ISRA’s Combined
CMP Qualification and Vintage Military Rifle Matches
What is a
CMP Qualification Match?
It is a rifle match specifically for persons who need to participate in marksmanship competition in order to qualify to purchase rifles, ammunition and sundries from the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Obviously, if the interested party was already involved in marksmanship competition he would not be seeking out a CMP qualification match, so these matches are generally conducted in a simplified format to make it easier for a new competitor to get up to speed.
What is
simplified?
Simplification is in comparison to a full-fledged National Match Course or Regional Course rifle match. A full-fledged NMC or RC match is conducted at three different distances, from three different positions, at two different rates of fire, with competitors assigned to one of three or more relays which cycle between firing, scoring and operation of the targets in the target “pits”. (For more information on conventional High Power Competition, click here.) Now a full-fledged, full distance High Power match with active pits is the most fun there is in the world! (Opinions may vary.) But they entail a distinct learning curve, require the better part of a day to conduct and can be very hectic and confusing for a new competitor who is not prepared for them. Our CMP Qualification Match is simplified by firing at a single distance, with a single relay, without active target pits.
All firing will be done at a distance of 100 yards. The 200, 300 and 600 yard stages will by simulated by the use of “reduced” targets.
All participants will fire on a single relay instead of rotating between firing, scoring and target operation. In comparison to a conventional match with active target pits which provides the shooters the service of having their target marked with the location and point value of each sighting shot and slow-fire shot as they are fired, our match is what is called a “walk-and-paste match”. After firing the two sighting shots for each string the competitors will walk down to their targets, observe the locations of their bullet holes and cover the holes with “pasters” before continuing. They will then fire all ten shots of the record string before again walking down to the target to score and paste the target.
This forty-shot match is a reduction of the eighty-shot Regional Course rifle match. It is fired in reverse order (Prone slow-fire is the first stage, rather than the last) compared to the RC or NMC.
Course of
Fire
Prone, slow-fire: Two minutes for two sighting shots, followed by ten minutes to fire ten shots for record, using the MR-31 target. (The 600 yard target scaled-down for use at 100 yards.) Only one round at a time will be loaded into the rifle.
Prone, rapid-fire: Two minutes for two sighting shots, followed by eighty seconds to fire ten shots for record, using the SR-21 target. (The 300 yard target scaled-down for use at 100 yards.) Competitors will be required to perform one reload of their rifle during the string, beginning the string with only two rounds loaded on most semi-autos and five rounds loaded on most bolt-actions.
Sitting, rapid-fire: Two minutes for two sighting shots, followed by eighty seconds to fire ten shots for record, using the SR-1 target. (The 200 yard target scaled-down for use at 100 yards.) Competitors will be required to perform one reload of their rifle during the string, beginning the string with only two rounds loaded on most semi-autos and five rounds loaded on most bolt-actions.
Standing, slow-fire: Two minutes for two sighting shots, followed by ten minutes to fire ten shots for record, using the SR-1 target. (The 200 yard target scaled-down for use at 100 yards.) Only one round will be loaded into the rifle at a time.
Instruction
Preceding firing of the match there will be brief instruction on the topics of: Range safety, Use of the Empty Chamber Indicator, Use of eye and ear protection, Firing-line procedures, Use of sling, Firing positions, Scoring the target, and Completing the score-card.
Shortly after the match there will be a demonstration of the care and maintenance of the M1 Garand rifle, including: Safety checks, function checks, cleaning, lubrication and adjustment of sights.
What about
the Vintage Military Rifle Match?
Same match, different purpose.
Many of us enjoy firing a
variety of rifles that would be out of place at a fiercely competitive,
conventional High Power Rifle match. The
quick and simple format and low entry fee of ISRA’s
Combined CMP Qualification and Vintage Military Rifle Matches create the
opportunity for military-surplus rifle enthusiasts to have an enjoyable morning
giving one of their favorite pieces a workout.
Whether it’s a WWI Enfield or