RIMFIRE SPORTER IS GROWING

Chief Range Officer Duane Tallman conducted the pre-match clinics at the 2003 National Rimfire Sporter Match. These clinics are especially designed to help new shooters learn the rules and match procedures. The clinics also teach basic techniques for shooting the Rimfire Sporter course of fire.

The CMP introduced Rimfire Sporter in 2002 as a new recreation-oriented target event. It continues to gain recognition as a great game for shooters who own smallbore plinkers and smallgame rifles, but who have little or no formal target experience.

The first “provisional” rules were printed in the 2002 CMP Competition Rules. The first Rimfire Sporter competitions were also staged by the CMP last year at Atlanta and at Camp Perry. Since then there have been many signs that Rimfire Sporter is growing and attracting more and more enthusiastic supporters. This article will bring you up to date on recent Rimfire Sporter developments.

RIMFIRE SPORTER RULES. Rimfire Sporter Rules in the 2003 edition of CMP Competition Rules were changed from “provisional” to “official.” This means that the CMP Rules Committee formally adopted the rules and that they are now an official part of the CMP rulebook. A new edition of the CMP Rules is expected out in January, but you can obtain a copy of the current Rimfire Sporter rules by downloading them from the CMP web site. You can also order rulebooks from the CMP E-Store. Turn to Section 11.0 for the Rimfire Sporter rules.

NATIONAL RIMFIRE SPORTER MATCH. 101 shooters from 11 states competed in the National Rimfire Sporter Match at Camp Perry this past summer. That’s up from 41 competitors in the inaugural 2002 match. This year’s competitors included 17 women and 26 juniors. Eight O-class and 10 T-class shooters earned gold achievement medals. Six O-class and 16 T-class competitors won silver and 18 O-class and 9 T-class shooters won bronze achievement medals. Two shooters who fired in the T-class (telescope sights) at the national event fired total scores of 590 or higher. This was the first time this milestone has been broken in five years of Rimfire Sporter clinics and matches.

Several juniors who attended the National 4-H Shooting Sports Adventure Camp at Camp Perry also competed in the National Rimfire Sporter Match. Here, Clint Sejkora from Burchard, Nebraska awaits the “Start” command for a rapid-fire prone series. Sejkora fired 584-22X, the 3rd highest score overall in the National Match. He is a member of the Homestead 4-H Shooting Club.

4-H SHOOTING SPORTS. The 4-H Shooting Sports National Committee has now adopted Rimfire Sporter as one of its official smallbore rifle events for the 4-H Shooting Sports National Invitational that will be held next year in Missouri and has approved the CMP Rules as the official rules for this smallbore event. Several 4-H state and regional organizations are already practicing Rimfire Sporter in anticipation of next summer’s National Invitational.

CMP RIMFIRE SPORTER CLUB MATCH SUPPORT. In 2003, the CMP co-sponsored a series of eight “Centennial Series” Rimfire Sporter matches in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The matches were conducted by the National Rimfire Sporter Chief Range Officer Duane Tallman and featured a pre-match clinic and special CMP awards. In 2004, the CMP is offering a club match support program to additional clubs in different parts of the country. The CMP will provide an instructor-range officer who will conduct a Rimfire Sporter clinic, train local club leaders how to conduct a Rimfire Sporter match and assist them in the conduct of their first Rimfire Sporter event. The purpose of the program is to teach club leaders how they can run Rimfire Sporter matches in their area after co-hosting their first CMP-assisted competition. CMP-affiliated clubs interested in this program should contact the CMP Competitions Department, 419-635-2141, ext. 1112, or competitions@odcmp.com as soon as possible. The number of club matches the CMP can support through this program in 2004 is limited.

Two shooters in the 2003 National Rimfire Sporter Match became the first shooters in five years of clinics and matches to fire Rimfire Sporter scores over 590. Chad Cleland (right) from Swanton, Ohio fired a 591-23X total with two perfect 100s standing. Ronald Springsteen (left) from Otsego, Michigan fired 590-31X. Both Cleland and Springsteen used Thompson-Center Classic 22s. Ben Jochum, a 19-year-old junior from Beatrice, Nebraska fired the high score in the National Match O-class, 560-8X, shot with an open-sighted Marlin M60.

CMP RIMFIRE SPORTER GUIDE. CMP now has a CMP Rimfire Sporter Guide ready for printing in early 2004. This comprehensive guide will cover these topics:

The CMP Games Shooting Sports Program
The Rimfire Sporter Match and Basic Rules
How to Fire the Rimfire Sporter Course
How to Conduct a Rimfire Sporter Match
How to Sanction a Rimfire Sporter Match
Official CMP Rimfire Sporter Rules

Shooters who want to try Rimfire Sporter or clubs that plan to conduct Rimfire Sporter matches will find the guide invaluable. The CMP will announce details on how to obtain copies just as soon as the new Guide is available.

SANCTIONED RIMFIRE SPORTER CLUB MATCHES. The CMP began to sanction Rimfire Sporter Club matches in 2003. This means that now any club wishing to run a sanctioned Rimfire Sporter match on their club range can do so. Request a sanctioned match application from CMP Competitions at competitions@odcmp.com. To run a CMP-sanctioned match, clubs need a 50-yard range suitable for outdoor smallbore shooting and must agree to use CMP Competition Rules, Section 11.0. The CMP sanctioning fee is only $20.00 per match. Some new Rimfire Sporter matches were conducted with spectacular results in 2003. Rimfire Sporter was included in the 2003 Georgia State Games program and 350 shooters fired in the competition.

A CMP gunsmith weighs rimfire sporter triggers prior to the National event at Camp Perry. Rifles may not weigh more than 7.5 pounds, with sights, and triggers must lift a three-pound weight.

As an added incentive for clubs to sponsor CMP-sanctioned Rimfire Sporter matches and for shooters to compete in them in 2004, the CMP will offer a new series of CMP Games Award Pins that clubs can order from the CMP Competitions Department and award to shooters on the same basis as the popular Achievement Medals are awarded at the National Rimfire Sporter Match. To find out how your club can order and award these pins at its matches, contact the CMP Competitions Department.

The exciting new shooting sports game Rimfire Sporter continues to grow and develop! If you or your club want more information, contact CMP Competitions, competitions@odcmp.com or 419-635-2131, ext. 1132 or 1123.

The CMP now offers CMP Games Achievement Pins for clubs to use as competitor awards in CMP-sanctioned Springfield, Garand, Military Rifle and Rimfire Sporter Club Matches. Clubs can order gold, silver and bronze pins from the CMP and award them to shooters who fire achievement medal scores in club matches. For more information, contact the CMP Competitions Department.

A temporary, covered 40-point 50-yard range was set up on the Camp Perry firing line to host the 2003 National Rimfire Sporter Match. The CMP plans to expand the range to 60-80 firing points for the 2004 National Rimfire Sporter Match.