CMP Releases 2013 Rulebooks

The CMP Rules Committee approved the new 1st Edition CMP Rules for CMP Games Rifle and Pistol Matches and the 17th Edition of the CMP Competition Rules for Service Rifle and Service Pistol on March 6, 2013. The Committee adopted a few changes, mostly in the protest and appeals rules. The changes made to the rules are as follows: 1. Two Rulebooks. For many years, CMP Competition Rules have included rules for Service Rifle and Service Pistol as well as for the CMP Games events such as the As-Issued Military Rifle Matches and the new Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match. Since these two sets of rules differ on many points this led to a lot of confusion. To make it easier for match officials and competitors to apply the correct rules for each of the CMP disciplines, the rulebook was divided into two rulebooks. Now each discipline will have its own rulebook: The 17th Edition CMP Competition Rules for Service Rifle and Service Pistol and the 1st Edition Competition Rules for CMP Games Rifle and Pistol Matches.

2. Modern Military Rifle Events. The new Competition Rules for CMP Games Rifle and Pistol Matches provide full recognition for a new Modern Military Rifle event. Many CMP affiliated clubs are now conducting these matches and the CMP has Modern Military Rifle events on the programs for its 2013 Regional CMP Games in Oklahoma and North Carolina (Eastern). The rules provide for firing Modern Sporting Rifles (M-16 type or AR-platform rifles) or a broad second category for Modern Military Rifles of most other types. Weight limits are specified for each type of rifle so that heavy-barreled competition rifles cannot be used in these matches. The As-Issued Military Rifle 200 or 100 yard 30 shot (A course) and 50 shot (B course) are used.

3. Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match. A new target mounting system is specified that eliminates the need to prepare separate 300 and 600-yard target frames. Match sponsors are given the option of dividing the two-person teams into Semi-Auto and Bolt-Action Rifle team categories.

4. CMP Achievement Awards. This popular program allows competitors who shoot scores above established “cut score” levels in CMP sanctioned matches to win gold, silver or bronze medals or pins. Cut scores for the Garand, Springfield, Vintage Military Rifle, M1 Carbine and Rimfire Sporter matches were updated based on 2012 competition scores. Most changes were relatively small. New cut scores are listed in the 2013 Rules for the Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match and the Modern Military Rifle Team Match. The CMP is in the process of designing new medals and pins for these two events. The awards for the Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match will be given to both members of the team based on their combined team score, not their individual scores.

5. As-Issued Military Rifles. The new rules allow shooters to modify the internal diameter of rear apertures on rifles like the Garand, Springfield, M1917 and Krag. Weight limits are now listed for the Garand (9.5 lbs.), Springfield (9.0 lbs.) and Carbine (6.1 lbs.).

6. Age Groups. Match sponsors now have the option of using two additional age groups, one for Sub-Juniors (age 14 and below) and one for Grand Seniors (age 70 and above). The Sub-Junior age group is intended primarily for Rimfire Sporter Matches, but the Grand Senior age group offers a chance for many older As-Issued Military Rifle competitors to earn awards.

7. Service Rifle and Service Pistol Rules. The 2013 edition of the CMP Competition Rules for Service Rifle and Service Pistol remains essentially unchanged except for the removal of all CMP Games event rules. The new rules contain several rule clarifications, but no significant changes from previous Service Rifle and Service Pistol rules.

8. Range Officer Scripts. While not new to this year’s rulebooks, match sponsors and Range Officers who have not used the Range Officer scripts in the CMP Competition Rules are urged to study the Annexes in the back of both rulebooks. Annex A in the CMP Competition Rules provides detailed “Firing Procedures and Range Officer Commands” for conducting Service Rifle Matches. Annexes A, B and C in the Competition Rules for CMP Games Matches provide detailed “Firing Procedures and Range Officer Commands” for conducting As-Issued Military Rifle, Vintage Sniper Rifle Team and As-Issued Service Pistol Matches. These procedures and commands are coordinated with both the CMP rules and the NRA rules.

Anyone interested in seeing the complete 2013 CMP Competition Rules can download the rulebook from the CMP website at http://www.thecmp.org/Competitions/Rulebook.htm. Comments on the rules or recommendations for the 2014 rulebook are welcome and should be sent to CMP Headquarters at competitions@thecmp.org. 

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