Report based on story by Sheri Trusty, CMP Feature Writer
Major smallbore (rimfire) prone rifle competitions took place July 8-12, 2023 at the Camp Perry National matches. This year, CMP competitors had the added benefit of scoring with Kongsberg Target System (KTS) technology which employs electronic acoustic sensors to determine shot location. Scoring is instantly displayed on user-friendly, touch-screen monitors at the shooter’s side. Mark Del Cotto, a two-time NRA Smallbore Prone Champion, observed: “This is a really nice setup for electronic targets. It’s much easier to shoot the match. It’s quicker, it saves money on paper targets, and there are no rain delays. This is an absolute treat to get to shoot like this.”
The 4-Day Smallbore compeition at the Petrarca range included two days of Iron Sight Championship Matches and two days of Any Sight Matches (scope optional). “Each day, competitors shoot 160 record shots, all fired from prone position”, noted CMP Smallbore Program Manager Brad Donoho. “They do a 40-shot match at 50 meters, a 60-shot match at 50 yards, and a 60-shot match at 100 yards.”
Competitor Mark Del Cotto said marksmen were disappointed when the NRA moved the National Smallbore Rifle Championship to Bristol, Indiana, so many of them asked CMP to create its own smallbore competition. “It was like moving the Masters from Augusta,” said Del Cotto. “Ninety percent of competitors wanted to come back to Camp Perry. When [the NRA] moved it, the level of participation went down and down.” Del Cotto has also shot High Power (centerfire) matches, but he prefers rimfire: “I didn’t have time to do Highpower and Smallbore, so I picked Smallbore Prone. Smallbore is a better experience for me. You get to shoot more shots in a day.”
The competitors are vying for the top score of 6,400 possible points. Due to a USCG search, the last day of the Smallbore Prone Matches was cut short and the match was condensed to a 5,200 points aggregate. “This is a big prone match”, Donoho said. “It’s like a marathon.”
Scopes were allowed for the two-day Any Sights phase of the competition.
Camp Perry’s proximity to Lake Erie can create challenging, variable wind and weather conditions. CMP Smallbore Manager Donoho noted: “We had classic Camp Perry conditions [on Day One]. It started out a little overcast, nice and warm, and then a thunderstorm rolled in. We had pretty blustery conditions and a downpour. Here at Camp Perry, we’re accustomed to 60s and chilly and 90-degree days.”
Ace marksman Kevin Nevius brought 30 years of shooting experience and six national titles to CMP’s Smallbore Prone Matches. He said Smallbore Prone competition has its own unique appeal: “The course of fire is longer. You shoot more shots per day… there’s an element of endurance.” Nevius placed second in the Smallbore Iron Sight Prone Championship and the Overall Prone Aggregate, and he had fun doing it.
Top CMP Camp Perry Smallbore Prone Match Shooters
Smallbore Prone – 5200 Aggregate Championship
Open Class Winner: SFC Shane Barnhart, 5188 – 401X
Ladies Class Winner: Abigail Donovan, 5167 – 340X
Senior Class Winner: Philip Latzgo, 5174 – 331X
Junior Class Winner: Joseph Hahn, 5159 – 289X
F-Class Winner: Daniel Pagliari, 5129 – 313X
Smallbore Team Champions
Open Team Champion: Misfit Love, 1592 – 99X
Team Members: SFC Brandon Green (USAMU), Lewis Makison, PO2 Philip Latzgo (USN), and Thomas McManus [NOTE: SFC Green (green shirt top row of podium) is a multi-time High Power Nat’l Champion and 2022 NRA Long Range Nat’l Champion. Brandon delivered the First Shot at the 2023 Camp Perry National Matches opening ceremony]. Club Team Champion: Rochester Rifle Club Team A, 1591 – 108X
Team Members: Abigail Donovan, Antonio Gross, Joseph Hahn, and Edward Hahn State Association Champion: Ohio Rifle & Pistol Assn., 1591 – 100X
Team Members: Jeffrey Perry, Paul Gideon, Garald Wise, and Michael Naylon
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This year, for the NRA National Matches at Camp Atterbury, the High Power Rifle course will have electronic targets. This is good news for competitors as there will be NO PIT DUTY required. Relays can proceed much more quickly and efficiently, so matches can be completed in significantly shorter time-spans.
