Ray Chapman was an American sport shooter and firearms instructor who was central to the development of practical shooting.

He was one of the founders of the International Practical Shooting Confederation at the 1976 Columbia Conference.

In his mid-teens Chapman served in the United States Marine Corps at the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II after lying about his age to enlist.

[1] After the war, he worked as a policeman before he became an engineer for the California Highway Department.

In February 2008 Ray died peacefully at age 79 in a Texas hospital.