HALLSVILLE, Mo. – The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is pleased to announce the addition of the Bianchi Cup International Pistol Tournament, the second oldest pistol championship in the world, to its match schedule in 2023. The CMP Bianchi Cup is scheduled to shoot May 23-26 at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri, and is sure to be the action gun competition of the year!
“The Bianchi Cup has been one of the most prestigious pistol events in history,” said Jim Henderson, CMP pistol coordinator. “The CMP is very excited to be involved, and we look forward to not only bringing what we do to the Bianchi Cup, but also expanding our presence in the popular action pistol sport.”
An annual event since 1979, the CMP Bianchi Cup is proud to have MidwayUSA, an industry leader in shooting, hunting and outdoor activities, as its title sponsor. The Bianchi Cup is made up of four events, including:
- The practical eventwhere competitors shoot at distances from 10 to 50 yards under different time limits from the firing line.
- The barricade eventwhere competitors shoot at targets on both sides of the barricade at different distances and under different time limits from within the shooting boxes and behind the barricades.
- The falling plate eventwhere competitors fire eight-inch round steel plates arranged in banks of six at distances of 10 to 25 yards in varying time limits.
- The moving target eventwhere competitors shoot from inside the shooting boxes at distances ranging from 10 to 25 yards at a target moving from left to right, with the target exposed for six seconds.
Competitors shoot from standing and prone positions and must also shoot with strong and weak hands in various stages. There are no recovery shots in the Bianchi Cup, which increases the difficulty of the event.
“CMP is honored to host this historic and respected action pistol event,” said Christie Sewell, CMP Director of Programs. “Everyone at CMP looks forward to working with the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club to make this year’s Bianchi Cup a great success.”
With the arrival of the new CMP Action Pistol Program, we have created the CMP Action Pistol Competition Rules. Most of these rules are similar to those currently in use, but competitors are encouraged to review the CMP rules. There are changes in significant areas such as allowed equipment and pistol mods. Please familiarize yourself with these new rules to help eliminate any confusion on game day. An electronic version of the CMP Action Pistol Competition Rules will be published on the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-competitions-rulebooks/.
About the Bianchi Cup:
The Bianchi Cup was created by Ray Chapman (a WWII Navy veteran, law enforcement officer, and IPSC champion from the 1970s) and famed holster maker, California National Guard Major General, law enforcement officer and Hollywood cowboy John Bianchi. While discussing the current state of pistol competitions being held across the country at the time, Bianchi and Chapman realized there was a need for an event featuring a combination of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) , Police Gun Combat and precision pistol shooting. styles, an idea that became the Bianchi Cup.
Over the years, the championship has been internationally recognized by top shooters from around the world, helping to create one of the fastest growing disciplines in the action shooting community. For details on the 2023 CMP Bianchi Cup, please visit the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-pistol-program/cmp-bianchi-cup/.
About the Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club:
The Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club, formerly the Chapman Training Academy, was named for Ray Chapman before his passing in 2008. The club has been the annual host of the Bianchi Cup since its inception. The origin of the club dates back to the 1930s and it has played an important role in creating the discipline of practical shooting. The facility has several firing ranges, including two motors, a Bianchi barricade, two 50-yard Bianchi practical ranges, a 250+-yard rifle range, and a tumbling plate shooting range. Find out more via the range website at https://www.gvshoot.com/.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearms safety and marksmanship training and the promotion of marksmanship competition for United States citizens. To learn more about the CMP and its programs, log on to www.TheCMP.org.