The 2007 11th Edition of the CMP Competition Rules is posted on the CMP web site. This year’s version is largely unchanged from the 2006 10th edition. The new rules provide a modification to the National Matches’ President’s Rifle Match that will have the top 20 competitors in the traditional 30-shot course of fire shoot an additional 10 shots in a 600-yard final stage to determine the match winner. This change promises a spectacular ending to one of the National Matches’ most important events and it should appeal both to spectators at the match and to Internet viewers.

The new rules are posted on the CMP website at http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Rulebook.pdf. The rules are posted as a *.PDF file that can either be read or downloaded and printed. Printed versions of the new rules also are available for purchase for $3.00 each from the CMP.

Unlike the 2006 rules when the M1 Carbine Match, M9 Pistol EIC Match, As-Issued M1 Garand EIC Match and Hearst Doubles Match all appeared for the first time, there are no new events in this year’s rules. The new rules provide clarifications on the M1 Carbine course of fire as well as loading procedures for Garand, Military Rifle and Carbine events. There are now three different standards for loading these rifles at the beginning of rapid-fire series:

• M1 Garands. After the command LOAD, the safety must be engaged before loading. Then a clip and two loose rounds are loaded and the bolt is closed to seat one round in the chamber. The safety can be disengaged only after the shooter gets down into position to begin firing.
  
  

• Manually-Operated Military Rifles. After the command LOAD, a clip of five rounds (or five loose rounds) may be placed in the magazine. The bolt must remain open and may be closed only after the shooter gets down into position to begin firing.
  
  

• M1 Carbines. After the command LOAD, the operating rod must be released and the bolt closed on an empty chamber. Then the shooter may insert a clip with five rounds in it. After the shooter gets down into position, he/she may cycle the operating rod and bolt to load the first round.

The new rules further define magazines that may be used in M14/M1A or M16/AR15 rifles in service rifle matches. Since shooters in some states are legally restricted to magazines with capacities of 10 rounds or less, the rules offer the option of using 10 or 20 round magazines. If a 10-round magazine is used, it is legal as long as the magazine’s length is the same as a 20-round magazine. The long-standing requirement that legal M16 magazines must be straight and not curved remains. The shortest standard service magazine for the M14 and M16 rifles is a 20-round magazine so 10-round capacity magazines can be used, but its outside dimensions must be the same as a 20-round magazine.

The most exciting innovation in the 2007 rules is the new shoot-off or final that will conclude the National Matches President’s Rifle Match. Since the President’s Match is a short course of fire that normally ends in the early afternoon, it offers ample time to have the top competitors fire a final stage that will be both a supreme test of their skills and give the other 1,300 or so competitors a chance to see the very best shooters in action at the conclusion of the day’s competition. All competitors will fire 10 shots standing, 10 shots rapid prone and 10 shots prone slow fire. 30-shot totals will still determine who makes the President’s 100, but the winner will be determined by a 40-shot total.

Results for all competitors for the 30-shot event will be posted approximately 30 minutes after the last relay finishes. Shortly after that, the top 20 shooters in the first three stages will be called to the line for a 10-shot final stage, fired shot-by-shot at 600 yards. This will assure that the shooters who are contending for first place in this prestigious match all finish the match together on the same range at the same time. Just as soon as the tenth final stage shots are scored, the winner will be announced and recognized on the range.

CMP rules govern the conduct of all CMP events in the National Matches, CMP Regional Games, EIC matches and other CMP-sanctioned competitions. Here is a summary of other changes in the 2007 CMP Competition Rules:

• National Matches Cancellations. Cancellation procedures are simplified. Cancellations made at least 30 days in advance will be refunded in full and the cancellation fee is eliminated. Cancellations received between 29 days and 1 day in advance will receive a 50 percent refund. Cancellations or “no shows” on the day of an event will not receive a refund unless the cancellation is caused by bereavement, illness or CMP error.
  
  

• Electronic Results Bulletins. CMP sanctioned match sponsors are now authorized to use results bulletins posted on the CMP Competitor Tracker system as their official results bulletins.
  
  

• Rifle Weights. No weights may be added to as-issued rifles.
  
  

• Trigger Weighing. To pass, a trigger must lift the trigger weight so that is clear of the support surface. Merely moving or slightly shifting the weight is not sufficient.
  
  

• CMP Games Event Tie-Breaking. The Garand, Springfield, Military Rifle, M1 Carbine and M16 EIC matches now have a tie-breaking rule. Ties will be broken by the highest score in the last stage (standing), then the next to the last stage, etc.
  
  

• New Trophies. Two new trophies are being added to the National Trophy Collection in 2007. The Rose B. Krelstein Trophy will be presented to the High Woman in an aggregate of the President’s and National Trophy Individual Pistol Matches. The Springfield Rifle Trophy will be presented to the winner of the National Matches Springfield Match.
  
  

• Achievement Award Scores. The cut scores for earning CMP gold, silver and bronze achievement medals or pins in Garand, Springfield, Military Rifle and M1 Carbine Matches have been updated based on 2006 results.

The 2007 11th edition of the CMP Competition Rules are posted at http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Rulebook.pdf. You can check all the details on new CMP match events and competition rules there. If you have comments or questions, please contact competitions@odcmp.com or call 419-635-2141, ext. 1112.