Postal League Events
A Postal Match is a match in which the competitors fire on their home ranges using targets which have
been marked for identification. The fired targets are then returned to the Postal Match Sponsor for
scoring and awards.
Postal Matches help fill the need for specialized matches among groups that are unable to support
their own separate competitions or for individuals who wish to compete but are not able to travel the
distances required for certain venues.
SDSSA members have several postal venues to chose from, the Brookings Postal League, The Dakota Postal
League, the North Dakota offering and several NRA postal venues. Information about these venues can be
found below complete with contact information.
Brookings Silhouette Postal League
Contact Leland Nordquist - 605-693-3903
The Brookings Indoor Silhouette Postal League starts each year in December, with the final targets
being due sometime in March. You shoot at your home range or a range that is convenient to you.
When you sign up, you are sent certified targets that are stamped with your name and the class
you have chosen to shoot in. When your targets are shot, you mail them in to the Match
Coordinator for scoring and posting. There is a class for many different types of long guns
and pistols, so it is easy for a new shooter to fit into a category using the firearm
that you currently own.
The league keeps dozens of shooters from around the state busy punching holes in 4 sets
of paper silhouette targets during the winter months. Some of the shooters shoot in as
many as 5 of the 8 different categories and that boils down to 800 shots, not counting
practice shots. That's dedication!
The 2 most popular categories the last couple years are the Open Sights Hunting Rifle
and Peep Sights Hunting Rifle. That shows that a lot of the older hunting rifles that we
couldn't part with, but didn't use a lot, are being put to good use. Pistol shooters
are also welcome in this league and have a good following of shooters as well.
For those of you who haven't shot the Silhouette Postal League, it follows NRA guidelines
and classifications but is not an NRA event. The only requirement is that you be a member
of the South Dakota Shooting Sports Association.
2009/2010 was the 24th year that we have been shooting the Silhouette Postal League which
started in 1987. We can all be thankful to have this venue and hope that it is an opportunity
for generations to come. We look forward to having you join us. Keep on shooting!
Dakota Pistol Postal League
Dakota League pistol competition is based upon NRA style bull's-eye pistol shooting, that is, one handed.
The course of fire is the same as a NRA bull's-eye match: slow fire, which allows 10 minutes for 10
shots; timed fired (larger scoring rings), which consists of two strings of fire, 5 rounds per
string, 20 seconds per string; and, rapid fire, which consists of two strings of fire, 5 rounds per
string, 10 seconds per string. Ideally, these should all be shot on a turning target system,
the same as at a match.
Iron sights or optics are a matter of personal choice; the NRA does not differentiate. Competition
is limited to rim fire .22 pistols or revolvers.
Over the course of the league, there are 8 sets of targets to be shot, typically 2 sets per month.
Each set is one slow fire, one timed fire, and one rapid fire, for 30 shots, and 300 points possible.
Dakota League is a team competition, but individuals can shoot as well, for high individual score
honors, as do the team shooters. A maximum of 8 shooters can be on a team, and for a club to field a
team, the club must be affiliated with the SDSSA.
Team sign up typically takes place in early Dec. each year, with the first two sets of targets due
in early Jan.
NRA Postal Events
NRA Center Fire Pistol-Conducted annually, January through December. This competition is open to any individual who enters and
fires the required course of fire between January and December. Individuals may enter this postal only
once per calendar year. The postal winner will receive an award and special categories and classification
awards will be based on Participation.
http://www.nrahq.org/compete/Postals/NRA-CFPistol.pdf
NRA Conventional Pistol-Conducted annually, January through December. This competition is open to any individual who enters and
fires the required course of fire between January and December. Individuals may enter this postal only
once per calender year. The postal winner will receive an award and special categories and classification
awards will be based on participation.
Conventional and Center Fire Pistol Aggregate - The combined scores from both the Center Fire and
Conventional Pistol postals will determine an aggregate pistol winner who will receive an award plaque.
http://www.nrahq.org/compete/Postals/NRA-ConvPistol.pdf
NRA Open Air Pistol-Conducted annually, September through May 5th. Open to all air pistol shooters. This is an individual
event. Courses of fire are 60 shots for men or 40 shots for mowmen, 40 or 60 shots for junior men and
junior women.
http://www.nrahq.org/compete/Postals/OpenAirPistol.pdf
NRA Conventional 3 and 4-Position Smallbore Rifle-Conducted annually, November through March. Open to all smallbore rifle shooters. Competition is for
3-Position and 4-Position Smallbore Rifle. The team match is an unfired match generated by the fired
scores of four participating individuals. This match is open to Adult as well as Junior competitors.
NRA National Women on Target® Postal Matches-Conducted annually, January 1 through December 27. This match is open to all Females, but only once per
calendar year. Membership in the NRA is not required but is encouraged. There are no age minimums or maximums.
http://www.nrahq.org/compete/Postals/WOT-prog.pdf