CMP Revives Long Range Competition at Camp Perry
By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer
At the 2018 National Matches at Camp Perry this past summer, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) introduced a new series of Long Range events. Three days of long range rifle matches, held at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards, were added to the summer 2018 schedule to allow long range marksmen the opportunity to fire on the Camp Perry grounds following the NRA’s decision to move the NRA High Power Long Range Championship (and HP Championship) to Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Long Range matches will be held again at Camp Perry next year, from August 6-9, 2019 — put those dates on your calendar.
Camp Perry Photo by Scott McKenna from past event.
Competitors at the 2018 Long Range Matches at Camp Perry fired in Service, Match, and Palma rifle classes. Six matches were fired during the Long Range series. Those who participated in the inaugural LR matches were pleased that Long Range was featured again at Camp Perry after a two-year absence:
“Camp Perry is one of the best ranges in the U.S. with a long and proud history. Thank you, CMP, for all of the work expended on the 2018 season.”
“The matches were well-organized and went smoothly.”
“I liked the fact that they were held at Camp Perry. That’s where the National Matches should be.”
“Good job! I enjoyed the matches. It was great being back at Perry for long range.”
“Overall a very positive and fun championship for me. I applaud your efforts in bringing long range back to Camp Perry….”
Winning the overall Aggregate was USAMU shooter SFC Shane Barnhart with 1244-71X. Teammate SGT Lane Ichord won the service rifle division with 1228-48X, while Robert Steketee topped the Palma rifle class with 1233-56X. As the “top gun” for the match, SFC Barnhart was the first recipient of the Coats Brown Memorial Trophy – donated to the CMP by the Military Marksmanship Association. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Coats Brown, was a repeat National Matches champion and became the head coach of the newly-formed Army Marksmanship Unit in 1956.
John Whidden cleaned the Viale Memorial event with the match rifle, with a score of 200-12X. Robert Gill, 59, of Visalia, CA, led the Palma rifle portion. The Bataan Memorial 4-person Team Match, which included 20 shots by each member at 1,000 yards, saw wins from the AMU in both the match and service rifle categories. Members of AMU Green (SFC Barnhart, SFC Brandon Green, SGT Ben Cleland, and SSG Amanda Elsenboss), each dropped only one point in the match rifle class to record an Aggregate score of 796-54x.
Major Sponsors for Camp Perry Long Range Matches
Geissele Automatics served as a generous sponsor for the new Long Range events, donating a prize to every winner in each category. Capstone Precision, the parent company of Berger, Lapua, SK and Vihtavuori, also donated prizes to several winners during the National Long Range Matches.
SAVE THE DATE in 2019: The CMP’s Long Range Matches will take place August 6-9 at Camp Perry, in Port Clinton, Ohio. Events include three days of Individual Long Range Matches, two days of Team Matches, the Camp Perry Palma Match, Shooter’s Reception and Long Range Awards Ceremony.
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Tags: Camp Perry, John Whidden, Long-Range, SFC Brandon Green, Shane Barnhardt, USAMU
Great to hear and hopefully the NRA will do the right thing and transfer their competitive shooting program to the CMP. Their decisions to move the NRA Smallbore and Highpower championships from Perry have resulted in poorly attended matches as they require limited customer base to decide where they want to spend their time and money each summer. How the NRA considers these actions to be successful is beyond me and most of the competitive shooters I know.
Looking forward the CMP 6400 prone championship next year at Camp Perry
The matches were superb and I am looking forward to 2019.
I first came to Perry in 94. I was as excited as a child at Christmas. Seeing the water tower was like pulling into the Nascar of shooting. I was there. Among the best of the best. I cant condemn Atterbury. I was only there for a vendors event once. I will say it was the hardest place to find I’ve ever known. For a competitive shooter to run back and forth from one to other is just ridiculous. Like telling A.J.Foyt to finish the Indy 500 somewhere else after the first 250 miles.
I say take it back to Perry. I’ll happily stay in a hut.