Handgun Hunter’s Competition was founded to help grow the sport. HHC has lead to numerous group hunts, new friends, and more all while making us better marksmen with a pistol.
HHC Background
Hosted by the Handgun Hunter’s Charitable Foundation, a 501c-3 nonprofit, Handgun Hunter’s Competition is the largest annual gathering of handgun hunters. Taking place the third weekend of June in Newcastle, Wyoming, this two day match aims to simulate realistic hunting scenarios.
Marksmanship is Required
Shots are taken from realistic barricades like fences, natural rock formations, and trees. Targets are sized to simulate vital zones of game animals, ranging from 1″ to 12″. Target distances range from 20 to 400 yards depending on the division.
Divisions
Four different divisions allow shooters to use a range of common hunting handguns. The four divisions are rimfire, single shot, revolver/semi auto iron sights, and revolver/semi auto optics. Equipment rules vary depending on the division.
Rimfire
Rimfire handguns must be light enough to shoot single handed and have a barrel no longer than 10”. Semiautos, like Browning Buckmarks and Ruger Mark IVs, are common along with various revolvers. Optics and iron sights are scored together, with most shooters choosing to use scope or red dot.
Single Shot
The single shot division has a 7.5lb weight limit. There’s a 6mm minimum caliber restriction. Any cartridge chambered by a major manufacturer for the Thompson Center Contender is permitted, along with 6.5 Creedmoor, 308, and 7-08. Break actions like Contenders and bolt actions like XP-100s are most common. While most of the top shooters in the single shot division use muzzle brakes and rifle scopes, any setup can be competitive in the hands of a skilled shooter.
Revolver/Pistol Irons and Optics
Revolvers are most common in the remaining two divisions, though a few shooters use semiautomatic pistols. Barrel length is limited to 12”, and any cartridge 30 caliber or larger is permitted.
Field Rests
A 3.5lb weight limit is imposed on all support equipment used in the match. This includes bags, bipods, shooting sticks, or any other supports. Tripods and any rest that can hold the gun by itself are not permitted. These rules, along with the restrictions placed on firearms for each division, help maintain the spirit of the match as a realistic simulation of hunting scenarios and help keep the match from turning into a gear race.
Bring what You Have!
A common theme across all divisions is that almost any popular hunting handgun can be competitive. While there are shooters competing with custom revolvers and XP-100s, factory Rugers, Smith and Wessons, and Contenders are well represented at the top of the scoreboard. Rules for the competition have been crafted in a way that ensures you can’t buy a win.
My Gear
My equipment for 2025 consisted of a Freedom Arms 2008 for single shot, a Model 83 in 357 Magnum with a Leupold handgun scope for revolver optics, and Buckmark topped with an Ultradot Matchdot II for rimfire. I didn’t shoot iron sights. Throughout the match I used two bags and a bipod for support. I only used the bipod on one stage. A notepad for stage notes, binoculars for finding targets and spotting, and drop cards for each gun rounded out the key equipment I used at the match.
For 2026 I plan to swap the red dot and scope on my revolver and Buckmark. I found some of the rimfire targets were too small to see without magnification, while the larger revolver targets could all be seen with the naked eye.
Scoring
Centerfire scoring varies slightly depending on the target shape. One shot is permitted on animal shaped targets. Two shots are permitted on geometric shapes. Regardless of the target, first round impacts received 2 points and second round impacts received 1.
Rimfire scoring is different. Those stages limit you to 10 rounds. You can engage a target as many times as you want but once it’s hit, it’s out of play. You are awarded 2 points for each hit. If you have rounds left over after the stage you receive 1 point per round remaining. But only if you hit all of the targets!
Certain revolver and rimfire targets had to be engaged offhand. For the most part these targets were generously sized and placed up close, but the pressure of competition meant they weren’t chip shots.
Arrival
2025 was my second year shooting HHC. I flew into Rapid City, South Dakota and arrived in Newcastle early the morning before the match. I spent the morning prairie dog hunting with a fellow competitor I met in 2024 on nearby public land, then headed to Weston County Sportsman Club who graciously opened their range for competitors to zero their firearms and get some last minute practice in. Our single shot handguns were weighed at the range to ensure compliance with the 7.5lb weight limit. After a safety brief the next morning the match began in earnest.
HHC 2025
HHC 2025 consisted of 8 stages across two ranches. Most stages consisted of 5-10 targets per division. Time limits vary depending on the division. Each ranch hosted one single target stage, where competitors had 90 seconds to build a position and fire up to 2 shots on a target. The single target stages were some of my favorites. I felt they provided the most realistic simulation of a hunting shot, and I enjoyed the extra challenge of building a position on the clock.
Wind is the Equalizer
I started on the south ranch, where most stages were set down and across a beautiful canyon. The wind was fairly calm in the morning, but picked up quickly throughout the day. By the time we finished up the last stage there was a stiff but consistent wind. Nothing separates experienced shooters from the rest quite like a windy day, especially with slow, high drag revolver bullets.
Here to Help
Competitors received coaching on the clock from other shooters in their squad, which proved to be hugely beneficial. Self spotting while shooting handguns, even single shots with rifle scopes and brakes, is much more difficult than self spotting with a rifle. A little help from fellow shooters goes a long way towards getting on target.
At the end of day one we painted all the targets, then headed back to town for dinner. A large private room was rented out at a local restaurant for the evening, giving us all a chance to meet and chat with other competitors.
Day 2
The next morning we returned to the ranches to shoot the final 4 stages. On the north ranch, where I shot on day two, most stages were shot uphill from the bottom of a canyon. This seemingly minor difference provided an entirely different feel to the second day of competition. The north ranch was also home to the most challenging target of the match: an uphill shot from a pile of logs at a 400yd prairie dog target. While I missed the dog, I did hit the 12” round gong next to it.
Awards
Day two ended with a catered banquet and an awards ceremony. A number of generous sponsors provided everything from reloading equipment to optics to certificates for gunsmithing work for the prize table. My best finish came in the single shot division, where I finished 9th out of 35 shooters.
Beneficial as a Handgunner
HHC has been hugely beneficial for me as a handgun shooter. Competition provides a clear metric to judge one’s abilities and provides clear goals to practice towards in the off season. And while the pressure of competition isn’t the same as hunting, it’s the closest surrogate I have found.
There’s other field style handgun competitions around the country, but of the ones I have shot HHC is the best. No other handgun match provides the same level of realism as HHC, nor are many set in a way that allows widely available factory handguns to be competitive in every division. HHC 2026 will take place June 19 and 20 in Newcastle, and sign ups open on January 2. If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to hone your handgun shooting skills, put them to the test, and meet other like minded people, look no farther.