Big news for High Power rifle shooters — Electronic Targets will be employed at the 2022 High Power Rifle National Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. That means faster relays, quicker scoring, and NO PIT DUTY!
Silver Mountain Targets Electronic Targets at Camp Atterbury This Summer
The Silver Mountain Targets electronic target system will be deployed for the High Power Rifle phases of the 2022 National Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The Silver Mountain Targets (SMT) technology, the “fourth generation of Electronic Target System”, is an OPEN SENSOR system fitted to conventional wood target frames. It uses four sensors to plot shot location (and score value) with great precision. Scores are transmitted via a WiFi network to mobile devices placed at each shooting station. Along with shot location, the score values are listed and recorded on the receiving devices.
The electronic target systems from Silver Mountain Targets provide instantaneous scoring, with scores instantly transmitted to WiFi monitors at each station on the firing lines. This shows competitors their shot locations immediately. That helps with wind calls. For the most part, the system has worked well this 2022 summer. Unfortunately, this year we have heard reports of some e-Target communication glitches, and some “missed” shots that were not recorded properly. It appears that there are still some bugs to work out.
“Silver Mountain Targets is very excited to be chosen for the very first deployment of this technology at the NRA National Matches. Our advanced modular architecture represents the latest in electronic target technology,” said SMT’s David Schnelle. “The system is designed to be easily expandable and provide a high level of reliability. System components are battery-powered to simplify deployment on a military range and allows the system to even operate if there is a power outage. Communications between targets and the firing line is a highly reliable WiFi connection, utilizing any WiFi-capable device to display competitors’ shots.”
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Big news for High Power rifle shooters — Electronic Targets will be employed at the 2022 High Power Rifle National Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. That means faster relays, quicker scoring, and NO PIT DUTY!
The 2022 NRA High Power National Matches will run at Camp Atterbury from July 8-28, 2022. Registration is now open. Click HERE to Register.
Silver Mountain Targets Electronic Targets at Camp Atterbury This Summer
The NRA has confirmed that the Silver Mountain Targets electronic target system will be deployed for the High Power Rifle phases of the 2022 National Matches at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The Silver Mountain Targets (SMT) technology, the “fourth generation of Electronic Target System”, is an OPEN SENSOR system fitted to conventional wood target frames. It uses four sensors to plot shot location (and score value) with great precision. Scores are transmitted via a WiFi network to mobile devices placed at each shooting station. Along with shot location, the score values are listed and recorded on the receiving devices.
“The NRA has been working with the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association (ISRPA), as well as the Central Indiana High Power Rifle Shooters (CIHPRS) in order to bring electronic targets to the NRA National Matches”, said Joseph P. De Bergalis, Jr., Executive Director of NRA General Operations.
Over the past three years, the NRA has confirmed that Silver Mountain Targets systems have worked very effectively in rifle competition. The SMT sensor technology is now proven in competition: “In 2019, the ISRPA chose Silver Mountain Targets for our High Power matches including the ISRPA Across the Course State Championships and the Governor’s Cup match in 2019″, said ISRPA President Charles Hiltunen. “We did an extensive comparison of alternatives and Silver Mountain Targets best fit our needs. Since then we have been very happy with the targets.”
“Silver Mountain Targets is very excited to be chosen for the very first deployment of this technology at the NRA National Matches. Our advanced modular architecture represents the latest in electronic target technology,” said SMT’s David Schnelle. “The system is designed to be easily expandable and provide a high level of reliability. System components are battery-powered to simplify deployment on a military range and allows the system to even operate if there is a power outage. Communications between targets and the firing line is a highly reliable WiFi connection, utilizing any WiFi-capable device to display competitors’ shots.”
“The National Rifle Association is pleased to continue our improvements at Camp Atterbury in order to better serve the competitive shooting community and further promote the shooting sports”, said Cole McCulloch, Director of NRA Competitive Shooting.
“With the Silver Mountain Target system, we will be able to run more relays in less time and reduce demands on competitors and staff. We are also very pleased that technical representatives from Silver Mountain Targets will be on-site for the entire championship to ensure optimum performance and to train NRA staff and volunteers on the technology.”
