Editor’s Note: Dave Cloft has been away all this week at the national Matches at Camp Perry
Ed
When the NRA National Championships award ceremony begins, a voice calls out across the range: “The challenge period has ended.” It’s the formal signal that the scores are final, that debates are done, and that the winners have rightfully earned their place in the record books. In the grand scope of American marksmanship, no name holds a more undisputed place in that pantheon than Lones Wigger—a man whose achievements, discipline, and character have set a benchmark few will ever touch.
Wigger wasn’t born into privilege or groomed in a high-tech training facility. He was a Montana boy, grounded in the fundamentals of hard work, self-reliance, and an early passion for marksmanship. He shot competitively in college—before the NCAA formally sanctioned rifle—and his undeniable talent led him to join the U.S. Army, not just to serve his country, but to pursue his calling: rifle shooting at the highest levels. In an era when shooters didn’t have sponsorship deals or custom gear built with lasers and carbon fiber, Lones Wigger built a career out of consistency, intensity, and an unshakable desire to be better than he was the day before.
Many know Wigger as a two-time Olympic gold medalist with medals in both .22 caliber smallbore and the lesser-known but extremely demanding 300-meter rifle, in which he shot a .30-06. Yes, the same .30-06 military cartridge known for its stout recoil—one that today’s competitive shooters would scoff at for being “too much gun.” But Wigger wasn’t one to make excuses or chase comfort. He shot what was required, and he won. Period. His medal count—111 international medals, including 2 Olympic golds, 1 silver, and multiple world championships—is unmatched in American rifle history.
But Lones Wigger was more than a champion. He was a soldier, a sniper school instructor in Vietnam, and perhaps most importantly, a mentor. He elevated those around him—not just through his skill, but through the way he carried himself. He was known for his intensity on the line and his warmth off it. His legacy lives on not only in the record books but in his family. All three of his children became accomplished shooters, and his daughter, Deena Wigger, followed in his footsteps to compete at the Olympic level.
In a sport often overlooked by mainstream media, Wigger stands as a true sports idol—not just for what he won, but for how he lived, coached, and inspired. Young athletes today, growing up in a world of digital distractions and instant gratification, could learn a great deal from studying Wigger’s life. He represents the best of what rifle shooting teaches: discipline, humility, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
The challenge period has ended. The results are final.
Lones Wigger is—without debate—the greatest rifleman America has ever produced
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