Choose Your Shooting Option

Req 2 — Pick Your Option

Working under the supervision of a certified National Rifle Association (NRA) rifle instructor and a certified range safety officer, at a nationally authorized camp property or at a commercial firearm range (as defined in the Scouting America National Range and Target Activities Manual ), do ONE of the following options:

You will complete exactly one of the three options below. Read through all three before deciding, and talk with your counselor about which option your authorized range supports. Your choice may be partly determined by what equipment is available at the range where your counselor operates.

The Three Options at a Glance

Option A — Modern Cartridge Rifle You shoot a bolt-action .22 caliber rimfire rifle at 50 feet from a benchrest or supported prone position. You learn the three main parts of a rifle, cartridge types, the five shooting fundamentals, range procedures, cleaning, and how to zero and score groups. This is the most common choice for Scouts with access to an outdoor or indoor rifle range. It introduces you to the foundational skills of centerfire and rimfire shooting.

Option B — Air Rifle You shoot a BB gun or pellet rifle at 15 or 33 feet. Air rifles require no propellant powder or primer, making them well-suited for indoor ranges at Scout camps and community facilities. The shooting fundamentals are identical to Option A. This option is ideal if your council’s camp has an air rifle range and you want a lower barrier to entry, or if you are younger and want to build fundamentals before moving to cartridge rifles.

Option C — Muzzleloading Rifle You shoot a .45 or .50 caliber muzzleloader at 50 feet. This option covers the history and mechanics of traditional black powder firearms, including how to safely load, fire, and clean a muzzleloader. It is more involved than the other options and requires a range equipped for muzzleloading. Choose this option if you have a strong interest in historical firearms, hunting traditions, or the NMLRA competitive circuit.

How to Choose

	Option A	Option B	Option C
Firearm	.22 LR bolt-action	BB gun or pellet rifle	.45/.50 cal muzzleloader
Distance	50 feet	15 ft (BB) or 33 ft (pellet)	50 feet
Propellant	Rimfire cartridge	Compressed air or CO₂	Black powder
Complexity	Moderate	Lower	Higher
Special venue needed	Rifle range	Air rifle range	Muzzleloader range

The most important factor is what your counselor’s authorized range supports. Ask your counselor before making a final decision.