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By Steve Cooper, CMP North General Manager & Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer
In disappointing fashion to all involved, the CMP [cancelled] its June 17 Excellence-In-Competition match when significant damage was done to the target system following the successful completion of standing and rapid-fire sitting stages at 200 yards by nearly 100 competitors.
Nearly 100 competitors took to the firing line on Viale Range for Saturday’s EIC Rifle Match.
The CMP EIC match was the historic debut of the latest in scoring technology on the “big” ranges at the 101-year-old Ohio National Guard training site near Port Clinton. The match fired on Viale Range was a fill-in for a previously cancelled Ohio Rifle & Pistol Association event. CMP is in its second year of operating 10 electronic target lanes at 100 yards for rifle and five lanes for pistol at Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range. CMP also operates two 80-point electronic indoor airgun ranges at Camp Perry and Anniston, AL, respectively.
During the changeover from 200 to 300 yards at the Saturday event, multiple targets were damaged when newly-trained CMP target workers accidentally strained or tore several interconnecting cables on the target line while raising and lowering target carriers. Diagnostics showed several targets were showing errors, but CMP technicians believed many targets could be salvaged and some were repaired.
The loss cut the range from 35 to 19 serviceable targets. CMP staff and competitors agreed to shrink the size of the range, re-squadding shooters into more relays on the remaining working targets. After repairs were made, firing continued with the prone rapid-fire stage at 300 yards. When firing was complete, a handful of shooters received inconsistent information on their monitors. A re-fire was conducted for that group and many of the re-fire group still reported target errors.
Members of CMP staff convene to discuss abnormalities during the 300-yard prone rapid-fire stage of the EIC Rifle Match. Moments later, the match was called off after it was determined too many targets were compromised by damaged cables in the Viale Range pits.
It became clear that the initial damage to the target communication system was worse than originally thought. Christie Sewell, CMP Programs Chief, explained to competitors that it was impractical to go any further and had no choice but to cancel the match. CMP offered refunds to all competitors or the option of crediting their entry fees to a future match. The match did not count toward the competitors’ EIC match total for 2017.
The Takeaway from this Experience – CMP is a Pioneer in the Electronic Target World
They say it’s easy to recognize pioneers — they’re the ones with arrows in their backs. It feels that way sometimes at the Civilian Marksmanship Program as we roll out the most sophisticated electronically-scored targets in the world to America’s bullseye rifle and pistol shooters. Sometimes we make mistakes and they cost us time, money and aggravation.
Cables carry power + communications from target to target the length of the line. Many places between targets can trap and catch cables. The loss of 1 cable can take out 5 adjacent targets.
But we press on. And the competitors who understand our goals press on with us. We pull the arrows out of each other’s backs, cover shot holes with thick-skin pasters, learn from our mistakes and press on with our mission. That mission includes safety instruction, youth marksmanship fundamentals, growing the sport of bullseye target shooting and providing our competitors the best opportunity to maximize participation in this sport.
What Actually Went Wrong on Saturday
Those familiar with the KTS targets at the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park know they are hard-wired and mounted to actuators that tilt the targets up and down for use on three different target lines. Shooters fire from a common covered firing line and fire distances of 200, 300 or 600 yards during open public sessions and matches without moving. Those targets are semi-permanent and fit into frames that are bolted to iron brackets mounted on a concrete deck.
The CMP Eastern Games were a huge success, thanks in no small part to the mobile electronic target system. The event, which drew 360+ competitors, took place April 28 – May 2 at Camp Butner in North Carolina*. The Kongsberg electronic targets allowed the CMP to run relays more efficiently, and the targets eliminate the need for competitors to do pit duty. GSM Matches, which typically run four relays each day, saw days with a total of nine and 10 relays during its scheduled times, while the Vintage Sniper and other matches finished in record time.
“The electronic targets are phenomenal,” said brothers Richard and Jonathan Mast, who attended the Eastern Games along with other family members. Jonathan added, “It was the best shooting experience I’ve ever seen as far as immediately finding out where you’re shooting – best I’ve ever had.”
Throughout the event at Camp Butner, competitors had the opportunity to fire on CMP’s mobile electronic highpower target range. The Kongsberg targets contain internal microphones that locate shot position. The scores are instantly calculated by computer and then wirelessly transmitted to portable, tablet monitors on each firing point.
