Inland Shooters

[ocabj]

Author: Jonathan Ocab
Date Written: 07/09/2007

This article is the first of of a series to introduce new shooters into the High Power Rifle discipline and HPR shooting competitions.

High Power Rifle is one of the oldest forms of competitive shooting sports in the United States. The origin of this specific discipline is rooted in the country's need to maintain high standards of marksmanship among it's citizens. In 1903, the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice was created and led to the formal rifle marksmanship programs in the United States including the National Matches (at Camp Perry), the Department of Civilian Marksmanship (now known as the Civilian Marksmanship Program or CMP), and NRA High Power Rifle competitions.

High Power Rifle as a sport covers quite a bit of sub-formats with varying courses of fire and varying rifle/sight types.

The most common High Power Rifle format is the National Match Course (NMC), which so happens to be a course of fire used in the National Matches at Camp Perry. In involves to use of a rifle with metallic sights (no telescopic sights) to shoot targets at 200, 300, and 600 yards. This course of fire is often called "Across the Course" due to the fact that most ranges require the competitors to physically move from the 200 yard line back to the 300 yard line (and then to the 600), thus moving "Across the Course."

In the NMC, there are four (4) specific stages of fire:

1. 200 yards, standing, slow fire.
2. 200 yards, sitting/kneeling from standing, rapid fire.
3. 300 yards, prone from standing, rapid fire.
4. 600 yards, prone, slow fire.

Slow fire stages require the competitor to single load each round and the target is scored after each shot is taken. Rapid fire stages require the competitor to start from a standing position, then get into the required shooting position and fire ten (10) rounds in 60 or 70 seconds in sitting/kneeling or prone, respectively. The target is then scored after the 60/70 second time period.

The most common NMC events require 80 rounds to complete the course of fire with 20 rounds per stage. There is a 50 round NMC which only requires ten (10) rounds for each the standing, rapid sitting/kneeling, and the rapid prone, and 20 rounds for the slow prone. Then there are the occasional 100 round NMC events that follow the 80 round NMC, but add another 20 rounds for the slow prone stage. Note that NRA matches allow for two (2) optional sighting shots at each stage of fire.

There are also reduced course High Power Rifle matches that are shot at 100, 200, and/or 300 yards. Some ranges are restricted by what distances the facility allows, so reduced events have been defined in order to fit these facilities.

The NRA recognizes two different classes of rifles for High Power: Service and Match. Service Rifle (SR) consists of three (3) specific rifles:

- M1 Garand in USGI .30 cal (.30-06) or 7.62 NATO (or .308)
- M14 or civilian equivalents in 7.62 NATO (or .308)
- M16 or civilian equivalents in 5.56 NATO (or .223)

SR guns must adhere to a strict set of requirements in order to stay legal. The general rule is that the external dimensions of the rifle must be the same as the standard military equivalent (with some exceptions). Note that the above three rifles are the last three standard military issued service rifles, hence the class of "Service Rifle."

The second class of rifles recognized by the NRA is known as Match Rifle (MR). This pretty much encompasses all rifles with metallic sights, whether it be a rear blade sight with a front post style sight to front and rear aperture sights. Match rifles can be either bolt action or semi-auto, but most hold at least five (5) rounds in the magazine.

CMP matches only recognize Service Rifle. CMP matches specifically consist of Excellence in Competition (EIC) matches. EIC matches follow the 50 round NMC format. The main difference between an EIC match and an NRA 50 round NMC is that EIC matches do not allow sighting shots. This not only requires the competitor to know his/her rifle and rifle zeros for all of the stages, but also requires the competitor to master wind call. The restriction on sighting shots truly emphasizes the 'excellence' in EIC.

If you as the reader have arrived at this point and have peaked interest in High Power Rifle, then you are probably wondering how to start.

The best way would be to go to a match and observe. There are many High Power Matches all over the country and many clubs and organizations hold regular (often monthly) matches. The NRA Competition Calendar is a good way to find a match in your area. The CMP Competition Tracker has listings of the various CMP sanctioned events including EIC matches.

Attending an NRA High Power Rifle match can be a very enlightening experience. It will give you an idea of how a match is run and you can see the wide range of rifles competitors use. It will also give you an idea of what kind of equipment you will need. NRA matches tend to be more relaxed than CMP EIC matches so it is also a good venue to talk and converse with competitors to get tips and advice.

The CMP also sanctions Garand matches which are typically shot at 100 or 200 yards and incorporate a 30 round course of fire: 10 rounds slow fire prone, 10 rounds rapid fire prone from standing, and 10 rounds slow fire standing. The CMP also expended this course of fire to include Springfield (1903) and Vintage military service rifles. This is a great format to learn the fundamentals of High Power Rifle and participants can use a wide range of inexpensive military surplus rifles (Swedish Mauser, Swiss K31, etc).

If you are new to High Power Rifle and want to get started, your first goal should be to attend a match. There are two venues immediately accessible to Inland Empire residents, one at the West End Gun Club facility and one at MCB Camp Pendleton. Check the Inland Shooters competitions page for more information.

The next article in the series will cover the equipment of High Power Rifle.