The duo, who will make up the Australian team at the world event in Perth, went head-to-head at the NSW WA 1500 and 25 metre service pistol championships in Dubbo at the end of July.

In the 25m services pistol Brus came out on top, taking the title off Oates who won it in 2012, after Brus claimed it in 2011.

Brus shot 635 to win ahead of Tamworth’s Don Pollard (622).

Orange’s Max Wicks was fourth on 614 and Oates finished fifth with 2610.

In the WA 1500 pistol event, Oates finished on top with 1488, with Brus, who won the title last year, third on 1475.

Brus claimed back-to-back WA 1500 revolver titles on a countback from Pollard.

Brus and Pollard both recorded scores of 1481 with the winner decided on x count (bulls eyes).

Oates was just one shot behind in third with 1480.

Oates said the state titles were important for he and Brus for a number of reasons.

“These are qualifying events for next year’s (WA 1500) Australian team,” Oates explained.

“The state titles are really important for us to do our best and build to the world championships.”

The results also didn’t hurt the Orange shooters in the WA 1500 world rankings.

Oates holds the top world ranking at the moment for WA 1500 pistol, while Brus is 10th.

In the WA 1500 revolver rankings, Oates is 11th and Brus is 17th.

The two Australian representatives weren’t the only Orange shooters to perform well in Dubbo.

Max Wicks won the WA 1500 revolver masters grade with 1473 and teenager Peter Brus was fifth with a personal best 1460.

Peter Brus was also fourth in the expert grade in the WA 1500 pistol with 1352, and 13th in the 25m service pistol A grade.

Lara Cowling took out the WA 1500 revolver sharpshooter grade with a personal best 1436.

The next major event for the shooters is the NSW service pistol titles to be held at Gulgong on August 24 and 25.