The new targets were well received. Competitors observed that the targets simplify the process for the shooter and provide immediate feedback and scoring. Shooter Caleb Mast noted: “This makes it easier for people who don’t have equipment, like a scope, to get in. All you pay is the registration fee, and I just brought what I’m wearing and was still able to score well enough to get my feedback on the monitor.”
*The Eastern Games ran April 28 through May 2, 2017. The Creedmoor Cup Marches were held May 3-7, 2017, following the Eastern Games. SEE Match Schedule.
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On November 12, 2016, 46 shooters participated in the first Garand and Modern Military Match utilizing Camp Perry’s new Petrarca Range Electronic Targets. These Kongsberg eTargets allow instantaneous scoring and relieve competitors of pit duties. With no need to shuttle bodies back and forth from the pits, the matches run much more quickly, enabling more shooters to complete the match in less time. These Kongsberg targets work through the power of acoustics — “hearing” each shot and accurately triangulating its location. A variety of target centers can be employed, allowing the eTargets to be used with multiple disciplines.
The electronic target system plots shot locations using acoustic sensors on each target frame. The shot placement (and score value) is instantly calculated by the central computer, and then immediately displayed on monitors positioned on the firing line next to each shooter. Competitors can instantly see their shot locations and score values. No target markers are necessary. This speeds up matches as targets no longer need to be pulled down, marked with a spotter disc, then elevated after each shot.
Match competitors were pleased with the new target system. For example, Matthew Nodine and his sons Keegan and Isaiah, competed together in the Garand Match — each firing on the electronic targets for the first time. The Nodines, regulars at the National Matches at Camp Perry, were eager to experience the new system.
“Although my boys look forward to Camp Perry every year, they do not look forward to the target pulling!” Matthew Nodine joked. “It’s often hot and humid in the pits and makes for a long day. These [electronic] systems could eliminate that and make the shooting experience much more enjoyable.” Along with skipping out on pit duty, Matt says he and the boys enjoyed the system’s ability to eliminate human error that can come from both target pullers in the pits and scorekeepers on the firing line. The family was also impressed with the swift accuracy of the communication between target and monitor.
“My sons and I were very pleased with the system. It provides instant, real-time feedback, which is a great asset in timed shoots,” he said. “The system seems user-friendly and has some nice features, like zoom for those shooters who usually group in the black, and the display is big and easy to read.”
He went on to say, “All in all, we’d give the electronic targets a ‘Two-Thumbs-Up’ and hope it’s something that will be installed on [other] ranges at Camp Perry as well as the rest of the places CMP shooting events take place.”
For others who feel this way, there’s good news. The CMP is currently discussing plans to install systems on each Camp Perry range in the future. Moreover, the CMP now brings a set of mobile electronic targets to its regional Travel Games. The CMP website will list where and when the mobile electronic targets will be deployed at regional matches in 2017.
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Camp Perry has entered the electronic age — Perry’s first electronic targets “go live” this week. On Thursday, July 21, the CMP hosts a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the installation of its new Kongsberg electronic rifle and pistol targets on Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range. During the afternoon, guests can test out the new targets with their own suitable firearms, or use “loaner” AR-15 rifles and M9 pistols provided by the CMP.
The first ten electronic rifle targets, placed at 200 yards, are now ready for action on the Petrarca Range. Reduced target centers will allow shooters to practice for longer distances as well. the smaller pistol/smallbore targets are mounted in portable carriers so they can be stationed at 25 or 50 yards. Three pistol targets are now in place (see photo at right).
This is the beginning of a process to supply many ranges at Camp Perry with state-of-the-art Kongsberg (KTS) electronic targets similar to those installed at the CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park. However, the CMP is NOT planning a whole-scale replacement of all of Camp Perry’s old-fashioned targets.
CMP Offers Free “Test Drives” of Kongsberg Electronic Targets
Petrarca Range will be open throughout the National Matches to allow competitors and visitors to try the KTS targets for FREE. During this time, guests are encouraged to bring their own firearms and ammo to use at the range as no rentals will be available other than the day of the Ribbon Cutting. After the National Matches are over in August, the range will be open several Mondays for Open Public Shooting, with a small fee charged to shoot on the electronic targets.
