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Successful Start for First Western CMP Games

By Gary Anderson, DCM

Wilcox Range at Camp Pendleton , California , a U. S. Marine Corps base, was home to the 1st Western CMP Games Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches on 14-15 May 2005.  With 150 firing points, the Camp Pendleton facility offers ample room for the future growth of this new event.  

 
Competitors began by checking in to receive scorecards and ammunition to fire in the match as well as Western CMP Games T-shirts. Christine Elder, CMP Communications Coordinator at Camp Perry, is issuing scorecards.
198 shooters, a majority of whom were firing in their first competition, reported to Camp Pendleton, California’s Wilcox Range firing line on 14 or 15 May to inaugurate the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s first Western CMP Games. This new national-level competition event marked a historic step forward for CMP competition programs. The CMP sanctions several hundred highpower rifle matches each year and it is well known for its role in conducting the National Trophy Rifle and Pistol Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, but until the Western CMP Games took place, the CMP had never conducted a highpower rifle competition outside of Camp Perry and the National Matches.

CMP Armorer John McLean issues 40 rounds of U. S. Government M2 ball ammunition to a competitors. Garand and Springfield match shooters were required to fire this ammo.
CMP Games events appeal to shooters who are attracted by accessible, recreation-oriented highpower target shooting that features historic military rifles. CMP Games events now include the John C. Garand Match where competitors fire M1 Garands or M1 Carbines, the Springfield Rifle Match for M1903 service rifles and a newer Vintage Military Rifle Match for other manually-operated military rifles that were issued by the U. S. or other countries. All rifles fired in these matches must be as-issued government military rifles that cannot have “national match” parts or special accurizing.

The CMP created the Western CMP Games in response to a provision in its strategic plan that calls for making CMP competition and training events available in all parts of the USA. This means that CMP highpower rifle competitions, which heretofore were restricted to Camp Perry and the National Matches, are now expanding into the Western U. S. through new events like the Western CMP Games.

Wesley Shumaker, a Navy JROTC instructor from Los Alamos, New Mexico fired the second highest scores in both the Garand and Springfield matches.
CMP staff organized the new Garand, Springfield and Military Rifle Matches at Camp Pendleton in cooperation with the Santa Margarita Gun Club of Oceanside, California. The U. S. Marine Corps authorized the CMP and Santa Margarita club to use Camp Pendleton range facilities for the matches. The Santa Margarita club also is authorized to use Wilcox Range to conduct other matches at Camp Pendleton. A primary reason for selecting Camp Pendleton is its location near San Diego, a popular visitor destination. With 150 firing points, Wilcox Range offers ample room for future expansion of the Western CMP Games.

In CMP Games events, experienced competitors are allowed to coach and assist less experienced shooters.
 

Creedmoor Sports, a major target shooting equipment supplier based in Oceanside, California, also provided significant support in organizing the competition. Creedmoor staff members assisted in conducting the match and were present on the range with a selection of shooting equipment that competitors could purchase.

The Camp Pendleton matches were a festive event. Many competitors stopped at the range on Friday afternoon to check in and see the ranges. Competitor check-in resumed at 6:30 AM on Saturday morning. Competitors received information packets, Western Games T-shirts, scorecards and ammunition. Everyone who fired M1 Garand and M1903 rifles were issued government M2 ball that came from a large lot of surplus ammo the CMP recently began to sell.

Nineteen competitors fired in the Vintage Military Rifle Match with a variety of service rifles once used by soldiers from Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.
After competitors checked in and received their ammo, CMP Director Gary Anderson welcomed them, introduced CMP staff and match officials and explained the day’s schedule and course of fire. Chief Range Officer Deborah Boyle gave the safety briefing and competitors were on their way downrange.

Competitors were divided into five relays, with experienced competitors squadded on relay one. Relays one, two and three remained on the line to fire while relays four and five reported to the pits to pull and mark targets. Santa Margarita Club President Dave Jordan acted as the Chief Pit Officer and provided instructions for the new shooters on how to pull and mark targets. Relay one fired first and then remained on the line to coach competitors who fired in the remaining four relays. The match pace was leisurely with new shooters having enough time to prepare for each stage. Preparation periods were extended when necessary to make sure they had adequate time to adjust slings and get into position.

Dave Jordan, President of the host Santa Margarita Gun Club, receives a Bronze Achievement Medal for the score he fired in the Garand Match. Gary Anderson, Director of Civilian Marksmanship, made the presentation.
Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle shooters were mixed together in each relay. Each relay began firing with a slow fire series in the prone position. Shooters could fire up to five sighters to check or adjust their rifle zeros. Then they fired ten shots for record. Shooters had 15 minutes for this stage.

