ORANGE shooters have beaten their opposition and themselves at the Western Plains Championships in Dubbo on the weekend.

As well as beating their rivals Dean Brus shot a state record and David Oates broke into master grade.

Brus has beaten the master grade 25 yard service pistol state record on three occasions prior to the weekend but had to wait for a sanctioned shoot for the record to be recognised.

He shot 641/650, which was nine points clear of the former record and beat his own national record of 635/650.

Oates easily shot his way into the 25 yard service pistol master grade with 622/650, seven points over the grade break of 615.

The score easily gave him the A grade title at the championships.

Unfortunately Oates and fellow Orange shooter Brian Johnson had problems with bullet failure during some of the matches which hampered their chances to win other events.

Brus, who shoots with the support of JIB Gun Accessories and Orange Ex Services Club, won the master grade service pistol unrestricted with 883/900.

He also won the 48 shot PPC, an international format new to Australia, with 478/480.

Brus was also runner-up to Parkes' Tony Drabch in service pistol with 867/900 and was second to Drabch in the master grade WA 1500 PPC, another new international format, with 1480/1500.

His 1480 broke him into the high master grade which is the top level in the format.

Max Wicks won the A grade service pistol with 848/900 and was runner-up in the expert grade 48 shot PPC on 470/480.

Brus will go to Lightning Ridge during the June long weekend for the Opal Open.