Video Demonstrates Kongsberg Target System
KTS Electronic Targets use multiple acoustic sensors to “hear” the shot and accurately triangulate its location. Shot placements (and score values) are calculated instantly and transmitted in real time to display screens at the shooting stations. These kind of targets allow matches to run faster, with no pit duties required. All scoring is handled by the KTS central “brain” which can outputs scores to linked electronic scoreboards.
Monitors Display Score and Shot Location Instantly Each Kongsberg target connects to a monitor that displays the hit locations to the shooter. Easy push-button controls allow the shooter to cycle through hits and options without having to change positions. The monitors employ non-glare glass protected by an aluminum frame that acts as a shade. This ensures good visibility for the shooter.
These state-of-the-art electronic targets are also used in the CMP’s new Talladega Marksmanship Park, where they have proven to be very popular with shooters. NOTE — the CMP is not planning a whole-scale replacement of all of Camp Perry’s old-fashioned targets. However the CMP hopes to modernize the Camp Perry facility, by installing some electronic targets on all Camp Perry ranges by summer 2018.
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Camp Perry is moving into the future. The first fifteen (15) electronic targets are being installed right now at Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range. This is the beginning of a process to supply many ranges at Camp Perry with state-of-the-art Kongsberg (KTS) electronic targets similar to those installed at the CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park. NOTE — the CMP is not planning a whole-scale replacement of all of Camp Perry’s old-fashioned targets. However the CMP hopes to modernize the Camp Perry facility, by installing some electronic targets on all Camp Perry ranges by summer 2018.
Camp Perry’s new Kongsberg electronic targets will be similar to the targets installed at the Talledega facility (shown above). Image courtesy CMP and www.AL.com.
New Kongsberg Electronic Targets for Camp Perry
On the Camp Perry Petrarca Range in Ohio, KTS targets for rifle, pistol and smallbore are currently being installed. The CMP states: “The project is going according to plan and is within budget, with completion expected by the end of June for CMP use and those attending the National Matches.”
When the new target systems are installed, the Petrarca Range will offer 10 KTS targets for rifle and five KTS targets for pistol and smallbore. Though the rifle targets will be located at the 200-yard line, the changing of the target faces and the use of reduced target definitions will allow shooters to practice for longer distances as well. Pistol targets will be mounted in portable carriers that will allow them to be set up at 25 or 50 yards.
More Electronic Targets at Camp Perry by 2018
It is hoped that some KTS rifle targets will be available on ALL of the Camp Perry ranges by summer of 2018. (These will supplement the conventional target frames, not replace them altogether). 2016 National Match competitors will be able to try out the new KT targets when they visit the Camp Perry training site in July. In the future, the Petrarca Range will be open for public use.
Monitors Display Score and Shot Location Instantly Each Kongsberg target connects to a monitor that displays the hit locations to the shooter. Easy push-button controls allow the shooter to cycle through hits and options without having to change positions. The monitors employ non-glare glass protected by an aluminum frame that acts as a shade. This ensures good visibility for the shooter.
Engineered in Norway, Kongsberg target systems do more than just display shot locations to competitors. The system automatically calculate scores, and every target is networked to a central, “command” computer. This can provide updated competitor rankings, and can even display the results to event spectators on large view screens. See how it works in this video from Kongsberg:
Video Demonstrates Kongsberg Target System
Mobile Electronic Targets Will Be Moved Around the Country
The CMP now has set of mobile electronic Kongsberg High Power targets. The CMP plans to shuttle these transportable targets to a variety of ranges in the north, south, east, and west, allowing shooters around the country to experience the benefits of electronic target systems. The CMP has found that shooters love the fact that matches run much more quickly and efficiently with electronic targets, as shooters do not have to be shuttled to the pits between relays. In addition, each shooter has a monitor providing instant feedback of his shot locations and scores.
In April, 15 mobile electronic targets were temporarily installed and fired upon from 200, 300 and 600 yards at the Oklahoma City Gun Club during the Oklahoma CMP Games Matches. The mobile targets were transported from Talladega and mounted by the CMP and volunteers for use during the event. The targets were removed at the conclusion of the event for future use at other High Power ranges.
