Today the Main Match for the 2017 IPSC Handgun World Shoot XVIII starts, at the new National Shooting Sport Center (CNTS) in Châteauroux, France.

The last IPSC Handgun World Shoot was held in Frostproof (such a cool name!), Florida, United States in 2014.

The weather is France looks very warm, no frost in sight there either.

The first IPSC Handgun World Shoot was held in 1975 in Zurich, Switzerland.

The intervals between World Shoots (read World Championship) is now three years.

If everything goes according to plan at the General Assembly, the Shotgun World Shoot will be held there as well, in 2018. However the location might change, due to how France interprets the embargo against Russia, meaning they cannot bring their shotguns. And Russia has some of the best shotgun competitors.

2018 will be a “long guns” year for IPSC shooters, with the European Rifle Championships in Sweden and Shotgun World Shoot.

Below: The official logotype

You can check the stage design in 2D and 3D here – http://www.ipscmatches.org/worldshootfrance/courses-of-fire/

The main match sponsor is Tanfoglio from Italy, followed by SIG Sauer, CZ, Geco, STI and many more. Check the full list of sponsors here.

For more information check:

http://www.ipsc.org/

Interim Match results (Pre-Match Interim results available already)

http://www.ipscmatches.org/worldshootfrance/results/

Below: Stage 17 looks like a lot of fun, sponsored by 5.11 Tactical.

For an unofficial ranking of the shooters in each division you can check: http://www.ipscrating.com/production

TFB would like to wish all competitors, staff and Range Officers the best weather, food and shooting!

As long as the bullet is in the air, there is still hope!