Developing Your Shooting Skills: HHC 2026
Those that take on the challenge of hunting with handguns must do so with the realization that handgunning is perishable skill. It takes practice and dedication to the fundamentals to stay proficient, and pushing one’s limits in practice is key to growing. The annual Handgun Hunters Competition (HHC) in Newcastle Wyoming certainly achieves that push.
Handgun Hunters Competition took place June 18-21 this year and nearly 60 shooters from all over the U.S., and a couple from Germany, came out to test their skill in the black hills of eastern Wyoming. Check-in and registration were held at the Weston County Sportsman’s Club and Gun Range. Old faces and new were in attendance and many competitors took to the range to confirm their zero after check-in. Thanks to Precision Shooting Supply LLC., there was live fire testing booth available for both Spohr revolvers and STP pistols. I was able to thumb the hammer and put a cylinder full down range from the Spohr N670 for the first time and let me tell ya, the quality was apparent from the get-go. After protecting my wallet from lighting on fire at the Spohr booth, it was great to catch up with a few past competitors before turning in for the night at my favorite haunt, the Sundowner Inn.
I was up early the next morning, grabbed the complimentary breakfast at the Sundowner to go, and proceeded to the staging area for our convoy to our undisclosed match location. After a short drive with a bit of a detour thanks to an undisclosed navigational error by one of the match staff, not to be named, we arrived at the ranch. Matches are hosted on a variety of private ranches in the beautiful black hills just a short drive out of town and provide excellent shooting. The morning was cool and bright as the competitors gathered for their safety brief.
With the briefing complete, we were paired off into squads of six to eight shooters with a member of the match staff in each squad to ensure things ran safely and smoothly. A short hike to our first stage brought us to our first amazing overlook with targets arrayed throughout a valley below us.
Targets were Identified for each of the four divisions, rimfire, revolver/pistol optics, revolver/pistol iron sights, and single shot. These targets range in size from about 1” in the rimfire division to coyote sized targets in the single shot and revolver/pistol divisions. The engagement distances also vary widely from 10 yards or so out to beyond 400 yards at steep angles and with a few obstructions mixed in. This mix of target sizes, distances, and even cover really makes for a challenge.
The squads fire through each division, one at a time, before rotating to the next station, eight stations in all. New for 2026, shooters started at a ready line behind the designated shooting box for the station. When the timer says go, the shooter moves to the box (over uneven terrain), establishes their firing position, acquires their first target, and fires. This adds great realism to the event making it feel like you just spotted an animal, moved to cover, got stable, and placed a good shot under pressure. The shooting box is generally set up around stumps, logs, rocks, trees, or other things you’d find in the field. They’re often not perfect rests or are purposely unstable, challenging the shooter to make adjustments in the moment, perfectly analogous to field conditions on a spot and stalk type hunt. Over the two days of shooting, the competitors were treated to stunning views, bright sun, rain, and high winds along with a great meal each night. The varying conditions reinforced that, while this is an individual event, your squad acting as spotters plays a critical role in each stage.
After completing each of the eight stations the competitors who are able were asked to pick up and pile the hundreds of steel targets on the range, quite the task in the rough terrain, but a small ask to help the folks who manage the event. Once complete, we retired back to town to attend the awards banquet.
The awards banquet was well attended by vendors and manufacturers, including ACED Embroidery, Nixon Leather, Precision Shooting Supply, Sport Target Pistol, and Spohr revolvers. Thomas Spohr, the owner of Spohr revolvers, even traveled from Germany with his son to participate and he showed us how it was done on a couple stages. I think Thomas was pretty taken back seeing his revolvers used at the ranges we shot that weekend and maybe even sparked some ideas for a new design.
While the prize table is always well appointed, thanks to sponsors throughout the shooting industry, the mission of HHC is not to win but to enable hand gunners and make better marksmen. The continued camaraderie of the competitors astounds me annually as I continue to grow myself. The confidence I’ve gained from the realistic shooting scenarios in this event has given me self-assurance to take my handguns afield throughout several states, and even Africa. The 2027 HHC is already planned for Father’s Day weekend next year and I look forward to the event. I hope to see you out there!
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