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Report by Johnny Fisher
The Civilian Marksmanship Program has just finished temporary installation of 15 traveling electronic Kongsberg Targets at the Oklahoma City Gun Club in Arcadia, OK. These high-tech targets will be employed during the Oklahoma CMP Games, slated for April 6-10, 2016. All the High Power rifle events during this year’s Oklahoma Games will be run exclusively on these electronic targets. Competitors will be scored electronically with match results being processed in real-time. Notably, this means High Power competitors will not have to do “pit duty” the entire week since manual target-pulling and shot-marking is no longer required.
The majority of shooting at the Oklahoma CMP Games will be fired at the 200-yard line for the Garand / Springfield / Vintage & Modern Military (GSMM) matches. However, the electronic targets have also been readied for use in the scheduled Excellence In Competition (EIC) and Vintage Sniper matches. Those events require additional firing from 300 yards and 600 yards.
Electronic Target Technology — How Kongsberg Targets Work
CMP Targets technician Bryan Parris explains what makes these targets so special: “These targets were designed by the experts at Kongsberg Targets exclusively for the CMP to fit the standard US target dimensions of 72″ square target backers. What shooters discern as the black of the aiming bull is actually black rubber sheeting that is the entire size of the backer. A layer of white corrugated plastic then covers this rubber with a center hole having been cut out to reveal the appropriate sized bull for that yard-line. All that is required as competitors move further back through the course is to change out the plastic cover to reveal a larger aiming black.”
This acoustically-scored target system uses four microphones to locate the bullet as it passes through the target. The microphone closest to the bullet traveling through the target actuates the remaining three to triangulate the exact shot location for the scoring system and simultaneously display the shot on the shooter’s monitor.
Behind the coroplast face and inside the foam insulation, the target is wrapped with rubber to form a type of chamber. This helps insulate the target’s four microphones stay insulated from extreme temperature changes and also helps keep out ambient noise. This chamber need only exist to the extent that it separates itself from the other targets. Parris states: “We’re building these targets to last a great long while. They are extremely durable and can have anywhere from 3000 to 5000 rounds fired through them before any maintenance is required whatsoever.”
The entire system can be powered via battery, generator, or combination of both. The target line communicates wirelessly with the firing line computer system for timing courses of fire and recording scores. And of course, there is virtual real-time communication with monitors set up on each firing point to display shot / group location and value.
When fully assembled, each target weighs about 200 pounds. They are a little cumbersome in their current form, but the CMP’s target technicians are “still working some things out [for] potential future travel games.”
Registration Still Open for Oklahoma CMP Games
The 2016 CMP Oklahoma Games will be held at the Oklahoma City Gun Club in Arcadia, OK from April 6 – 10, 2016. Registration is still available. For more information about these Kongsberg Electronic Targets, contact Bryan Parris of CMP Targets at (256) 835-8455 or bparris@thecmp.org.
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CMP Board Members and a few CMP staff members enjoyed a visit to the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park yesterday. They fired a few shots downrange from the 200-yard line. Here’s an image from the Kongsberg electronic target system. Shot impacts are precisely triangulated with sonic target sensors, then shot locations (and scores) are displayed on monitors placed next to each shooter. For more information on the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park, visit http://thecmp.org/competitions/talladega-marksmanship-park/.
The 13,000-square-foot CMP Park Club House overlooks the 600-yard range. Panoramic windows look out towards the firing line and the Alabama woodlands beyond.
Register Now for Inaugural D-Day Match at Talladega
The first official matches at the new CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park will be fired on the weekend of June 6-7, 2015. The celebration is a two-day event which includes tours of the facility. A special John C. Garand “D-Day Anniversary” Rifle Match On Saturday, June 6th will officially open the facility. On Sunday there will be an EIC Service Rifle Match, EIC Service Pistol Match, and a CMP .22 Rimfire EIC Pistol Match. The inagural event is limited to the first 350 Competitors, so register soon via the CMP’s Competition Tracker website.
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Tomorrow, May 19, you can try out the electronic targets used in the Olympics at the Peacemaker National Training Center in Gerrardstown, WV. The event is a part of the NRA’s effort to increase awareness of Electronic Target Systems and their use for recreational shooting. Provided by ShotResponse (a dealer for the Swiss SIUS AG company), the electronic targets instantly record and score every shot fired down-range. The new NRA Portable Box Target provides a 4′ x 4′ scoring zone (with multiple target options) and remote display at the shooter’s location. The wireless version works out to 1,000 yards without a signal repeater.
