197-3X

3rd John Nagazyna 191

The National Rifle Winners:

1st Jim Burnett 134-2X

2nd Brian Rowell 130-2X

3rd James Rike 128-1X

NMLRA REGIONS

REGION 1 – NORTH EASTERN: ME, MA, VT, NH, CT, RI, NY

REGION 2 – EASTERN: PA, MD, WV, DE, VA, NJ

REGION 3 – SOUTHEASTERN: TN, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, NC, SC

REGION 4 – OLD NORTHWEST: OH, MI, IN, KY

REGION 5 – MID WESTERN: MN, WI, IA, MO, IL

REGION 6 – HIGH PLAINS: ND, SD, NE, KS

REGION 7 – PACIFIC: WA, OR, ID, NV, CA, HI, AK

REGION 8 – WESTERN: MT, WY, UT, CO

REGION 9 – SOUTH WESTERN: AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR

Here is the 2023 finishing order from each of the nine NMLRA regions for rifle and pistol.

REGIONAL WINNERS

Pistol:

Region 1: Brian Rowell 198-3X, Bradford Marshall 130-1X.

Region 2: Randol George 186-1X.

Region 3: Paul H Eaton 139, William M. Chadwick, Jr. 69.

Region 4: Arthur McCall 197-3X, Jacob Rader 159-1X.

Region 5: Larry Cihacek 142-1X, Paul Kindamo 142.

Region 6: No Entries.

Region 7: John Nagazyna 191.

Region 8: William Sathe 85.

Region 9: Danny Ball 178, Tom Wilder 79.

Rifle

Region 1: Brian Powell 130-2X, James Rike 128-1X, Bradford Marshall 100, John Urcello 68-1X.

Region 2: Joseph Gingrich 86, Randol George 80-1X, Matthew McDonald 64-1X, Jim Budd 49.

Region 3: Jim Burnett 134-2X, Debbie Nicholas 71, G. Mark Goostree 59, Ronald Turner 50.

Region 4: David Krier 106-2X, Jacob Rader 106-1X, Dennis Damphinais 26, Scott Ballentine 24.

Region 5: Leonard Cihacek 78-1X.

Region 6: No Entries.

Region 7: Mike McGuire 75.

Region 8: William Sathe 72.

Region 9: Danny Ball 103, Tom Wilder 60.

The 2022 NMLRA Postal Matches had a total of 80 entries. Total Rifle entries 51, returned 21. Pistol entries 29, returned 13. Hopefully this program will grow more this year.

Thanks go to all of you who participated in the 2022 Postal Matches!