Shooters then returned to the prone position for a 10-shot prone rapid fire stage. After the preparation period, they were commanded to stand and load. M1 Garand shooters loaded a clip and two rounds, closed their bolts and engaged their safeties. Shooters with manually-operated rifles loaded five rounds, but left their bolts open. When competitors were ready, the targets came up out of the pits together. Shooters had 80 seconds to get down into position, disengage their safeties or close their bolts, fire two or five rounds, reload and fire the remaining shots in the series. After scoring, competitors prepared for the final stage, ten shots slow fire in the standing position. With the completion of their match, they turned in scorecards and got ready for scoring or pit duties.

The most active location after each day’s firing was the gun table where government surplus rifles were available for competitors and visitors to inspect and tag for purchase. Individuals who tagged rifles have 45 days to complete the gun purchase paperwork. The rifles they selected will be shipped to them from Anniston, Alabama.
The weather was calm for much of the weekend, although the last two relays on Saturday did have enough wind to make the standing position quite a bit more difficult for them. After all five relays completed their 30-shot courses of fire, competitors were treated to a cookout prepared by CMP and Creedmoor Sports staff members. CMP Armorers and staff from CMP South at Anniston, Alabama came to the Western Games with a large selection of government surplus M1 Garand, M1903, M1917 and smallbore rifles that competitors and local gun enthusiasts could inspect and tag for purchase. The gun tables opened after firing completed and were the scene of lots of activity on both afternoons after the match.

Mark Detterich from Downey, California receives a plaque from CMP Director Gary Anderson for firing the high score in the Vintage Military Rifle Match. Detterich fired a 256.
While the emphasis in these matches is on everyone taking part, recognition plaques were presented to the Match Winners in each of the three matches. Mark Detterich from Downey, California fired the high score in the Vintage Military Rifle Match with a 256-1X. Michael Miller, also from Dowey, won the Springfield Match with a 280-3X. Dennis DeMille, a former member of the Marine Corps Rifle Team and now the General Manager at Creedmoor Sports, edged Wesley Shumaker of Los Alamos, New Mexico, 288-6X to 285-4X to win the Garand Match.

Michael Miller, Downey, California, had the high score in the Springfield Match with a 280-3X score.
 

 

The CMP awards distinctive gold, silver and bronze Achievement Medals with neck ribbons to shooters who fire medal cut scores in both the National (Camp Perry) and Western CMP Games Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches. A total of 26 shooters won John C. Garand Match Achievement Medals, 11 Springfield Match shooters won medals and two Vintage Miltary Rifle Match shooters won medals. The 2005 Western CMP Games was the first competition where separate achievement medals were awarded to miltiary rifle shooters.

Creedmoor Sports General Manager Dennis DeMille, a former Marine Corps Rifle Team member, receives his plaque for firing the high score in the Garand Match.
Complete results for the Camp Pendleton match are posted on the CMP web site at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_matchResult.cgi?matchID=785. A gallery of photos from the Western CMP Games is posted on the CMP web site at http://www.odcmp.com/photos/05/ WesternGames/index.htm.

The CMP intends to make the Western CMP Games an annual event at Camp Pendleton and will make a decision on when the next competition will be held within the next few weeks. The next national-level Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches will be at Camp Perry during the 2005 National Match. Shooters can obtain further information or make entry in these matches through the CMP Competition Tracker web site at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchInfo.cgi?matchID=827.

 

Comments from 2005 Western CMP Games Competitors

Thank you so much for bringing the Garand Match to California .  It was my first match and I really enjoyed it.  Count me in on any future matches out this way.  Thanks for all the efforts from the entire staff.

As a first time competitor, I was very pleased with the CMP Staff and the help we all received.  The match could not have been better and the teaming of experienced shooters within experienced shooters helped a lot.  All of the experienced shooters should be commended for their very caring and helpful ways they used to help us.  I do hope you consider this to be a annual event or even a bi-Annual event.  It is going to explode with participation as the word gets out.

Just a quick e-mail to say thanks for all the hard work the CMP staff put forth in Calif. this last weekend.  I believe everybody that participated had a good time.  I know I did.  The Western Games was my first experience in an organized competition.  The chance to speak with the armorers and review the rifle selection was great.  Keep up the good work.  Thanks again.

Thanks for coming to Pendleton and making it such an enjoyable weekend.  I think everyone agrees that we will bring another shooter with us next year and double the attendance.  The photos on the web are super.  Thanks again for everything..  See you in July.