Next Target Demo in Williamsport, PA
The next demonstration of the SIUS electronic targets will be September 8, 2012 at the Original Pennsylvania 1000 Yard Benchrest Club, in Williamsport, PA. CLICK HERE to learn more about the Williamsport event this fall. If your club is interested in hosting an electronic target event in the future, contact NRA Range Services at (877) NRA-RANGE or email range@nrahq.org.
About the Equipment
The SIUS Portable Bullet Sensor (PBS) is a Portable Single Lane RF (wireless) automatic electronic precision target scoring system. SIUS PBS employs Acoustical Projectile Locating (detection). Accuracy is 1 – 2mm at the target center and 5 – 7mm at outer scoring zones. Any small arms firearms from .22-caliber to .308 caliber can be used with the system. It works with both subsonic and supersonic projectiles. The ShotResponse NRA Box targets with multiple target “skins”, including standard bullseye targets along with deer and boar hunting targets. There are 12 different Target Facings with Firing Exercise Software plus the Rifle Grouping/Zeroing Exercise.
The PBS system consists of a collapsible Precision Target with an RF (wireless) Battery Pack, a Target carrying/shipping case and a Shooter’s RF Wireless Control Unit/Monitor with Keypad, Battery Pack, Carrying/Shipping Case and a Laptop computer for downloading and printing of firing data. This portable system employs technology developed by SIUS, the official supplier of electronic targets for the Olympic Games and ISSF competition. CLICK HERE for SIUS video.
The video below shows a variety of SIUS/ShotResponse indoor and outdoor electronic targets in use. There are systems for airguns and pistols as well as rimfire and centerfire rifles.
We live in a digital, electronic era. The very story you’re reading right now consists of digital data packets transmitted electronically around the globe. Because of cost factors, 99+% of shooting matches in the USA still rely on old-fashioned manual scoring methods. However, target scoring can be done faster and more precisely with electronic scoring systems. Olympic and international CISM shooting competitions now employ electronic target systems. And electronic scoring is widely used in Europe already.
Below is a video showing an electronic scoring system developed by Norway’s Kongsberg Mikroelektronikk AS. Watch as a prone shooter puts five rounds on a 300m target. You can see the group form on the video screen at his shooting station. He’s a good shooter (with an accurate rifle). The first three shots are touching.
As you can see from the video, viewing shots on the monitor is easier than using a spotting scope and waiting for targets to be marked. The electronic target eliminates the need for a crew of target pullers in the pits.
The Kongsberg system, like the electronic systems produced by Sius Ascor of Switzerland, do more than just display shot locations to the shooter. The target units automatically calculate scores, which are transmitted to a central computer. This can provide updated competitor rankings, and can even display the results to event spectators on large view screens.
CLICK HERE for a longer streaming Flash VIDEO showing how electronic target systems work. This video, produced by Sius Ascor, shows olympic target systems in action.
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Competitor Mark Del Cotto said marksmen were disappointed when the NRA moved the National Smallbore Rifle Championship to Bristol, Indiana, so many of them asked CMP to create its own smallbore competition. “It was like moving the Masters from Augusta,” said Del Cotto. “Ninety percent of competitors wanted to come back to Camp Perry. When [the NRA] moved it, the level of participation went down and down.” Del Cotto has also shot High Power (centerfire) matches, but he prefers rimfire: “I didn’t have time to do Highpower and Smallbore, so I picked Smallbore Prone. Smallbore is a better experience for me. You get to shoot more shots in a day.”
The first ten electronic rifle targets, placed at 200 yards, are now ready for action on the Petrarca Range. Reduced target centers will allow shooters to practice for longer distances as well. the smaller pistol/smallbore targets are mounted in portable carriers so they can be stationed at 25 or 50 yards. Three pistol targets are now in place (see photo at right).
Each Kongsberg target connects to a monitor that displays the hit locations to the shooter. Easy push-button controls allow the shooter to cycle through hits and options without having to change positions. The monitors employ non-glare glass protected by an aluminum frame that acts as a shade. This ensures good visibility for the shooter.
Tomorrow, May 19, you can try out the electronic targets used in the Olympics at the 
