 |
With just 38 days to go until the 2006 National Matches First Shot Ceremony on 10 July, a combination of exciting new events, favorable schedule changes, continuing rivalries among the top shooters and teams and heavy early entries all point to a great 2006 National Matches at Camp Perry.
NATIONAL MATCHES ENTRIES. Here’s an update on entries as of the first of June:
-
Pistol Small Arms Firing School. With the addition of a new M9 Pistol EIC Match that all SAFS students will be eligible to fire, and with 200 shooters already signed up, it is quite possible that last year’s total of 327 students can be exceeded.
|
|
|
This year students in the Pistol Small Arms Firing School will conclude their training by firing in a new M9 Pistol EIC Match where the top 10 percent of eligible competitors can win “introductory” 4-EIC point legs.
|
-
National Trophy Pistol Matches. 200 competitors are signed up now, but most pistol entries traditionally do not come in until June and early July.
-
Rimfire Sporter. The 180 entries in 2005 was a record for this match that has grown every year since it was introduced in 2002, but with 150 entries so far in 2006 and with seven weeks to go, this year’s match promises to be significantly bigger. The CMP has its own firing line covers this year so shooting should be more comfortable.
-
Rifle Small Arms Firing School. The M16 Rifle EIC Match was incorporated into the school and will be fired by all 2006 Rifle SAFS students as part of the SAFS program. 350 shooters have already entered; there are plenty of spaces still available, but with eight weeks of entry time remaining, last year’s total entry of 580 could be exceeded.
|
|
|
The Hearst Rifle Trophy is being returned to competition in 2006 to be awarded to the winning two-person service rifle team in a competition where both team members will fire the 30-shot President’s Match course of fire.
|
-
National Trophy Rifle Matches. President’s and NTI entries, which have a range capacity of 1300, are already nearing 900 competitors. There is a possibility late July entries will encounter waitlists so competitors who want to assure themselves of a spot on the range should get their entries in as soon as they can. The new Hearst Doubles two-person service rifle team match, which will be fired at the same time juniors are firing the Whistler Boy Team Match, already has over 300 entries in what promises to be a successful inaugural year.
-
National CMP Games Matches.
|
|
|
The John C. Garand Match, which is already the biggest event in the National Matches promises to become even bigger in 2006 now that both Camp Perry ranges will be dedicated to this match on Saturday, 5 August.
|
As expected, the biggest early National Matches entries are in the John C. Garand and Springfield Matches. Garand Match entries are now just under 1,200, but with a rearranged schedule permitting the use of both Viale and Rodriguez Ranges for the 2006 Garand Match, the range capacity is now 1,850.
That means that this year every competitor who wants to shoot this popular match should be able to compete and join in the fun. The Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches move to the larger Viale Range this year. This should avoid the early waitlist problems that discouraged many shooters who wanted to enter these matches in 2005, but even with increased range capacity, these matches are likely to fill. The highest number of previous competitors in the Vintage Military Rifle Match was 84, but with competitors now having the option of shooting in both the Springfield and Military Rifle Matches on 4 August, over 200 have entered so a record entry is assured in this match. About 80 entry spaces remain available in the Military Rifle Match. The highest number of competitors ever to fire the Springfield Match is 700, but with 800 entries already, record participation is assured in it. 270 entry spaces are still available in the Springfield Match so it quite possibly will fill. The new M1 Carbine Match that will be fired on 3 August has 475 entries and a range capacity of 640 so this match also could fill.
-
National Matches Entries. If you want to shoot in this year’s National Matches or if you have shooting friends who are interested in competing, entry spaces remain available in all events although it is clear some matches will fill up so it is important to get your entries submitted as soon as possible. You can request a printed program and entry form by contacting the CMP staff (419-635-2141, ext. 1114 or competitions@odcmp.com), but the easiest way to enter is to do it on-line through the CMP Competition Tracker system. Just go to the pull-down list on the CMP home page (under the Camp Perry 2006 icon) at http://www.odcmp.com/. There you can print out the programs you want and select the entry pages you need.
M1 CARBINE MATCH. Since the release of the 2006 CMP Competition Rules and CMP National Trophy Rifle Matches Program, testing by the CMP staff and recommendations from some shooters who have been shooting the proposed Carbine Match course led to decisions to modify the course of fire that was originally announced:
|
|
|
M1 Carbine Match targets will be mounted in this configuration. After firing sighting shots, four record targets will be posted and the complete 40 shot course of fire will be fired. Targets will then be removed for scoring and new targets for the next relay will be posted.
|
-
Targets. A decision has now been made to use the SR-1 target, not the SR or old military 5V target that was originally considered. The SR-1 target is the 200 yard SR highpower target reduced for firing at 100 yards. The smaller bull will facilitate an improved sight picture and the smaller overall target size will allow four targets to be mounted on target frames at one time and reduce target changing time. Large target holders will be used for this match that will present two sets of four targets; one set for each of two competitors. Firing will still be at 100 yards.
-
Course of Fire. The course of fire is now somewhat modified from what was printed in the official program and CMP Competition Rules. Competitors will have a 10 minute sighting period during which they can fire up to 10 sighting shots. After sighting shots are completed, competitors will fire 10 shots prone slow fire in five minutes, 10 shots rapid fire prone in 60 seconds, 10 shots rapid fire in 60 seconds and 10 shots slow fire standing in 10 minutes. Competitors will be permitted to fire from a loaded magazine in slow fire. In rapid fire, competitors will load five rounds each
in two magazines. After standing, bolts will be closed with safeties engaged and then magazines will be inserted. After the command to get into position is given and competitors are down in position, they can cycle their actions to load the first round in the chamber, disengage safeties and begin firing. A magazine change must be made after five shots.
-
Relay Rotation. Four relays of 160 shooters each will be squadded. Relays 1-2 will fire together and then Relays 3-4 will fire. The relay that is not firing will also be on the line and will be responsible for assisting firers, if needed, for counting shots fired and for controlling safety procedures.
NEW RV PARK. The new RV Park at Camp Perry that the CMP helped to fund is progressing on schedule and should be ready to accept its first renters when the pistol matches begin in July. There are some spaces still available for rent in each of the three phases, pistol, smallbore and highpower although, as expected, the highpower phase is the closest to being sold out. If you have an RV and want to take advantage of this great new opportunity to stay at Camp Perry during the matches, contact the Camp Perry Club House at (614) 336-6214, via email at info@cpmr-oh.org or go to their web site at http://www.cpmr-oh.org/.
|
