NRA America’s Rifle Challenge Expands Nationwide with New Episode

Michael Bane Spotlights NRA America’s Rifle Challenge Growth

Veteran shooting sports broadcaster Michael Bane has dedicated the latest episode of his popular series ‘Triggered’ to NRA America’s Rifle Challenge, commonly known as ARC. Filmed partly at the A Girl & A Gun National Conference at Cameo Shooting Complex in Grand Junction, Colorado, the episode captures what happens when first-time competitors discover a structured, welcoming path into AR-15 competition. Bane, who has decades of experience covering shooting sports, describes ARC as far more than a tournament — it functions as a thorough, hands-on education in operating a modern rifle effectively and confidently. The Grand Junction event was a standout backdrop, drawing 700 women participants across 65 simultaneous training sessions. Multigun professionals Dianna and Ryan Muller led ARC barricade and movement stages for attendees, many of whom had never encountered the program before. Dianna Muller’s coaching style — breaking down reverse kneeling with simple, actionable cues — left participants visibly more confident and ready to enter their first ARC match. Whether someone is transitioning from a classic training rifle background or picking up a modern sporting rifle for the first time, the program is built to build real skills from the ground up.

Match Director Summit Sets the Standard for Consistent Competition

A pivotal segment of the episode shifts to Camp Atterbury in Indiana, where the inaugural NRA ARC Match Director Summit brought together 37 match directors representing 25 states. Over three days, attendees participated in both classroom learning and live-fire training, all aimed at ensuring the ARC experience remains consistent as the program scales across the country. Bane, himself a former match director across several disciplines, called the summit the kind of resource he wished had existed when he was starting out. The summit’s core mission was standardization — from stage design principles and scoring procedures to the precise language range officers use when addressing competitors. The goal is that a shooter who participates in an ARC match in Pennsylvania should walk onto a range in Nevada and feel immediately at home. Summit attendees also received an early look at ARC Level 2, which significantly expands the competitive possibilities. While Level 1 focuses on foundational skills including prone shooting, barricade use, movement drills, and both close-range and 100-yard marksmanship, Level 2 introduces moving barricades, vehicle stages, dynamic courses of fire, and distances extending to 150 yards. An optional Two-Gun format even incorporates pistol into the mix, broadening the challenge considerably.

Flexible Format Makes ARC Accessible to Ranges of All Sizes

One of the most compelling aspects of NRA America’s Rifle Challenge highlighted in Bane’s episode is its adaptability. Not every shooting facility has access to 100-yard bays or expansive outdoor ranges. Many clubs operate indoors or within 25-yard limitations, and ARC is designed with those realities in mind. Scaled paper and cardboard targets for both Level 1 and Level 2 competitions mean that a shorter range doesn’t deliver a lesser experience — just a differently configured one. This flexibility, combined with minimal gear requirements and a Level 1 format deliberately crafted to feel more like a productive training day than a high-pressure competition, is removing longstanding barriers for AR-15 owners who have never taken their rifle to a match. Just as a shooter moving from a pump air rifle to a centerfire platform benefits from structured progression, ARC provides a clear developmental path for modern rifle competitors at every level. With club rollouts continuing nationwide and the match director network expanding rapidly, the infrastructure is clearly in place to support significant growth. Those interested in finding local matches or learning more about hosting an ARC event can visit arc.nra.org for full program details and upcoming schedules.

Source: An NRA Shooting Sports Journal | NRA America’s Rifle Challenge Goes Nationwide in New Michael Bane ‘Triggered’ Episode