USPSA just dropped the details for the 2027 IPSC Rifle World Shoot, and if you’ve been eyeing a spot on Team USA, now’s the time to start planning. The match heads to Mongolia from July 20 to August 10, 2027, and qualification runs through six matches held across the United States in 2026.
Here’s what you need to know to put yourself in the running.
USPSA designated six matches as official qualifiers for the 2027 Rifle World Shoot. You’ll need to shoot at least three of these to be eligible. Your best three scores determine your qualification standing—so if you can swing four or more, you’ve got some insurance against a bad day.
Let’s break down each one:
This is the first qualifier on the calendar and kicks off the qualification period at the end of March. Zoo City Armory is known for putting on solid matches in North Carolina, and this one specifically targets World Shoot qualification. If you’re on the East Coast, this is probably your most accessible early option.
Five weeks after Zoo City, you’ve got Rifles in the Arena down in Georgia. This gives competitors in the Southeast two relatively close options in the first half of the year. If you’re planning to hit multiple qualifiers, the March-to-May window lets you knock out two back-to-back without waiting all summer.
Important clarification: this qualifier runs concurrent with but separate from the 2026 USPSA Multigun Nationals. It’s not the same match. The RQ3 qualifier features 4 IPSC Rifle-only stages (or rifle adaptations of select MGN stages), and you don’t need to shoot Multigun Nationals to compete in this qualifier—or vice versa. A DQ in one match doesn’t affect the other.
The catch: slot availability is tied to openings in the Multigun Nationals schedule matrix, so this is a limited-opportunity match. Sign up early—even if you land on a waitlist, spots may open up. Pre-match and main match time slots will be offered based on interest.
West Coast competitors finally get a home-field option with the Bay Area Rifle Championship. This one falls just a week after Multigun Nats, so if you’re chasing maximum qualification attempts and can swing the travel, you could potentially hit both in a 10-day span. Richmond offers easy access for anyone in California, Oregon, Washington, or Nevada.
The Heartland Qualifier gives Midwest competitors a central location without the coast-to-coast travel. Alda, Nebraska sits right in the middle of the country, making this one of the more accessible options for shooters from Texas up through the Dakotas and everywhere in between.
Rio Salado rounds out the qualifier list with a Southwest option. Dates haven’t been announced yet, so keep an eye on this one. Phoenix-area matches tend to draw strong fields, and Rio Salado has a reputation for well-run events. Once dates drop, registration details should follow.
| Qualifier | Match Name | Date | Location |
| RQ1 | Zoo City Armory Qualifier | Mar 28-29, 2026 | Maxton, NC |
| RQ2 | Rifles in the Arena | May 2-3, 2026 | Blakely, GA |
| RQ3 | IPSC Rifle Qualifier (at MGN) | Jul 16-19, 2026 | Forest Lake, MN |
| RQ4 | Bay Area Rifle Championship | Jul 24-26, 2026 | Richmond, CA |
| RQ5 | Heartland Rifle Qualifier | Aug 1-2, 2026 | Alda, NE |
| RQ6 | Rio Salado Qualifier | TBA | Phoenix, AZ |
The qualification system is straightforward once you understand the math.
You must compete in at least 3 of the 6 designated qualifier matches. Your best 3 scores count toward your qualification aggregate. If you shoot more than three, your lowest scores get dropped automatically.
Your score at each qualifier equals the percentage of points you achieve compared to the division winner. So if the division winner scores 1,000 points and you score 870, you earn 87.0 qualification points for that match.
Your three best percentages get added together for your aggregate score.
To qualify, you must hit at least 60% of the division winner’s aggregate score across your best three matches.
Example: If the division winner won all three of their best matches (100+100+100 = 300 points), you’d need at least 180 points (60% of 300) to meet the threshold.
In reality, the division winner rarely wins every match, so the actual threshold shifts based on how the season plays out. If the winner’s aggregate is 285 points, you’d need 171 points (60% of 285).
You can only earn qualification points in the division you’re trying to qualify in. You can’t combine scores from different divisions. Pick your lane and stick with it.
Once qualification wraps up, slots get distributed in a specific order:
The individual slot allocation is proportional. If 30% of all qualifier participants shot Production Optics, roughly 30% of individual slots go to that division.
USPSA is offering reimbursement for qualified competitors who make the team:
Reimbursements only happen after World Shoot scores are final and are contingent on you actually showing up and competing. No participation, no reimbursement.
Life happens. If you need to pull out after accepting a slot, the refund schedule follows a tiered structure based on timing before the pre-match:
Also worth noting: if you withdraw within 90 days or no-show entirely, you may be disqualified from future World Shoot teams. Don’t accept a slot you’re not committed to.
If you’re serious about making the team, here’s how I’d approach it:
Look at the six qualifiers and figure out which three work best for your schedule and location. Then identify a fourth as a backup. Equipment breaks, emergencies happen, and sometimes you just have a rough match. Having that fourth option means a bad day doesn’t end your World Shoot hopes.
The mid-July window is dense: the IPSC Rifle Qualifier in Minnesota (July 16-19) and Bay Area in California (July 24-26) are only a week apart. If you can swing both, that’s two qualifiers knocked out in quick succession. And if you’re already planning on Multigun Nationals, the RQ3 qualifier runs at the same venue during the same timeframe—convenient scheduling even though they’re separate matches. Similarly, the Southeast has Zoo City (March) and Rifles in the Arena (May) within reasonable driving distance of each other.
World Shoot qualifiers tend to fill up. Don’t wait until a month out and find yourself on a waitlist. As soon as registration opens for your target matches, get signed up.
IPSC Rifle has its own flavor. Stage design, target arrays, and shooting challenges differ from domestic 3-Gun or multigun formats. If you’ve been shooting mostly USPSA-style matches, spend some time studying IPSC rifle stages and adjusting your practice accordingly.
The path to representing the U.S. at the 2027 IPSC Rifle World Shoot in Mongolia runs through these six qualifiers. You’ve got matches spread across the country from March through late summer 2026, giving you options regardless of where you’re based.
The 60% threshold is achievable for serious competitors, and the financial support—especially 100% match fee reimbursement for Division and Category teams—helps offset what will undoubtedly be an expensive trip halfway around the world.
Start planning now. Identify your qualifiers, get registered as soon as slots open, and put in the work between now and then. Mongolia 2027 is waiting.
